Bamia
2025
Mangwon, Seoul
Restaurant
In Progress
Bamia is a small restaurant in Seoul’s Mangwon neighborhood. The space was originally a late-night whiskey bar, purchased by a new chef-owner seeking to gradually transform it into a daytime restaurant with full food service. We were commissioned to provide design consultation, spatial planning, construction coordination, and rebranding.
Original
Because the project would evolve in stages—each dependent on new funding and a growing customer base—the design needed to anticipate its future state from the start. The challenge was to create a coherent identity and spatial framework that could function through transition: a complete design built through partial implementation. The existing bar featured dark lounge seating, aging fixtures, and disorganized storage.
Transition
The first stage of renovation, now underway, focused on enabling kitchen service within the existing bar footprint. A new custom bar and suspended cabinet increased usable kitchen area while maintaining visibility between staff and guests. Stainless steel work surfaces and expanded prep space replaced the deteriorated wood fittings, establishing a durable foundation for future expansion.
Realization
The second stage reconfigures the rear of the space into a full professional kitchen, including a gas range, dishwashing station, and cold storage. Each new element integrates with the previous phase, ensuring the space can evolve without redundant work or waste. The phased construction approach allows operations to continue while the restaurant transitions toward its final form.
This project is ongoing.