A better place.
why
When to Get Closer to the Ideal
Jongno is the downtown area of Seoul with many years of history yet is less than trendiness. Having run a project on residential space in the past, the host Moon Sukjin began asking himself about an ideal place for living. The project itself did not see its completion, but based on the past experience, the host began designing and drawing up plans to materialize the ideas. In parallel, Moon searched around numerous neighborhoods before finding the fourth floor of a building nearby Jonggak Station in Seoul downtown. The host chose where A better place. is now, because first, he wanted to take part in reviving the upper floors of a commercial district strained by gentrification and second, he felt that a place to stay did not necessarily be located in the lower floor of a building. Moreover, he liked the fact that the building was easier to find, located in the area with floating population.
At first, Moon drew up his plans with ambitions. He thought about implementing smart technology throughout the place or creating a space themed around certain ideas. But in the end, Moon Sukjin decided to turn to ideas he could bring to reality himself, because he believed that the key word, “better” that he had been pursuing should be relevant to user experience. Then he started from a set of fundamental questions such as “what could our life look like this in coming years?” and “how would guests react to new ideas?” Just as only few would comment that the movie, “Her” is groundless, Moon firmly believes that design could balance between novelty and reality. Thus, the host of A better place. defines that a good design is about unveiling new ideas that can be functional and practical for many.
At first, Moon drew up his plans with ambitions. He thought about implementing smart technology throughout the place or creating a space themed around certain ideas. But in the end, Moon Sukjin decided to turn to ideas he could bring to reality himself, because he believed that the key word, “better” that he had been pursuing should be relevant to user experience. Then he started from a set of fundamental questions such as “what could our life look like this in coming years?” and “how would guests react to new ideas?” Just as only few would comment that the movie, “Her” is groundless, Moon firmly believes that design could balance between novelty and reality. Thus, the host of A better place. defines that a good design is about unveiling new ideas that can be functional and practical for many.
people
The Designer Who Pursues Pleasant Experience
The designer and host of A better place., Moon Sukjin studied industrial design and has run various design projects, spanning from branding to package design. Recently, Moon has been working closely with his partner from Europe on furniture design. He commented that he would invest his time finding places to stay when he prepared for travelling, whether that is for vacation or business. To him, such place should not merely be a place for sleeping – rather, it should be a place to spend quality time and have experience. And based on his own experience, Moon came to open what is now A better place. The host added that inspiration came mostly from intangible elements. To this extent, he and his team always pays attention to creating a space to satisfy all senses, with details including, welcome music played at the entrance and subtle fragrance.
The designer host recalls that the idea for A better place. was first incepted about five years ago, when his former employer was commissioned by a construction company to run a project on residential spaces. The project was dropped later, but sketches and fascinating ideas lingered in his mind like afterimages that he decided to materialize them all. Moon first shaped his idea of what could an ideal home looks like and then formulated his business plan for A better place. Because it is open to receive feedback, he found himself being able to take immediate actions. For instance, after carefully listening to the customers’ voice that the dark entrance made them feel scared, the entrance added lightings and upon finding reviews that it was overwhelmingly quiet, the host began playing welcome music. Being true to the name, the host continues his efforts in making A better place. the “better” place.
The designer host recalls that the idea for A better place. was first incepted about five years ago, when his former employer was commissioned by a construction company to run a project on residential spaces. The project was dropped later, but sketches and fascinating ideas lingered in his mind like afterimages that he decided to materialize them all. Moon first shaped his idea of what could an ideal home looks like and then formulated his business plan for A better place. Because it is open to receive feedback, he found himself being able to take immediate actions. For instance, after carefully listening to the customers’ voice that the dark entrance made them feel scared, the entrance added lightings and upon finding reviews that it was overwhelmingly quiet, the host began playing welcome music. Being true to the name, the host continues his efforts in making A better place. the “better” place.
location
Discovering New Aspects of Jongno
In the central part of Seoul, Jongno, to everybody’s dismay, a place to stay is hiding in a food alley that was once dubbed “Piano Alley” for lines of piano shops in the past, making a stark contrast with the neighborhood atmosphere. While the former industrial districts like Euljiro and Seongsu-don are transforming into hipsters’ haven and Hannam-dong and Itaewon are still attracting many, Jongro has remained to be one of bustling business districts, rather than a district luring the millennials. In short, Jongno was one of the areas that were somewhat behind the trend shifts, as well as one of the crowded districts. A better place. is found on the fourth floor of a commercial building that was long been abandoned. The address barely gives a clue that the place is located at the heart of the bustling downtown of the city. And moreover, you are likely to be lost in the alley as the place is large nor has eye-catching signposts.
