HAEUNDAE GALBI HOUSE has been rooted in one place since 1964 and has become a landmark representing Haeundae. It began as a small establishment with just three rooms, but around 1970, when the Gyeongbu Expressway opened and Haeundae Beach started attracting more tourists, the restaurant grew alongside the development of the area. Over time, three hanok-style buildings were constructed, and modern structures were added above them, resulting in its current form. Now operated by the third generation, it carries 60 years of history and is preparing for a century-long legacy.
In the past, the restaurant embodied many symbolic elements: tiled roofs, a traditional gate, trees, a courtyard, alleys between buildings, low horizontal walls, a weathering steel façade with a large sign, and even the sight of domed pot lids before grilling. Rather than a single defining image, it was a collection of diverse elements. This diversity, shaped over time, gave visitors a sense of comfort and familiarity, evoking a distinctly Korean atmosphere.
The space offered a unique experiential journey. From the main road, one could pass a single-story hanok wall, enter through a gate, and wander into narrow alleys. Alternatively, entry through a traditional gate from the rear road led directly into the central area. With no strict separation of arrivals and departures, and people of all ages mingling freely, it evoked the lively, communal feeling of a countryside feast.
The building still borders roads on three sides, with the main entrance now located at the rear. A new entrance replaces the traditional gate with an exposed concrete canopy and weathering steel walls. The central façade separates entry and exit, and visitors must pass beneath a deep eave before reaching the courtyard—making the act of entering itself an experience. The interplay of a grid structure and sunlight creates shadows that leave a lasting impression, allowing the space to form memories on its own.
The courtyard reinterprets the traditional yard. A lifted weathering steel wall and transparent glass create a fluid connection between inside and outside, nature and users, city and interior. With landscaping and water features, the courtyard functions as a waiting area, a central gathering space, and a small urban oasis.
The architecture reinterprets hanok principles in a modern way—not through visible decorative objects, but by emphasizing the horizontal proportions of a single-story structure, the spatial flow surrounding the courtyard, and the balance between openness and enclosure. Materials that age over time were chosen for the walls, embedding traces of time into the architecture. The exterior guides the eye, softens urban tension, and enhances the intimacy of the inner space.
The lower part of the walls is lifted to encourage natural visual flow, and various devices connect interior and exterior visually. Perforated metal surfaces on the south side blur silhouettes from outside while allowing those inside to sense the city’s atmosphere. Western louvers frame views of the courtyard and landscaping.
Though everything is newly built, the space remains a “place that holds memory.” By layering past sentiment with new spatial order, this architecture establishes a temporal foundation that ensures the restaurant continues to live on for future generations.
The renewed restaurant adopts the essence of hanok architecture. Rather than focusing on traditional materials like wood, earth, or tiles, it emphasizes the long, horizontal proportions and the spatial experience of the courtyard. While the new building rises to three stories due to programmatic needs, the elongated weathering steel walls embracing the courtyard carry forward the identity of the hanok.
This material gradually oxidizes from deep black to a warm orange tone over time. While its bright color draws attention, its primary role is to soften the scale of the concrete exterior and create a sense of intimacy within the enclosed space. It is not merely decorative but serves to harmonize the overall architecture.
Weathering steel also maintains continuity with the façade of earlier extensions. The walls are lifted to allow visual flow, and openings create connections between the city and the interior. Through perforated panels, the interior senses the city while the exterior glimpses silhouettes within. Western louvers offer framed views of the courtyard and its landscaping.
In the past, the restaurant was filled with visible activity and lively human presence from every angle. The new space continues this atmosphere through visual connections with the outside. Though transformed, HAEUNDAE GALBI HOUSE remains a place that carries forward its memories and emotional legacy.
[ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR]
Design CHO&PARTNERS
Designer Hyeonjin Cho, Chulho Lee, Soobin Kim
Floor area 1186.48㎡
Location Busan, Republic of Korea
Floor Tile, Stone
Wall Corten Steel, Concrete
Furniture Paint, Film, Fabric
Ceiling Special Paint
Photograph Dahae Park
