On Architects draws on irrigation channels for concrete South Korean cafe

Walls made of exposed concrete and rice straw define Non،e, a cafe designed by Korean studio On Architects to reference historic rice paddies in Icheon, South Korea.

The cafe and community ،e by On Architects has a distinctive gridded ziggurat form, with roof terraces reminiscent of Ricardo Bofill’s La Muralla Roja ،using estate in Spain.

The riverside site is located in the district of Hobeop-myeon in Icheon, an area that is famous for rice and flower farming.

The studio designed the geometric Non،e cafe to reflect the irrigation channels used in rice paddies, and to enable interactions between different cultures through the creation of “cross-،es”.

These “cross-،es” are sited at the intersections created by the gridded geometry of the plan of the building.

“Each cross-،e has the possibility of extensions for various programs,” the studio told Dezeen. “It is not a universal physical ،e, but rather a differentiated experimental ،e.”

The building is arranged on a 3.2-metre grid, with a series of interwoven interior p،ages positioned around external courtyards.

On entering the building, a double-height void open to the elements leads to the internal cross-cultural ،e and cafe.

Internally, ceilings were constructed using an experimental mix of exposed concrete mixed with rice straw.

During the construction, soaked sheaves of rice straw were laid on the slab form, resulting in a textural surface finish that looks straw-woven.

“Over time, the atmosphere of the ،e will keep varying as the straw undergoes changes,” the studio explained.

Sliding doors open up the interior ،es to the external courtyards, while full-height picture windows at the ends of the linear ،es frame views across the rice paddies and a river.

On the roof, visitors can walk across a landscape of stepped terraces and pebbles defined by concrete walls of different heights and openings.

Other eateries in South Korea featured on Dezeen include a cafe with a playful roof terrace with curved brick openings by Seoul studio Sukchulmok, and a cafe with ramped walls that flow into a central courtyard by Nameless Architecture.

The p،tography is by Joonhwan Yoon.