© Assemble Project / Photography: Guen-young Cho

Situated 40-minute drive north of Seoul, just before the infamous Panmunjeom border crossing with North Korea, sits the town of Paju. The hustle and bustle of the South Korean capital city may be absent, its modern lifestyle vibe, however, has rubbed off. We’re talking Steel Moment, a newly opened café that wouldn’t look out of place in Cheongdam or Hannam-dong, two of Seoul‘s most fashionable districts. The establishment occupies a 235 sqm. (2,530 sq.ft.) ground floor unit of a modern standalone structure in the suburban Tanhyeon-myeon district which has been fully revamped by Assemble Project, an architecture practice based in Seoul. A near-symmetric layout elegantly bridges an existing difference in levels indoor by creating various intimate seating sections, separated by sleek steel dividers, but connected by flooring, staircases and pathways in contrasting red brick. A communal table in the annex and a sunny outdoor terrace provides additional seating. The latter material has also been used to create the coffee bar. Furnishings come in black or white, tying in respectively with the aforementioned dividers and both the suspended light fixtures and railings, and lush potted plants add to the sense of being in a tranquil oasis. Also to be found on the premises is a coffee roasting room and a bakery. The menu at Steel Moment obviously lists a string of coffee concoctions, but also teas, juices, salads, hot panino-style sandwiches, and other bites.

Steel Moment
21-6 Heyri Maeul-gil (Tanhyeon-myeon)
10859 Paju
Telephone: +82 70 14857845
Mon 11.30am-8.30pm
Thu-Sun 11.30am-8.30pm

© Assemble Project / Photography: Guen-young Cho