Aesop Lotte World Tower Mall

In the design of Aesop Lotte World Tower Mall, Seoul, Suh Architects abstracted elements of the traditional Korean hanok home and extended maru porch to create a convivial retreat. A deep eave draws visitors into an intimate courtyard of reclaimed timber and rough-hewn stone. Timber slats, suspended from the ceiling at an oblique angle, lower the scale of the room while vertical ribs articulate the staggered shelving. A large stone basin provides a place to explore and savour while a low bench protrudes from the opposite wall—a gathering place reminiscent of the familiar pyung sang.