The newly opened Café SPACEDOG is not only indicative of Seoul‘s sophisticated coffee culture, but also shows a keen interest of locals in culture as a whole. Situated in a purpose-built concrete structure, tucked away in a maze of meandering little streets in the city’s Seodaemun district, the café is an integral part of SPACEDOG, a new cultural hub which, apart from the coffee parlour, also includes art movie theatre Laika Cinema, SPACEDOG Studios and offices. Designed by South Korean practice COV Studio, the chosen aesthetic draws inspiration from the space theme ‘Emergency Landing on Earth’, and accordingly, the design is understated, incorporating rounded corners and smooth surfaces to evoke a distinct futuristic atmosphere. Café SPACEDOG is a spacious venue, covering no less than 721 sqm. (7,761 sq.ft.) across two floors.
Upon entering the building, visitors find themselves in an understated space, defined by a side wall and service counter clad in large slabs of stone, paired with two low benches in shiny steel. A decorative rock-like volume dangles from the ceiling, referencing the chosen theme. One floor up, by way a flight of stairs, a more spacious seating area awaits. Large floor-to-ceiling windows allow in floods of daylight, flanking a semicircle which juts into a rectangular pond covered with pebbles. The indoor body of water is framed by black and grey granite and gains an additional tier, serving as a bench, in the semicircle stretch. Additional furnishings comprise of small metal tables and a matching salon table, and lining the opposite wall is a bench with tables and chairs. An outdoor terrace offers additional seating when weather permits, but Café SPACEDOG also has an even larger terrace up on the roof with a small zen garden, benches and seats, and offers sweeping views of the neighbourhood.
Café SPACEDOG
18 Yeonhui-ro 8-gil (Seodaemun-gu)
03726 Seoul
Telephone: +82 10 75462135
Tue-Sun 10-10
Publishers Note
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