karim rashid's lotte amoje foodcapital a kaleidoscope of stimuli

karim rashid captivates the senses at lotte amoje ‘foodcapital’
image © lee gyeon bae
all images courtesy of karim rashid

more than a place to eat, karim rashid transforms a typical cafeteria into an environment of sensory experiences with eye catching colors and ‘technorganic’ forms, which encourage personal interactions at ‘foodcapitol’, the lotte department store’s amoje food court in seoul, south korea. the design uses columns as nucleii from which long undulating tables branch out, encouraging dialogue and socialization amongst clientele. curvaceous ceiling patterns extend to conceal softly glowing lights, blending technology and organics. individual luminaires in a variety of geometries accent the ceiling amongst its amorphous lines. at the perimeter walls, snack stations are carved out; their openings are layered in a wood grain palette of circumscribed waves. brightly colored bulbous forms are dispersed throughout, serving to conceal cash registers, while simultaneously making them identifiable. they also assist in orienting customers, and creating clear circulation paths within the complex network of seating. even when unoccupied, the floor pattern delineates motion within the space. in this digital age of hyper-sensual experiences, rashid has created a kaleidoscope of stimulii.

in the digital age, rich with multi-sensory experiences, karim defines the undulating curves of his design as ‘technorganic’
image © lee gyeon bae

bright colors and sinuous forms create a hyper-visual experience
image © lee gyeon bae

undulating waves layer to highlight the snack stop windows
image © lee gyeon bae

 
organic colors such as lime and fuscia infuse the space
image © lee gyeon bae

undulating seating arrangements encourage social interaction amongst diners
image © lee gyeon bae

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project info:

project name:  lotte amoje, food capital
location:  gwanghuidong 2(i)-ga, jung-gu, seoul, south korea
principal use:  food court
client:  lotte amoje  
floor area:  900 sqm
design period:  november 2012 – january 2013
construction:  february 2013 – may 2013
opening:  may 2013
designer:  karim rashid
project architects:   juliette hyunju lee, alex loyer huges, kamala hutauruk, mike gibson, mana mohammadkhani,
local architect:  kingsmen korea ltd
general contactor:  kingsmen korea ltd
blobs and tree tables produced by: dae hong communication -cp group
table top graphic produced by: hp custom table
chairs: muma, columbia
stools: frighetto, italy