Like the brand name 'Gyeongseong', we wanted to express the harmonious beauty between the new and the old. We therefore took the concept of the modern oriental and fused the image of rustic serenity with refined simplicity. As the exterior of the existing building had such a distinctive character, we were concerned that this would create a disconnect between the interior and exterior and decided that a layered design connection was needed. So we transferred the curvilinear character to the interior ceiling mouldings. Both the existing concrete ceiling and the new free standing curved ceiling were designed to create a sense of place in this not-so-expansive space.

The interior of the café consists of a sales area, a roasting room, a work area, a dining area and separate male and female toilets. Due to the small size of the space, we thought it would make sense to partition the space to naturally connect rather than separate. The bakery is located behind the bar and the dining area is located in front of the bar so that customers can naturally see the bar and bakery overlapping. In addition, the dynamic line created on the side of the bar places the sales space in a position where it would naturally be seen when eating or walking around the café, making the sales area visible from anywhere in the space.

The overall choice of materials is based on the colours and textures of oriental architecture. Firstly, the walls and ceilings are spliced with beige stucco, reminiscent of earthen walls, and the existing concrete columns and cement block walls are exposed and reassembled with the existing architectural elements. The floor is covered with maroon vintage floor tiles, creating a warm and natural overall visual flow. The long chairs where customers sit around the windows are made from clay tiles in a similar colour to the floor to maintain a warm image and provide material variety. Against this warm backdrop, the furniture can be heavy and rustic like an old hanok or cool and sophisticated like a modern item.

The bar is made of stainless steel, hand polished with frosted panels for a rough texture, while the styling is very simplified and modern. There is nothing off the shelf inside the space, everything was made in conjunction with the carpenters and metalworkers. The first thing that strikes you as soon as you enter from the outside is a stand-up table, which is made of wood stacked in its original form, with seams where the materials meet designed to show off the details of the furniture. The coffee tables are cut from logs, each at a different height, but the table tops are made from stainless steel, contrasting with the logs. The lampshade is made of hammered copper, inspired by the shape of a lantern, with a hammered finish, against which is a slender tube of polished stainless steel. The handle is made of red copper, which naturally changes colour when touched, and every aspect of the product is as meticulous as its design, from the amount of hammering to the finishing details.