SPACE November 2025 (No. 696)
Ora 2-dong, which is located in the northern part of Jeju, is a place where a soft breeze flows over a gently sloping terrain, a heavy humidity hangs in the air, and the texture of soil sediments all create a subtle tension. The linear site of 100m width and 30m length is surrounded by a 700-household apartment district which is currently undergoing construction in the northern region, a greenhouse district in the south, Onam-ro at the east, and Hancheon Stream – which is the longest dry stream in Jeju – in the west. Although the decision was made that the site would be open on all sides, a long period of contemplation was required concerning how to open and arrange the site due to the diversity of the surrounding landscapes leading in all directions. I visited the site to study the changes of the seasons, the light quality, and the land’s history. I began the design after spending time strolling along the axis formed by the ancient zelkova trees and native citrus groves, understanding the rhythm created by the wind’s prevailing direction and the land’s texture.
The client envisioned a ‘café that resembles a forest’. The café was to be a tranquil space for relaxation and leisure where Jeju’s air, light, and atmosphere could permeate its interior. Rather than a space simply open to the surrounding landscape, I imagined a structure that would draw the local scenery inward. To do this, I positioned two triangular-sectioned buildings to face one another and created a low elongated corridor between them to create an enclosed courtyard. The courtyard gently guides people’s steps and eyeline, and creates a spatial rhythm where moments of walking and lingering intersect. Due to the relative slowness of pace in the flow of people, the boundary between interior and exterior fades while light and air – alongside the constantly evolving courtyard scenery – naturally permeate the interior.
©Lee Sungbeom
©Lee Sungb...
LSBA (Lee Sungbeom) Baek Hyemin 297, Onam-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, Korea neighbourhood living facility (café) 3,306m² 478.54m² 512.61m² 2F 29 7.8m 14.47% 15.51% heavy timber structure, steel frame natural slate, steel curtain wall, stucco spruce glulam, lauan plywood, stucco Hwan Structural Engineering (Min Hwanseok) GM EMC. (Kang Wongu) TPA Architecture (Han Jaesung) Feb. 2022 – Oct. 2023 Jan. 2024 – Feb. 2025 Shin Dongik, Shin Haengik
