mirrored facades of 'tan-mok-won' korean bakery dissolve into healing landscape

Suk Lee of NAUxLab and Jongbang Park reveal bakery in korea

Designed by Suk Lee of NAUxLab and Jongbang Park of USER, Tan-Mok-Won bakery emerges from the ashes of a fire that struck Ulsan, South Korea, in 2013. The architects draw from the surviving trees of the area that withstood the fire. Marked with red ribbons by the client, these ten trees are central to the narrative of this project. The duo chose charred wood for the cladding of the structure, a visual and tactile tribute to the destructive force of the fire and the trees’ endurance.

The east facade features a mirrored surface that reflects the surrounding nature, ensuring that the building never competes with the landscape but rather echoes its seasonal transformation. In the center of the composition is the southeastern courtyard, where three of the protected trees stand. This space, defined by a full-height curtain wall, acts as a cutout, linking interior spaces to the external environment.

all images by Suk Lee (NAUxLab)

Double-Curved Roof crowns Tan-Mok-Won’s Sculptural Form

Set on a site scarred by loss, Jongbang Park and Suk Lee‘s building becomes a vessel for memory, honoring the past of the land and ensuring its history is not forgotten. Materiality is a key feature that allows the building to communicate its poignant story, blending the textures of time with the surroundings.

The geometry of Tan-Mok-Won bakery, marked by a doubly curved gable roof, adds an organic fluidity to the space. The ridge does not align with the building’s center; instead, a diagonal line connects two vertices of the roof, creating a sculptural form. The curves of this element invite a sense of movement, both visually and spatially. Upon arrival, visitors experience an entry sequence that slows their pace and heightens their engagement with the space. As the path meanders alongside a water feature, approaching the building becomes an immersive journey, offering varying views of the structure from different angles. The layout follows the natural contours of the site, minimizing the need for significant civil engineering work. This approach ensures that the structure becomes part of the landscape rather than imposing upon it. The walls of the building fade into the scenery, allowing the landscape to gradually reclaim its position as the dominant element.

Tan-Mok-Won bakery emerges from the ashes of a fire that struck Ulsan, South Korea, in 2013

charred wood adds to the building’s multisensory experience

The western end of Tan-Mok-Won features an outdoor terrace that is also entirely covered in charred wood. This space, where the tactile and visual qualities of the wood can be fully appreciated, offers visitors a moment to pause and connect with the surroundings. The terrace acts as an opportunity to experience the tactile essence of the building, with the smell of the charred wood and the sounds of the natural environment enhancing the sensory richness of the project. Inside the building, a bakery offers visitors a moment of taste, completing the sensory journey.

the geometry of Tan-Mok-Won bakery is marked by a doubly curved gable roof

the east facade features a mirrored surface that reflects the surrounding nature

in the center of the composition is the southeastern courtyard

the smell of the charred wood and the sounds of the natural environment enhance the sensory richness

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visitors experience an entry sequence that slows their pace

tactile and visual qualities of the wood can be fully appreciated

plans by USER + NAUxLab

elevations by USER + NAUxLab

project info:

name: Tan-Mok-Won
architects: USER + NAUxLab | @nau_x_lab
lead architects: Jongbang Park (USER) + Suk Lee (NAUxLab)
location: Ulsan, South Korea
area: 848 square meters

photographer: Suk Lee (NAUxLab)

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edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom