Wook Choi / Republic of Korea

Modern design repository contained with traditional architectural beauty

Architect Wook Choi’s Hyundai Card Design Library is located within the hanok (traditional Korean house) preservation district of Gahoe-dong. In 2013 he renovated the former Gallery Seomi, which was designed by Tae-yong Yoo in 2000, into this modern design library. When designing Gallery Seomi, the architect had created a hanok-style library on the second floor to harmonize with the surrounding landscape and comply with strict constructionrequirements of the preservation district. To this day, the library remains intact, seamlessly melding with the surrounding Bukchon area.

The building's façade is both stylish and classic with hanok eaves and a numaru (lofted floor) on the second floor, as well as antique-style black clay bricks and a modern wooden door on the first floor. Once you enter the library, the rectangular Korean-style courtyard welcomes you. Choi preserved this outdoor space, a trace of the original hanok tha had been there even before Gallery Seomi was constructed. During the construction of Gallery Seomi, Yoo had built the second floor library using recycled wooden materials collected when tearing down the original house. Traditional features such as the numaru add a sense of openness, diversity, and traditional beauty to the modern building.

Hyundai Card Design Library houses a collection of approximately 17,000 books related to design, architecture, and modern art following the Bauhaus* movement when the modern design spirit was created. A collection of books carefully selected by global book curators, including rare or out of print books, as well as books specializing in design show the professionalism and objectiveness pursued by the design library. If you are a designer or are interested in design, Hyundai Card Design Library is a must-visit place where you can witness beauty created by “the harmony of traditional Korean and modern architecture” as well as professional design books.

TIP : Hyundai Card operates libraries across Seoul under different themes such as Design, Travel, Music, and Cooking.