Paul Bassett Mokdong 5danji [No.40]

This cafe sits in a residential development in the Mokdong district of Seoul, on the west bank of the Han River. The design takes advantage of the location in an upscale neighborhood as well as the building’s high ceilings, with a small house and an elegant lounge forming its two central elements.

The interior of the small house is filled with warm light, and its large, low sofa offers a homey, relaxing place to sit. Randomly placed openings in the white walls loosely connect the interior of the house to the rest of the cafe, allowing the house to play a key role both as a strong presence in the space and a comfortable seating area.

In the lounge area next to the façade windows, sofas arranged on bold rugs loosely encircle the tables, providing a space where customers can sit, sip their coffee, and chat casually with one another. These two areas—the relaxing private living room and the elegant lounge filled with lively conversation—offer contrasting but equally special experiences representing “home” and “luxury.”