Once you manage to find the building, you enter passwords in the elevator to get access. The passwords will make a magic key to get the elevator moving to the fourth floor. With the elevator slid open, a scene of entrance spreads in front, leaping beyond expectations from a place in Jongno. This welcome zone, waiting to welcome its guests, perfectly shuts off any distractions from outside. Another password will then give access to Room #401, opening door to an entirely different world from the food alley of Jongno.
Once you manage to find the building, you enter passwords in the elevator to get access. The passwords will make a magic key to get the elevator moving to the fourth floor. With the elevator slid open, a scene of entrance spreads in front, leaping beyond expectations from a place in Jongno. This welcome zone, waiting to welcome its guests, perfectly shuts off any distractions from outside. Another password will then give access to Room #401, opening door to an entirely different world from the food alley of Jongno.
MAKING STORY
For construction the team paired up with Unique Design Factory that they had been working closely for years. For challenging issues such as engineering, Moon exchanged ideas with then partner and the CEO of Unique Design Factory, Baek Seunghae. They made amazing partnership and teamwork in finding ideas that had not been tried before and working closely to share brilliant ideas.
They spent the longest hours designing signature modular walls. A better place. presents nine different pieces of modular walls that can function as adjustable furniture. A better place. Past the minimalistic entrance, you will find the place with a good balance between form and functionality that can readily be adjusted to preference and lifestyle of individual guests. Electric outlets, smartphone chargers, HDMI output next to TVs and Ethernet cable output are all part of the modular walls. And at the same time, all items are deftly stored. For instance, books can be kept in the reading space while ventilators in the kitchen are made invisible behind the modular walls. All kitchenware items are tidily stored as well. All of these modules are designed based on imagination on what would be applicable for future homes.
They spent the longest hours designing signature modular walls. A better place. presents nine different pieces of modular walls that can function as adjustable furniture. A better place. Past the minimalistic entrance, you will find the place with a good balance between form and functionality that can readily be adjusted to preference and lifestyle of individual guests. Electric outlets, smartphone chargers, HDMI output next to TVs and Ethernet cable output are all part of the modular walls. And at the same time, all items are deftly stored. For instance, books can be kept in the reading space while ventilators in the kitchen are made invisible behind the modular walls. All kitchenware items are tidily stored as well. All of these modules are designed based on imagination on what would be applicable for future homes.
With his team, the industrial designer went through research in target areas and invested vast amount of time touring around numerous buildings to see conditions for themselves. He and his team had a lengthy checklist with items including, elevator, safety after dark and noise from outside. What is now A better place., was one of only few of the shortlist that the designer team ticked most of the boxes in the checklist. The team poured available resources throughout the planning and design process and sought for a makeover to the possible extent. Walls, in particular, caught the designer’s eyes. To his eyes, walls often remained unused in many homes. From a belief that walls would only be a large and redundant surface if they were not properly used, the host felt that if he could use these walls adequately, they would make the space look tidier and thus, be relevant to residential spaces.
For space composition, The Unité d'habitation by late Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier had been the key source of inspiration. Still inhabited today, the housing had long been a model for modern day condominiums and the host and designer liked efficiency of space composition. One of the ideas that the host borrowed for A better place. was the sliding door that would effectively divide the space in a single unit. The design idea and plans went through countless rounds of modification and adjustment and vast amount of time was invested to find material to the taste and satisfaction of the designer and his team. Indeed, A better place. is an outcome of trials and errors. And for the next A better place., the host and his team look forward to finding solution that are yet to be resolved.
For space composition, The Unité d'habitation by late Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier had been the key source of inspiration. Still inhabited today, the housing had long been a model for modern day condominiums and the host and designer liked efficiency of space composition. One of the ideas that the host borrowed for A better place. was the sliding door that would effectively divide the space in a single unit. The design idea and plans went through countless rounds of modification and adjustment and vast amount of time was invested to find material to the taste and satisfaction of the designer and his team. Indeed, A better place. is an outcome of trials and errors. And for the next A better place., the host and his team look forward to finding solution that are yet to be resolved.
SPACE
For Better Homes in the Near Future
Passing the entrance door, lounge chairs and floor lamps are the first to welcome guests, in the space that is blessed with abundant sunlight. As I took off shoes and enter the space to finally look right, I could see the space at a glance. The studio-type space certainly looked and felt spacious. The bedroom is nicely packed with bed and sofa with coherency in design. I sat on the sofa and turned the TV on. Then as I looked around, I found modular furniture, instead of empty walls. The modular walls stored almost everything I could take out to play in the space next to the bedroom. To my dismay, all of these were nicely stored so that they remain invisible before they were actually pulled out.
