We already knew that Seoul is an alluring gourmet destination, but it’s also one that’s in a constant flux and catering to the most discerning of palates. Newly opened Gamdo is an establishment that wows its guests with both a menu of expertly concocted desserts and a minimalist, design-led setting. The café occupies a 102 sqm. (1,098 sq.ft.) unit in a sunken area of Acro Seoul Forest, a large residential and commercial complex with four soaring towers in the South Korean capital’s leafy Seongsu area. The interior design, created by local architecture practice Oftn Studio, takes ample cues from the aesthetic of Korean ceramics, and particularly its clarity of form and strong physical quality. Moreover, it’s exactly the latter two elements that form the very foundation of Gamdo and its objective to a slow food-inspired product void of trends and superfluous frills.
In a spatial sense, this has been translated into an understated and monochromatic setting that not only oozes serenity, but also a friendly openness thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows that allow ample views from outside. A striking focal point is a wall-mounted 800 kg (1,764 lb) boulder which aims to signal the café’s brand identity of focusing on the essence of the ingredient, and non-artificial, slow food menus. All of Gamdo‘s furnishings are custom-made and have a compatible minimalist aesthetic. As said, Gamdo is a dessert café and its menu lists signature pastries with mostly local flavours, such as Yuzu Millefeuille, Baked Potato Crème Brûlée and Tropical Crimson Baba, in addition to a series of artisanal ice creams, all paired with coffee concoctions and shakes.
Gamdo
Acro Seoul Forest, D Tower, 83-21 Wangsimni-ro, Level B1 (Seongsu)
04769 Seoul
Telephone: +82 2 62337623
Daily 10.30am-9pm
Publishers Note
Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.
