A unique coffee shop in Seoul, South Korea, has captured attention for its innovative design philosophy that seeks to recreate classical notions of abundance within an urban environment. Natural High, designed by FHHH friends architecture studio, represents a thoughtful exploration of how modern spaces can evoke the timeless feelings of fullness and contentment traditionally associated with natural landscapes.
The 142-square-meter coffee shop, completed in 2019, was conceived as a response to the challenge of creating abundance in what the architects describe as a "dry city." The design team, led by Han Seung Jae, Han Yang Kyu, and Yoon Han Jin, drew inspiration from the contrast between classical abundance—characterized by green trees, flowing streams, youthful vigor, bright sunshine, and carefree laughter—and the modern urban reality of Seoul's streetscapes.
According to the architects' project description, the design philosophy emerged from observations about how people in contemporary cities define abundance differently than in the past. "Modern people find abundance in things that are practically useful," the architects noted, referencing how size of homes, bank account figures, and prestigious business cards have become markers of prosperity in today's world.
The design concept specifically references ancient Persian carpets as a model for their approach. Just as Persian craftsmen extracted pigments from natural sources and wove landscape patterns into their carpets to create unchanging moments of abundance, the FHHH friends team used stone, steel, and concrete to recreate natural scenery within the coffee shop space. This historical parallel informed their decision to memorialize what they describe as "fleeting garden-like abundance" within the urban context.
The architects drew particular inspiration from European cities, where classical abundance still lingers in the form of deep green parks encountered while walking and small squares where clean water runs from old fountains. These moments of "effortless generosity" served as reference points for creating similar feelings within the Seoul coffee shop, despite the challenging urban environment characterized by tall street trees paired with high-rise buildings, rows of black jackets, and sidewalks paved with identical blocks.
The design team included Park Hyesang and On Jinsung, with engineering and consulting support provided by Glow Design. The project was documented through photography by Roh Kyung, whose images capture the interplay between the industrial materials and the natural abundance the space seeks to evoke.
Natural High represents a broader architectural conversation about how contemporary designers can address the human desire for abundance and connection to nature within increasingly urbanized environments. The coffee shop serves as both a functional space for Seoul residents and a meditation on what abundance means in the modern world, challenging visitors to reconsider their relationship with both natural and constructed environments.