Then as I turned left, I could find a sliding door between right and left side of the space. As I closed the sliding door after dark, I felt that I could shut off from the rest of the world for a sound sleep. On the left, I could see the table and the kitchen. The lamp on the table is adjustable in level of lighting to ensure convenience for different use, such as dining and working. In the kitchen, I found that tableware and kitchenware were easy to find, while the modular furniture made its presence. Fascinatingly, while most of the tableware and kitchenware were not visible, the items such as cups and dishes that were inevitable to be visible were all matching well with color palettes of A better place. Behind the heavy metallic door of the kitchen, the hallway stretched to the bathroom and the restroom, with a large bathtub and two washstands. What is peculiar about A better place. is that it has paid even to the smallest details such as soaps. They are so small that any guests can use them all while staying. The designer designed the soap, from deep-rooted guilt from past experience in disposing amenity products after single use at accommodations. A better place. may impress guests with the design at first, and then leave them amazed by the fact that it has paid attention to what have often been deemed trivial.
Then as I turned left, I could find a sliding door between right and left side of the space. As I closed the sliding door after dark, I felt that I could shut off from the rest of the world for a sound sleep. On the left, I could see the table and the kitchen. The lamp on the table is adjustable in level of lighting to ensure convenience for different use, such as dining and working. In the kitchen, I found that tableware and kitchenware were easy to find, while the modular furniture made its presence. Fascinatingly, while most of the tableware and kitchenware were not visible, the items such as cups and dishes that were inevitable to be visible were all matching well with color palettes of A better place. Behind the heavy metallic door of the kitchen, the hallway stretched to the bathroom and the restroom, with a large bathtub and two washstands. What is peculiar about A better place. is that it has paid even to the smallest details such as soaps. They are so small that any guests can use them all while staying. The designer designed the soap, from deep-rooted guilt from past experience in disposing amenity products after single use at accommodations. A better place. may impress guests with the design at first, and then leave them amazed by the fact that it has paid attention to what have often been deemed trivial.
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INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW with the host of A better place. Moon Sukjin
stayfolio
A better place.
What moved you to open “A better place.”?
When I led a team for my former employer five or six years ago, I ran a project commissioned by a construction company to work on a residential space. The client dropped the project, but the ideas, notes and sketches kept lingering in my mind. Then an idea flew into my mind that I should take on my own project of building an ideal model of living and housing. That’s how I materialized my business idea of running accommodation and opened “A better place.”
How did you come up with the naming idea for A better place.?
Throughout the design process, “better” has been the keyword, making up a crucial part of our mission statement. The keyword literally revolved around finding something better. The project mirrors my pursuit and thought on what can make home better, and such motivated me to name it, “A better place.”
It’s fascinating that it is located in Jongno, and furthermore, on the fourth floor of a building. What’s the motivation behind the decision?
Intertwining with gentrification that has been sweeping the Korean society for years, quite a lot of buildings has found their upper floors vacant. The gap in rental fees between first floors and upper floors may be ten folds and sometimes, it can be as huge as twenty folds. This explains why first floors are leased to with café franchises, while upper floors are often empty or used as storage spaces. And given that I was materializing my idea on creating a space to stay, I thought I could make most of so-called redundancy. These days, areas with expensive real estate price face issues of vacancy in upper floors of buildings and the issue is swirling the entire neighborhoods into slump. I felt that if people like myself could jump out of comfort zone to show novel ideas, it would create a virtuous circle. I look forward to seeing A better place. leading by its example.
Could you pick your favorite spot or name the signature space of “A better place.”?
The entrance. I believe that contrasting experiences may play crucial roles in defining what makes a place a good one. Jongno is an area overflowing with flashy neon signage and banging music. And most of all, it is crowded. And I suppose you would also agree to me, because at the entrance, you would feel warmly welcomed with quiet atmosphere and pleasant scents, starkly contrasting with the busy neighborhood.
What kind of feedback do you look forward to hearing from your guests?
We are more than ready to receive feedback on where to make further improvement. And ultimately, we seek to hear from guests that they’re staying in what could be their dream home. Because we have always been seeking to make suggestions on what makes a place a good home.
What is the future goal for A better place.?
We’d like to open in other areas, possibly in four or five different locations. For new ones, we’d seek to balance between locality and the tone and manner of ours. For instance, Ace Hotel in San Francisco and New York have different atmosphere. To begin with, I’d like to collect meaningful and useful data from guest experience so that we could deliver ideal experience in a stay with stability. By the time the team and I feel we are ready, we’d like to expand with the name, A better place.
STAY’s recommended
Local Restaurant
Jongno Donburi
The place serves sake don, Japanese salmon rice bowl made with freshly sourced salmon every morning. At the bar counter, you may enjoy Japanese rice bowls that are made and served by the chef.
