caligari brewing merges german cinema with traditional korean architecture

seoul-based studio LABOTORY has designed a large draft beer brewery in incheon, south korea as the face of ‘caligari brewing,’ a brand of handmade beer. the introduction of the restaurant and brewery into the street of ikseon-dong was a great challenge and adventure for caligari brewing, whose brand image and direction is in contrast to that of the traditional korean style street. the name and image of the brewing company was created in homage to the movie ‘the cabinet of dr. caligari,’ leading toward dark and masculine interiors with a feeling of cinematic closeness and intimacy.

all images by yongjoon choi

LABOTORY has sited caligari brewery within a traditional korean building to create a mood suitable for lunch during the daytime which transforms to create a ‘sensuous’ space for nighttime. as designers at labotory feared stripping the space of the asian elements, the resulting interior demonstrates an unusual blend of traditional korean architecture with a contemporary interpretation of 1920s german cinematography. contemporary finishing and soft neon lighting contrasts the original exposed structural elements. upon entering the space, customers will find different rooms to suit their preference, each offering a unique experience. this serves to suggest the identity of the brand, ‘the secret room,’ or cabinet, as depicted in the film.