Yyyyynnn · Seoul, South Korea

The designers based the cafe’s design on the idea of ‘meaninglessness’; perhaps an existential concept for the hospitality industry yet the cafe’s interior proves the opposite. ‘Yyyyynnn’, although sparse in the traditional sense, encapsulates a less-is-more approach to design. The cafe is situated in a residential part of Samcheong-dong, an area known for its independent art galleries and concept stores. Working to an open brief, Creative Studio Unravel wanted to keep renovations to a minimum, making use of the raw concrete walls. The understated space is separated into two rooms by a concrete partition through the middle; one side is furnished with distinct pieces for customers to engage with—a polished concrete communal table with stools can be isolated via a sliding glass wall, and those seeking takeaway coffee can perch on low wooden benches on the front porch. In the adjacent room, two elongated service counters clad in grey stone panels are positioned across from electric blue velvet couches. ‘Yyyyynnn’ offers a selection of coffee, teas, and cakes, in an interesting Brutalist space designed for slow mornings.