This bakery cafe is located at Mashian Beach, which offers views of Silmido Island and the West Sea, passing by Incheon International Airport on the way from Yeongjongdo. The beach road is already home to many well-known cafes and famous restaurants, making the competition intense. The biggest challenge was determining what kind of cafe could be competitive in this area.
Upon analysis, it became clear that the surrounding cafes focused more on famous brand names than on the architectural space itself, or they simply showcased the sea through vertical changes in the building's design. In contrast, we approached the project with a set of contrasting keywords. Rather than focusing on the sea, we wanted to create a space that would leave a lasting impression on visitors, making it fun and inspiring for a wide range of people.
From the moment visitors approach the cafe from the road, we decided to hide the sea view and the sign as much as possible. We first revealed the architectural elements that expressed the architect's intent, and only at the very end would coffee, pastries, and the sea view be shown. One of the most challenging aspects of the design was determining how to create the entrance. Instead of emphasizing a typical entrance visible directly from the parking lot, we decided to lead visitors through an architectural journey, making the entrance feel lighter and more subtly integrated into the space. To achieve this, we designed a massive wall that curves without columns, creating a space that seems to float above the ground and naturally leads into the interior. With the help of structural engineers, two continuous facades were created using a cantilevered design, resembling either the crashing waves of the sea or the form of a white whale.
The cafe is arranged in a square shape on a rectangular plot, with a central courtyard. Upon entering, visitors don't immediately see the sea but instead experience unexpected scenes created by the courtyard. The continuous flooring, designed like an architectural promenade, creates vertical and horizontal layers across the courtyard, offering diverse experiences. As views from each space intersect, they gradually connect the courtyard, the sky, the sea, and finally the coffee and people, forming a flowing, layered experience.
Rather than revealing the sea or the cafe all at once, we chose to gradually unfold these elements, like peeling an onion, allowing visitors to enjoy the space itself with a sense of surprise. While it is a small cafe, it offers a healing space full of things to see and feel, much like a travel destination, providing an escape from the everyday.
Although the building is an artificial structure, it integrates nature within it, blending with the natural surroundings. The space operates with both people and nature in harmony. The most important natural element of Mashian Beach—the sea—becomes a part of the cafe, working together with the land, sky, and people, forming a shared background for the architecture itself.
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