Project Name: OZBE Cafe

Location: Andong，South Korea

Design Team: KKOL Studio

Project Area: 495 m²

Completion Date: 2025

Construction: IAAP STUDIO

Photography: Donggyu Kim

Feature：

Project - In a striking convergence of industrial aesthetics and organic vitality, OZBE Cafe by KKOL Studio emerges as a masterful exploration of contrast in Andong's vibrant cafe scene. This 495-square-meter establishment, completed in 2025, reimagines the conventional cafe typology by integrating a premium fruit market with sophisticated lounging spaces across four meticulously crafted floors.

The project's conceptual foundation draws inspiration from an unlikely source: flowers emerging from concrete crevices. This poetic interpretation manifests throughout the space, where raw concrete surfaces create a deliberately austere backdrop for the vibrant display of fresh fruits and carefully curated vegetation. KKOL Studio's approach challenges the expected discord between industrial materials and organic elements, instead crafting a harmonious dialogue that enhances both.

The spatial programming reflects a thoughtful vertical hierarchy: the ground floor houses the fruit market, establishing an immediate connection with street-level activity, while the upper floors transition into more intimate lounging spaces. The material palette is anchored by the interplay between exposed concrete and warm maple hardwood, creating a sophisticated foundation that allows the colorful produce to become an integral part of the interior design scheme.

What sets OZBE apart is its inclusive design approach, addressing the diverse needs of its anticipated clientele. The studio has developed a series of bespoke furniture pieces that appeal to multiple generations – from playful curved benches with slatted details that intrigue younger visitors to ergonomically considered seating arrangements for mature patrons. This attention to multi-generational functionality elevates the space beyond mere aesthetic consideration into a truly user-centric environment.

The result is a revolutionary retail-cafe hybrid that transcends conventional categorization, where industrial architecture serves as a canvas for celebrating natural abundance, and where every design decision reinforces the core concept of vital energy emerging from structural austerity.

Design Team - KKOL Studio, established in July 2021 in South Korea, has rapidly emerged as a notable presence in contemporary spatial design. Under the leadership of founding partners Euisun Yoon and Hongbeom An, the practice operates as an intimate atelier-style studio, bringing a meticulous approach to architectural and interior interventions across various scales.

The studio's design philosophy centers on the democratization of spatial quality, rejecting the conventional hierarchy of project scale in favor of a more nuanced, narrative-driven approach. Their methodology is characterized by a holistic design process that considers every spatial element as an integral part of the overall architectural composition.

Since its inception, KKOL Studio has developed a distinctive portfolio that spans retail, hospitality, and commercial sectors. Their work is marked by a sophisticated understanding of materiality and an ability to create immersive spatial experiences that transcend typical programmatic constraints. The studio's recent completion of OZBE Cafe exemplifies their talent for balancing raw architectural elements with refined details and thoughtful programming.

The practice maintains its creative integrity through a deliberately selective approach to commissions, operating with a core team of four designers who oversee all aspects of the design process, from conceptual development through to material specification and construction documentation. This hands-on methodology ensures a consistent level of quality and attention to detail across all projects.