Relatum

The project, Relatum, is a studio commissioned by two sisters who are pâtissières specialising in traditional Korean desserts. Conceived as a place dedicated to their craft, it provides a space to bake, to teach, and to host small gatherings centred around their work. Above all, they sought a quiet retreat, enclosed by nature and immersed in trees.

To frame the project, we turned to the principle humble yet not crude, refined yet not extravagant, a phrase that closely captures the sensibility of Korean aesthetics. The architecture interprets this idea through restraint, clarity, and a balance between rawness and refinement. Formally, the project is organised through the relationship between two architectural elements, the volume and the wall. Each represents a distinct language. The volume contains the primary studio space, while the enclosing wall defines the boundary of the site and garden. Together, these elements form a cohesive architectural composition.

A simple concrete volume sits within enclosing walls and garden spaces, establishing a self contained microcosm that separates the studio from the surrounding suburban landscape of Seongnam. Openings are positioned with precision to frame nature, allowing light, trees, and the changing seasons to enter the interior. Relatum is therefore understood as a place defined through relationships, between volume and wall, interior and garden, craft and landscape, forming a quiet setting dedicated to the sisters’ practice.