Situated just a stone’s throw away from Yanghwa-ro, the main thoroughfare of Seoul‘s vibrant Hongdae district, sits a strikingly understated coffee parlour. Occupying a corner location amidst a myriad of small alleyways, the newly opened Slit café stands out from its surroundings while totally living up to its name. Designed by architect Yekyung Kang of local practice ARTEFACT, the venue occupies a 73 sqm. (786 sq.ft.) ground floor corner unit of a four-storey building which previously was home to another hospitality venue. The café opening is part of an operational scheme which will also see the launch of a fashion brand, making the Slit name perhaps a bit more understandable, but more importantly, it’s used as a design theme as well. On one side the façade has been opened up and divided into segments by seemingly inserted partitions, including a section marked by horizontal and vertical incisions, backlit to add visual drama, and featuring the venue’s name. The design is as such that the flow of the diagonal structure continues, whether inside or outside, and that connectivity with the surroundings is retained. The slits also allow floods of natural daylight to permeate the premises. Upon entering the premises, customers are find themselves directly opposite a fully equipped service station and minimalist seating area dotted with specially designed metal stools. A floor-to-ceiling window not only allows in ample daylight, but also offers unobstructed views of the neighbourhood. An adjacent corridor leads to a separate seating area, and here, similar stools are alternated by metal benches lining both side walls. When weather permits, the retractable façade can be opened. As said, Slit is a coffee parlour, and its menu lists classic coffee concoctions such as espresso, capuccino and americano, but also milk tea and lemonade, in addition to a select number of desserts.
Slit
21-12 Wausan-ro 21-gil (Hongdae)
04041 Seoul
Mon 1-9
Wed-Sun 1-9
Publishers Note
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