Suum Urban was the name given to the project by the client couple at the time of the commission. It was chosen to be the downtown version of Suum, a café run by the client’s parents in the outskirts of Cheonan. The project site, the venue for our first meeting, is located by the side of a large freeway with lots of traffic, unlike its predecessor which is surrounded by mountains and a reservoir. In an area without much foot traffic, the site felt a little isolated amidst its jumbled context of small houses and shops. We felt lightly in awe of the courage of the client couple who wished, surprisingly, to open a bakery café on such a site. Perhaps it was due to this courage that we made the audacious promise to build them a project never before seen in Cheonan.

In France, the academic system promotes the idea of an educated elite, particularly through a circle of schools known as ‘les grandes écoles’. Among them, École normale supérieure (ENS) Paris-Saclay is of particular interest as the school recently settled into a new building designed by Renzo Piano (principal, Renzo Piano Building Workshop). Pierre-Paul Zalio (president, ENS), who is in charge of the project, here answers our questions about his governing agenda when beginning the project and his plan for building this new school.

Kolon Sports Hannam opened its flagship store in Itaewon. By running both a clothing store and exhibition space, Kolon Sports Hannam seeks to attract younger consumers. SPACE asked the architect to talk about his thought process behind his design for the flagship store of an outdoor fashion brand, one that invites us to walk, rest, and look around.

The North Perth House is an urban-infill project in inner-city Perth, Australia. Located on a small residential street, the design was responsive by providing a diverse range of spaces determined within a simple structural arrangement. The efficiency of construction and the economic use of labour were key considerations when managing the tight budget and a difficult site with restricted access.