In the realm of architectural evolution, South Korea's unique built environment has flourished through the ages, embodying a fusion of audacious experimentation and cultural phenomenon. This synergy of architecture, art, and engineering converge within conspicuous yet versatile compositions, a testament to the country's innovative and tactile interventions that define contemporary Korean architecture. Guided by a tint of Western ideals – of design, refined minimalism and sleek lines activate the transformation of culture-rooted architecture into cohesive and modern spaces even within a commercial capacity, relaying contemporary sophistication and nostalgic soulfulness. Amidst this backdrop, an endearing narrative emerges – one that is vividly encapsulated within the innovative conception of NONSPACE. In the heart of Icheon-Si, South Korea, a visionary creation by On Architects Inc takes form, as a matrix of meticulously arranged concrete boxes coalesces into an interesting cafe design. The canvas is a sprawling 428-square-meter structure, curated to rejuvenate a local village steeped in the heritage of rice and flower farming.

The project emerges as an experimental cross-cultural facility, responding to the area's demographic decline, by fostering interactions between diverse cultures. The intricate arrangement of its floor plan adopts a woven layout, reminiscent of the irrigation channels that grace the landscape's rice paddies. The resulting pockets formed, are aptly named ‘cross spaces’ which are strategically situated at the crossroads of the building's gridded geometric design. “Each cross-space has the possibility of extensions for various programs. It is not a universalized physical space but a differentiated experimental space”, shares the design team.

Furthermore, the studio adds, “The intent is for it to be the spatial platform for a local cultural complex created in the private sector, going beyond ordinary commercial spaces. In this way, other cultures will merge and interact, continuing the creation of the new. The cross-spaces created in the widthwise and depthwise orders will produce a new variety of cross-cultures in an extensible way.”

Designed with precision, the building is thoughtfully structured on a 3.2-meter grid, featuring an extensive arrangement of interwoven interior passages interlaced with external courtyards. Internally, the ceilings are fashioned from a distinctive blend of exposed concrete and rice straw. This unique technique is commenced even before the concrete is poured, with sheaves of rice straw carefully positioned along the slab forms. Upon infusion with water, the straw absorbs the moisture of the concrete, melding harmoniously with its surface. The resultant effect is a tactile tribute to nature, as the slab texture mirrors the organic surroundings. Employed on the ceilings, these straw-treated finishes create an effective juxtaposition with the polished concrete walls and flooring. This building aspires to evoke the essence of straw-woven spaces, interweaving tradition and modernity.

The interior design expands into external courtyards through sliding doors, and at the terminus of linear areas, expansive full-height picture windows offer framed views spanning rice paddies and a river. On the roof, visitors have the opportunity to stroll through a landscape of tiered terraces and pebbles, bordered by concrete walls of varying heights and openings. “Walking through the indoor space, you can encounter two different elements of nature continuously: opening and closing, shrinking and expanding, and brightness and darkness. At the ends of the nine spaces, are the visual joys of seeing different landscapes extending outward”, concludes the studio on the overarching concept of this project.

The building's central theme revolves around exploring the connection between structured formality and adaptable functionality. Beyond defining spaces, the interplay between form and function extends to encompass seamless visual, auditory, olfactory and tactile transitions. More than an inhabited mass, the building operates as a mechanism that frames, captures, deconstructs, and reconfigures the surrounding landscape through a dynamic interplay of intersections, convergences, and visual linkages.

Project Details

Name: NONSPACE Café
Location: Icheon-Si, South Korea
Architects: On Architects Inc
Total Floor Area: 428 Sq.M
Completion Year: 2022
Lead Architect: Jung Woongsik