studio maoom clads traditional korean hanoks with solid surface to create restaurant in seoul

connecting two traditional korean houses, studio maoom has designed the ‘dongnip milbang’ restaurant located in seoul. the link of the old hanoks, which showcase physical traces reflecting their different histories, generates a new space where cuisine is crafted with both experience and sincerity.

all images by sungkee jin (soulgraph photography)

‘the exterior border serves as a physical boundary, by which the past and the present are connected’ studio maoom says. in order to create a sequence where different times meet, the old and faded wood structure of the hanok, with its traces of age, was preserved. meanwhile, hanji was used to erase the natural color of the wood while conserving its grain – creating a blank space indicative of a new era.

beneath the shared language of the structure of the hanok, the difference in the scenic time periods is highlighted in the courtyard, where a new experience unfolds. hiding something means placing an object out of sight, or concealing a truth or an action from others. ‘to us, hiding is a method of showing a precious past that design studio maoom wanted to conserve’ the architects share.

design studio maoom wanted to reveal the traces and value of time a little bit more discreetly, while demonstrating its relativity. the last room reveals its presence as daylight starts to fade. with this, ‘dongnip milbang’ is able to present to its visitors the joy of enjoying the perspectives of different times from their very own seats. 

project info:

name: dongnip milbang
architecture office: design studio maoom

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