Sounds Hannam

architechu

Alleyway bookstore? A bookstore as a complex cultural space? - Studying cities often involves examining the cities of the Renaissance or the Middle Ages. The alleys of European cities are very different from those in Korea, obviously because the material of the ground and the facades of the buildings lining the alleys differ greatly from the Korean style. However, this difference is only in visual aesthetics. The biggest difference felt when traveling abroad is the physical space created by the width of the alley and the height of the buildings next to it, feeling very foreign. If you exclude decorations and create 1:1 scale models of alleys from Korea, Japan, and certain European cities, and then experience them, you'll understand what I mean. - Sometimes, while walking down the street, everything looks characteristically Korean, and you think, 'This feels a bit like Japan!' Those moments are examples of this. - Located in Hannam-dong, this space embraces that otherness of the alleys. Strictly speaking, these buildings were planned and built at the same time on the same land, but the feeling is more like buildings clustered around a charming alley. The ground has a similar texture to other streets but crafted differently, giving it a more sophisticated feel. The surrounding buildings with their elegant colored heavy bricks evoke an exotic atmosphere. - Among these alleys, there is a small space at the entrance that you see first. This space is the bookstore 'Steal Books' that I used to frequent during my time working in Hannam-dong, and it's the space being introduced today. Back then, it was a place I always meant to introduce, but changes in my workplace delayed it until a chance visit brought me back. - The reason I like this space is because of its particularly interesting architectural books. From stories of brands I love and enjoy to stories of spaces, the books that have shaped the era have been carefully selected. There are always 2-3 intriguing books to be found in other book sections as well, an interesting experience that was not found in other bookstores. Therefore, based on this experience, I often visited this space. - Of course, each time I was fascinated by the stylish staircase that goes through the center of the space, spending a long time looking at it. 'Sounds Hannam', a complex cultural space, organizes various programs around the alleyway and creates dynamic scenes in the courtyard, which I also enjoy viewing from the stairs. However, fundamentally, the reason I returned was the quality of the books. - If both the space and the experience are good, there's no reason not to come back, right? This is one of the few spaces where both the space and experience are enjoyable, making it a place I visit often. - This location is Sounds Hannam in Hannam-dong - Location _ 35, Embassy-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul - Operating Hours _ 12-20 [Closed on Mondays] - Parking available - Programs _ Cafe, convenience store, restaurant, etc.