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Café TONN

Min Workshop

written by
Min Woosik​
photographed by
Hwang Hyochel
materials provided by
Min Workshop
background

Architectural Deception

On a 4,500m2-sized site close to the Yongin Recreational Forests, the headquarters of the coffee manufacturer GSI and the new food and beverage brand Café TONN have been established. The outward appearance of Café TONN, which is placed between the GSI headquarters and the fountain, was inspired by a coffee table or a wooden bench with a tent. The concave-curved roof expressed the weight of the material used and the lightness of the form through the placement of the black exposed concrete. The hall located on the second floor of Café TONN is a 10¡¿30m open space with no columns or partitions. Also, the 4.2m-tall full window provides the view of children playing by the fountain and opens to the scenery of the sunset. Another charming aspect of Café TONN is the four large columns that are visible from the outside. These columns, which can be found in large industrial structures such as bridges, support the curved-surface roof in the shape of the flowing drapery of cloth. By combining the size and form of the constituent parts of the building in various ways, we are trying to express its significance and mystery.

 

 






 

 

 

Architect

Min Workshop Architects (Min Woosik)

Design team

Lee Hyunjoo

Location

225-4 Chobu-ri, Mohyun-meon, Yongin, Korea

Programme

café

Site area

4,459m2

Building area

353.4m2

Gross floor area

512m2

Building scope

2F

Parking

54

Height

9.2m

Building to land ratio

7%

Floor area ratio

11%

Structure

RC

Exterior finishing

stain colour on exposed concrete

Interior finishing

stain colour on exposed concrete

Structural engineer

Teogujo Engineering, Inc.

Mechanical and electrical engineer

PCM Global Engineering, Co., Ltd.

Construction

Kraze MG Contractor

Design period

July 2017 – Apr. 2018

Construction period

May 2018 – Apr. 2019

Client

Gamsung International Co., Ltd.​

Landscape design

Min Workshop Architects


Min Woosik​
Min Woosik, an architect and designer, established the Seochon-based architecture workshop Min Workshop in 2011. In an age defined by mass production and high technology, he continues to focus on small architecture and aims to uphold contemporary craftsmanship. His major projects include Concave Lens, Vault House, Durastack Headquarters, and Café TONN. He concentrates his efforts on conducting experiments across diverse fields, such as architecture, interior design, furniture design, and installation art.

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