Salthouse Deli Anguk
Salthouse, famous for its signature sandwich jambon beurre, recently opened its new store in Anguk-dong. The deli gathers its popularity for French fries and ham steak platter, as well as sandwich plates. To-go menus are great to take back to A better place. to enjoy.
STAY’s recommended
Local Cafe
Felt Coffee
The specialty coffee store serves a variety of beans, as well as great coffee. Located in the second floor of the basement of Gwanghwamun D-Tower, the café stands out with its interior themed around black.
Coffee and Cigarettes
Cigarettes is a unique café, presenting splendid urban views. You may find an extensive variety of vinyl, as well as coffee menus. The logo resembles much like that of an airline company, making the cafe look like a lounge in an airport.
STAY
An ideal home
I travel a lot for business. Except for cases that schedule is too tight that all I could do in an accommodation is to sleep, I firmly believe that I’m one of the pickiest in finding a place to stay. So, having been to numerous places, I found some of them exceptionally good, while some others, from my perspective, substandard. And if I should name one of the favorites, my pick is A better place. To me, the place is neither too much nor too little. For instance, I agree that any place to stay needs adequate sunlight, but too much is often worse than too little, often ending up with fatigue. But at A better place., you would find just adequate amount of sunlight at the time when you most need it. It’s not glaring, but it is just right to shed light inside.
The time I spent sitting on the lounge chair has been the quality time for myself, free of any distractions from outside. The day passed by just experiencing lamps that I could adjust level of lighting for reading and modular furniture that the host designed. To almost everybody frowning upon messy electric cords – presumably the byproduct of digital devices inundating in everyday lives – the modular furniture in A better place. could be what the doctor has ordered. I raved at the furniture that I found myself being urged to take all of them back home, as it was used smartly for different usage and purposes in different spaces. Not only the electric cords, but almost all items including tableware and even boardgames are deftly stored in the furniture. Touring around every corner of A better place., I said to myself, “I wish this was my home.” After staying overnight, I kept murmuring, “I wish I could live in this place.” In the foreseeable future, I sincerely wish that my home looks like A better place.
The time I spent sitting on the lounge chair has been the quality time for myself, free of any distractions from outside. The day passed by just experiencing lamps that I could adjust level of lighting for reading and modular furniture that the host designed. To almost everybody frowning upon messy electric cords – presumably the byproduct of digital devices inundating in everyday lives – the modular furniture in A better place. could be what the doctor has ordered. I raved at the furniture that I found myself being urged to take all of them back home, as it was used smartly for different usage and purposes in different spaces. Not only the electric cords, but almost all items including tableware and even boardgames are deftly stored in the furniture. Touring around every corner of A better place., I said to myself, “I wish this was my home.” After staying overnight, I kept murmuring, “I wish I could live in this place.” In the foreseeable future, I sincerely wish that my home looks like A better place.
4 POINT OF VIEW
ORIGINALITY
Innovation Brought by Modular Walls
Exclusively for A better place., the designer studio designed nine types of modular walls that function as furniture. Choice for aluminum ensured lightweight and storage space has been maximized. The design makes the furniture easy to install anywhere that each piece has deftly been installed for different usage. At a glance, you may find only a few pieces of furniture visible, yet each piece still functions to its fullness.
DESIGN
Redundancy Free
When installing wall-mounted TVs, electric cords often become unpleasant to eyes. A better place. solved the problem to cover all the cords behind the modular furniture it has designed. The out-of-the box design idea has got rid of anything redundant, making the entire space adequately eye-pleasing.
Hospitality
A Space of Envy
A better place. aspires to be “a space of envy.” Rather than being a place to splendor for an overnight stay, the design studio sought to create a space of envy that many would find themselves spend their everyday life in it. To this extent, A better place continues to minimize redundancy and fill the space with joy of travelling.
PRICE
Appreciating Value of Quality Experience
With the elevator opening, you will have a space that is prepared exclusively for you, starting with the lounge chairs and table. With the kitchen designed to enable cooking simple dishes, nicely furbished bathroom and restroom, neatly prepared bedding items and clean-cut custom furniture, you will open your eyes to experience with high quality.
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- Stay Name
- A better place.
- Stay Type
- Rental House
- Contact information
- instagram DM @abp_seoul
- Address
- 4F, 22, Samil-daero 19-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, S.Korea
- Guests / No. of Room
- 2~4 / 1
- Price
- US$ 215.07 ~ US$ 250.92
- Check-in / out
- 15:00 / 11:00
- Feature
- Projector or TV, Kitchenette, Tub (ex. Jacuzzi, Hinoki)
PHOTO BY Sangpil Lee | @sangpil