Eulji-Ro Collection

Developed in 2017 during a residency in South Korea, the Eulji-Ro Collection is a furniture series that explores the unique industrial ecosystem of the Eulji-ro district in Seoul. This project serves as an "urban biopsy" of a neighborhood characterized by a dense network of specialized small-scale workshops, ranging from metal spinning and acrylic bending to hardware supply. The design team approached the collection as a tribute to this "living factory," where every component was sourced, manufactured, and assembled within a few square blocks.

The conceptual core of the collection lies in the celebration of the standardized industrial semi-finished product. Instead of importing materials, the studio utilized the specific resources available in the district’s street-side stalls. The resulting objects—including chairs, lighting, and shelving—are a direct manifestation of Eulji-ro's technical vernacular. The design team focused on a "non-intrusive" assembly logic, where the formal decisions were dictated by the capabilities of the local workshops. This approach highlights the studio’s commitment to proximity-based production and the recontextualization of industrial surplus into high-end collectible design.

Technically, the Eulji-Ro Collection is characterized by its material honesty and modular construction. The studio employed a palette of industrial steel profiles, turned metal components, and raw hardware, often leaving the manufacturing marks and industrial coatings visible. A standout feature of the series is its "mechanical transparency," where the joints and structural connections are not hidden but emphasized as aesthetic details. By working closely with local master craftsmen, the team ensured that each piece met rigorous functional standards while acting as a physical record of the district’s specialized labor.

As a significant research milestone within the studio’s international trajectory, the Eulji-Ro Collection was premiered at the Here and There exhibition at Supply Seoul in 2017. The project demonstrates the team’s ability to activate local economies through design, proving that the future of manufacturing lies in the intelligent use of existing urban resources. By stripping away the anonymity of global supply chains, the studio created a series of objects that carry the authentic identity of Seoul’s industrial heart. https://vimeo.com/229154183?fl=pl&fe=sh