Dimly lit and enveloped in the brand’s signature purple-hue, Small Espresso Bar by KKOL Studio is a futuristic cafe featuring crisp lines, smooth surfaces, and metal accents.
Sleek and minimal, Small Espresso Bar is a modern cafe located in Bundang Yatap, Seongnam, South Korea, designed by KKOL Studio.
Photography by Kim Dong Gyu
Sleek and minimal, Small Espresso Bar is a modern cafe located in Bundang Yatap, Seongnam, South Korea, designed by KKOL Studio.
Dimly lit and enveloped in the brand’s signature purple-hue, the futuristic cafe features crisp lines, smooth surfaces, and metal accents. The design concept was inspired by “Tiki-Taka Tiqui-Taca”, a Spanish term that expresses the act of casual dialogue between the guest and the barista to create a sense of familiarity and comfort with impeccable service.
Visually, the concept was incorporated to maximise the space for guests to easily access the service counter from the entrance and this resulted in the designers replacing the building’s original staircase with a steel ladder that leads to the loft above. Positioned in the center of the room, the ladder becomes a sculptural piece, balancing the main seating area with the built-in bench.
Small espresso bar presents the slogan “miniscule yet not miniscule in taste.”
“The ladder —within the neatly organized, white-toned space — acts as a design object and endows the space with a sense of individuality unique to Seb.”
Ladder
“In South Korea, “tiki-taka” is used as a neologism, referencing the conversation between individuals with similar personalities. Beginning from our linguistic and cultural definition of “tiki-taka”, we built on the connoted relationship quality and impressions of “tiki-taka” and strived to reinterpret the term spatially.”
Catering to the cafe’s characteristic centering around regular customers, the interiors are structured in a way where the barista can be cognisant of and serve all the patrons that visit the space. The seating area can also be further divided into a bar table and bench area. Due to the quick nature of espressos, such patrons are expected to occupy the bench area while the bar seating is more of a space for visitors whose focus is on making conversation with the barista.
The signature purple-hued lighting wall is an idea that draws inspiration from the cycloramas of performance stages’, acting as an ingredient for shadow play. In this space, the action sequence consists of customers enjoying their coffee and the barista produces a new, differentiated scene from a play every single day. These mercurial silhouettes render a “space that is minuscule yet possessing infinite potential”. From the outside of the cafe or even when facing the shop head on, the lights can only be sensed as an aura and cannot be seen by customers directly. These lights, only discoverable upon penetrating deep into the space, provide customers with a unique spacial experience.
Indirect lighting frames the ceiling and back illuminated wall to expand the sense of space throughout the interior, while highlighting the linear countertops and black geometric furniture forms. Vertically lining the countertops is an unique display of five quaint sugar bowls set on top a metal plate, embossed with the brands logo ‘seb’, inviting a casual “Tiki-Taka” interaction.
Subtle yet refined, Small Espresso Bar offers guests a dynamic cinematic lighting experience with an intimate and relaxed atmosphere.
Sugar Bowls
“The five small sugar bowls provided at each table seat creates a visual rhythm. The sight of these sugar bowls moving to and from between customers and the barista act as the visual manifestation of the aforementioned “tiki-taka” relationship.”
KKOL Studio is an interior design studio specialising in spatial strategy, furniture, and lighting design.
Learn more about some of their latest projects:
Instagram: @kkol.studio
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