U.lab

The MAYBELL bakery in Seoul is an institution. When Jung Woong was planning a new store, he wanted to create a space where he could bake bread for the rest of his life. The building and shop designed by U.lab is therefore fully focused on this purpose, and every detail – from room layout, colours and materials to the lighting concept – tells the story of bread baking.

Interview with U.lab

Red Dot: The concept of time played an important role in the exterior and interior design. Why is that?
U.lab: Making bread is a process involving multiple steps and waiting periods for fermentation, kneading and baking. Similarly, a room is only truly complete when it matures over time, so to speak. We therefore decided to combine architectural form and materials with the concept of time. For example, we cut open the outer wall on the side where the sun rises so that the morning light could penetrate deep into the room. We also selected and produced materials that age gracefully. The black steel panels used throughout the space will naturally develop reddish stains over time, and the ceramic material with hand-embossed textures will show different light reflections and shadows depending on the season and time of day.

The bakery has no windows. What made you decide to create such an enclosed space?
We wanted to create a space where the bakers could concentrate, one that is completely dedicated to them. The view from the roof terrace is fantastic, but all views on the other floors are obstructed by the surrounding buildings. That’s why we decided to create a very focused space at the centre of the building consisting of a courtyard and a small garden.

Can you tell me more about the interior lighting design?
The lighting design is multifaceted. The ceramic wall lights have a similar structure to the facade tiles, and the lights above the counters have been designed to resemble the structure of hand-kneaded dough. Pendant luminaires with baguette trays as reflectors hang above a long table, and the bread in the display cabinets is illuminated with precision and focus.

How do customers perceive the space?
Many of them say it has a gallery-like atmosphere. It’s definitely an out-of-the-ordinary experience that they won’t find in a typical bakery.