YUN Eyewear’s Seoul Flagship Store
Established in Berlin in 2015, Korean eyewear brand YUN has recently opened its first flagship store on home soil, in Seoul’s Seongsu neighbourhood. Local studio LABOTORY designed the interiors to exemplify the refined minimalism and innovative technology that YUN is known for. We speak with design co-director Kee Min Park to find out more about his studio’s approach
Design Anthology: How did you first meet the client?
Kee Min Park: I first encountered YUN in Berlin, when I passed by the brand’s flagship store. It was fate — a while after I’d returned to Seoul, I received an email from the founders, and we had our first meeting.
What’s unique about the building and the location?
Seongsu was one of Seoul’s industrial areas in the 1960s, but the decline of industry and manufacturing meant factories began to close. Young brands began to move in, and Seongsu became something like Brooklyn in the US. This energy makes it a fitting home for YUN’s first flagship store in Korea.
What was your approach to the project?
Above all, I tried to find the meaning of the word ‘balance’, which is central to YUN’s brand philosophy. I questioned what ‘balance’ is in my life and in my design work. There’s also a sense of balance in LABOTORY’s own design philosophy, and we wanted to reflect on and incorporate our definition of balance.
What design references or narrative did you try to incorporate?
YUN’s eyewear balances mechanical precision with an analogue aesthetic and embraces the differences and similarities between East and West. Considering this, we wanted to create a unique spatial experience that reflects Korea’s minimalist sensibilities. We incorporated traditional Dansaekhwa (monochrome painting) techniques and the nuances of white porcelain to express the minimalism of the eyewear. The simple but repetitive language of Dansaekhwa is paired with cool white light that emphasises the texture of the concrete and reflects light into the space.
The floor plan is inspired by a traditional hanok, with the convex white ceiling representing a cloud in the sky, as seen from the courtyard. The columns were inserted to distinguish key areas like the showroom, coffee shop and production facilities. The unique characteristics of these various elements create a balance of warmth and minimalism that reflect YUN’s brand identity.
Images / Yongjoon Choi
