Dduddu House & Ajour Cafe Combines Home and Cafe

Dduddu House & Ajour Cafe in South Korea, designed by PLS Architects in 2022, combines exposed concrete and white-painted facades. The project integrates a home and a cafe, reflecting the owner’s desire to create a space centered around their child. The unique design reinterprets local planning guidelines to harmonize commercial and residential functions, featuring a layout that balances public and private spaces.

Modern mixed-use building with glass facade, striped panels, and courtyard entry.

Integrating work and everyday life

Dduddu House & Ajour Cafe, located in the Geoje residential development zone in South Korea, stands out for its distinctive architectural design. The structure features exposed concrete on the second floor and a white-painted façade on the second floor. Upon entering, visitors encounter a small but spacious café run by the owners. This innovative project combines a house and a commercial space, creating a harmonious environment that balances work and daily life with children.
A minimalist living space with large windows, a neutral sofa, and clean architectural lines.
The couple who own the property had long dreamed of building a house that would capture the essence of their daily life with their son. They chose the Aju-dong residential development area because of its proximity to their workplaces and its potential as a beloved space for neighborhood residents. Although the area was mainly occupied by small multi-family houses serving the thriving shipbuilding industry, the owners wanted a distinctive living space. Their vision centered on a home that prioritized the needs of their children and embodied the values they cherished.
Minimalist interior with concrete ceiling, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a small courtyard garden.

Balance between privacy and community

One of the unique features of Dduddu House & Ajour Cafe is its integrated design. The building combines the cafe’s ancillary facilities, the office and the residential entrance into a single mass. Each area is separated according to its purpose, with the office serving as the central space connecting the café and the residence. On the second floor, the front area, facing the road, is dedicated to public spaces such as the living room, while the rear area is designed to protect privacy. This arrangement allows the family to relate to their neighbors while maintaining their personal space.
Minimalist architectural design with concrete, metal, and greenery elements.
To accommodate the building’s two functions, PLS Architects reinterpreted and applied the regulations of the Unitary District Planning Guidelines. These guidelines govern the purpose, scale, form and relationship between buildings and outdoor spaces, as well as roof shapes, to improve the aesthetics of the city and provide a favorable environment. The architects balanced these regulations with the owner’s requirements, resulting in a unique design that emphasizes the coexistence of commercial and residential spaces.
Spacious, minimalist interior with floor-to-ceiling windows, open kitchen layout, and modern design.

Adaptation to the Planning Guidelines

The Unit District Planning Guidelines played a significant role in the design of Dduddu House & Ajour Cafe. Although they serve as a legal means of achieving the city’s planning objectives, these guidelines can sometimes hinder personal dreams and architectural imagination. The owner’s requirements included a small family café, a house with protected privacy and a courtyard, and the coexistence of two programs in one building. The guidelines stipulated a commercial/residential floor area ratio of 4:6 and required that more than 50% of the total roof area had a slope of 4/10 or more.
Modern interior with net ceiling, storage boxes, and hardwood flooring.

To achieve the desired objectives while respecting these guidelines, the architects proposed a design that separated the commercial and residential spaces. The structure opens up to the surroundings but is protected from the neighboring multi-family houses, creating a unique architectural expression that respects both the guidelines and the owner’s vision. The result is a harmonious space that integrates work and daily life, satisfying the needs of the family and contributing to the neighborhood.
An indoor courtyard with a mature tree, concrete walls, and glass windows overlooking the exterior space.
Diverse architecture featuring mixed-use buildings, with residential, commercial, and public spaces.
Modern architectural facade with minimalist design, prominent signage, and illuminated details.

Photography courtesy of PLS Architects
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- by Matt Watts

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