Turning Public Libraries into Cafe-like Reading Spaces

As the standard of quality of life increases, more and more people are showing interest in interior design. In this trend, MAT.E Architects/MAT.E Architects Architectural Firm (CEOs Kim Sung-jin/Kim Hong-chul/Lee Byeong-wook), which creates more valuable spaces by sublimating everyday stories into architecture, is attracting great attention.

 

Avengers of architecture and interiors focus on public library renovations

Located in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, the company specializes in architectural interior design and construction, remodeling, renewal, and consulting with a commitment to responsible construction, and also operates MAT.E Architects Architectural Firm. The three CEOs are known as the Avengers of architecture because they are young architects with expertise in architectural interiors, a keen eye for detail, and a drive for excellence, creativity, and challenge. They focus on public library remodeling projects (60-70% of all projects), envisioning how to improve and develop public libraries to benefit many citizens. They first understand the location of the building, the characteristics of the space, the local identity, the surrounding environment, cultural values, the age range of library users, and the needs of the client. They then respect the identity and originality of the space as much as possible, and transform it into a high-class space that conforms to the basic value of architecture, which is purposefulness, and combines practicality, user convenience, originality, and aesthetics.

 

Achasan Forest Library, Seoul Outdoor Library, and 13 other public libraries nationwide

Transforming the library into an open space with a book cafe atmosphere

MAT.E Architects remodeled the Gwangjin Information Library located in Achasan-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, at the beginning of its establishment. With a limited budget, they transformed the existing library’s standardized design into an open space with a book café atmosphere. As a result, the satisfaction of not only library users but also librarians and staff increased, leading to a significant increase in the number of users and a positive result of expanding awareness of the Gwangjin Information Library. The company also took on the interior design work of the Achasan Forest Library, which was built on a former garbage dump site. They completed a modern and eco-friendly book café-style library using light so that users can enjoy the beautiful scenery outside the window while reading books. They also created a leisure space on the terrace where people can talk and rest. As a result, the library has been featured on Instagram several times and has become a hot place to visit instead of a cafe, creating a huge response. The company remodeled the library on the first floor of the Jayang 4-dong Community Center in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul in 2008. The space was crammed with books, lacking reading space, and the interior was dark, so they pushed the bookshelves to one side and arranged them at different lengths to create an open, dynamic reading space. They installed soft lighting on the ceiling and bookshelves to create focal points, and transformed the bookshelves themselves into exhibition objects. As a result, since reopening in January, the number of new members has increased by a surprising 43%. 

 

Receiving ‘Korea Space Culture Award’, ‘Public Architecture Award’, ‘2024 Social and Industrial Contribution Best Brand Award’

In 2020, MAT.E Architects won the Korea Space Culture Award, a presidential award, for the design and construction of the interior of the Jeonju Youth Library in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do. The company was honored with the ‘Public Architecture Award’ from the Korean Institute of Architects for its performance in designing (joint design by eus+architects) and remodeling construction of the Gongneung Youth Culture Information Center (all 6 floors). The company also participated in the design and construction of the ‘Seoul Outdoor Library’ (Seoul Plaza for Reading/Gwanghwamun Book Yard/Clear Stream for Reading) an experimental project hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Library every year. By placing flexible, mobile, and comfortable beanbag sofas customized for the event in the grassy Gwanghwamun Book Yard, the space was transformed into a relaxing place to read in the heart of the city. The Seoul Library became the first public library in Korea to receive the 2023 Green Library Award and the 2024 International Marketing Award from the International Federation of Library Associations (IFRA) for its successful Seoul Outdoor Library project, which emerged as a new library model. The company has completed remodeling projects for 11 public libraries nationwide, including the Suncheon Eoullim Library, the Guui 2-dong Gwangjin Children’s English Library (Book Playground), and the Seoul Art Book Report furniture design for the complex cultural space in Gocheok Dome, and is currently carrying out remodeling design work at two other locations.

 

Making it commonplace for people to say “meet me at the library” instead of a cafe

Transforming a normal space into an inviting space

In addition to public libraries, the company has received acclaim for its work on Wolgye-dong and Mangwon-dong neighborhood living facilities, hanok residence remodeling, bakery cafes, and new office buildings. Kim Sung-jin says “Libraries are places to cultivate humanities through books, and they are as important as plazas and parks. I would like to transform existing public libraries, which are often uncharacteristically monotonous, into attractive spaces that everyone loves, like Starbucks, in line with the 21st century architectural paradigm, where communication and empathy are the keywords.”