FH Lounge
Seoul, Sydkorea
Design & Natural Wine in Seoul
Natural wine and design collaborations within a single building
Away from the busy streets of Hannam-dong in Seoul, through a small alley lined with bamboo, the Fritz Hansen Lounge sits on the first floor of a newly renovated building that balances old and new, design and natural wine.
This unique collaboration blends furniture, lighting, gourmet food, and natural wine in an experience that engages all the senses.
This unique collaboration blends furniture, lighting, gourmet food, and natural wine in an experience that engages all the senses.
Upstairs, Big Lights offers a wide range of natural wines and a Neo-French bistro menu. The space uses furniture and lighting by Fritz Hansen, an inspired collaboration that celebrates shared values: quality materials, craftsmanship, and the fusion of tradition and modern taste. Owner, Lee Joo Hee, was the pioneer of natural wine in Korea and is well known by the country’s natural wine connoisseurs.
@biglights_seoul
@biglights_seoul
Interview
BIG LIGHTS WINE BAR - Owner Lee Joo Hee
Big Lights has been called a pioneer of natural wines in Korea and continues to present a selection of wines tailored to the tastes of Korea’s connoisseurs. This May, Big Lights moved to second floor of a building that now houses the Fritz Hansen Lounge.
We met Lee Joo Hee, owner of Big Lights, to talk about the new space and the connection between natural wine and design.
Naturally, the conversation included Tetu, the café and natural wine shop next door to Big Lights that is operated by the artist Guk Hwa. Tetu and Big Lights are furnished with Fritz Hansen.
FH. The two spaces are operated in different ways with natural wine as the common denominator. Tell us more.
Big Lights is the first wine bar opened in Seoul. We offer food as well, using only seasonal ingredients and using only firewood and charcoal grill. The changing menu is always designed to go with natural wine.
Tetu is a cafe and natural wine shop operated by artist Guk Hwa where you can enjoy natural wine more casually and comfortably. If Big Lights has an atmosphere like a house party, at Tetu you can drink wine in a quieter setting.
The natural wine selections are similar, so you can buy wines served at Big Lights for takeout at Tetu.
FH. How are natural wines and Fritz Hansen designs connected? And why was this furniture and lighting appropriate for your concept?
Fritz Hansen is a brand with a long history and good reputation; it is trusted by designers and makers. The same can be said for natural wine. Natural wine is the result of determined craftsmanship. It has been called ‘artisan wine’ and the characteristics of its makers carry over into the wine itself. In this way, it is like great design and art.
In the end, natural wine makers and Fritz Hansen designers and makers strive for the ultimate – taste, beauty, comfort. Their sincere effort is buried in their products, and it shines through.
FH. Big Lights uses the Grand Prix™ Chair, except for the lounge chair placed in the waiting area. Why the Grand Prix?
The Grand Prix chair has historical significance, but I also just like the way it looks when someone is sitting in it. No matter who is sitting, the lines of the body and the chair seem to go well together.
I wanted a chair that adds beauty to the space when it is empty, and when it is filled. A space must be pretty when it is, and it should be pretty when it is busy. You must keep both in mind.
FH. Tetu's furniture composition feels more ‘free.’ Is that true?
Gukhwa, who runs Tetu, is an artist who majored in photography in France and returned to show experimental photography and drawing. Like a cafe in Paris, we dreamed of a cultural space that was about more than just drinking coffee, and I wanted it to be more natural and human than formal.
Arne Jacobsen's Dot™ stool, Swan™ chair, and Nendo's NO1™ chair create a sense of rhythm, a sense of freedom. Above all, this is a place where you can freely enjoy natural wine by the glass and relax. We added small items like the KAISER idell™ lamps to complete the atmosphere of the space.
FH. Why use fine furniture in a food and beverage space?
I can feel what my customers like, and I think it is a great experience for them. To them and to me, quality is so important.
It is different to experience furniture for as little as 10 to 20 minutes in a showroom and to sit for hours of talking, eating, and drinking.
FH. Can you describe the rest of the space?
In front of the elevator is the Fred™ lounge chair by Jaime Hayon, a staple of our store. The candle holders and vases placed on each table are also his designs. I put Cecilie Manz's lights, Sidse Werner's Coat Tree, and Paul McCobb's lights in the space as well. Lighting is important, of course.
We have pictures and drawings by Guk Hwa displayed throughout Big Lights and Tetu.
The key to this place is that it is a space where you can enjoy natural wine naturally.
The image features Guk Hwa, the owner of Tetu (left) and Lee Joo Hee, the owner of Big lights (right).
TETU CAFÉ
Next to Big Lights, Tetu offers natural wine by the glass, coffee, and wine by the bottle for takeaway. Artist Guk Hwa operates this quieter space in collaboration with Lee Joo Hee. ‘Like a cafe in Paris, I dreamed of a cultural space that was about more than just drinking coffee, and I wanted it to be more natural and human than a formal feeling. Arne Jacobsen's Dot™ stools, Swan™ chairs, and Nendo's N01™ chairs create a sense of rhythm, giving you a sense of freedom. After the table and chairs were set, small items such as KAISER idell™ lamps were added to complete the atmosphere of the space. Above all, this is a place where you can freely enjoy natural wine,’ explains Guk Hwa. @tetu_seoul
A LIVING SHOWROOM
FRITZ HANSEN KOREA – Soo Hyun Lee, country manager
The Fritz Hansen Lounge serves as both a showroom and an office space. Employees use the space every day for work and host clients and visitors, sitting in the various lounge spaces and putting Fritz Hansen designs to use and enjoyment.
Q I AM CURIOUS ABOUT THE OPENING OF THE FRITZ HANSEN LOUNGE.
For 10 years, Fritz Hansen has steadily established and maintained a strong retail presence in Korea, but our contract business is just beginning.
For client projects with architects and professional designers, we needed a space to show our products and collaborate. The Fritz Hansen Lounge is designed to fill this need and reflect Fritz Hansen’s direction and philosophy.
Q FRITZ HANSEN KOREA HAS COLLABORATED WITH BIG LIGHTS NATURAL WINE AND TETU FROM THE SHOWROOM. TELL US ABOUT THAT.
Natural wine production and Fritz Hansen share values: history, natural materials and production processes, and the philosophy of the makers. The natural wine market in Korea has grown rapidly over recent years. In Denmark, it has been a part of the food and beverage culture for some time. So, this seemed like a timely and value-driven collaboration from the start.
It is also nice to have two great examples of our furniture in use just upstairs from the showroom, serving high quality product with organic integrity.
Q DID YOU PAY ANY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE 1ST FLOOR SHOWROOM AND OFFICE SPACE?
We really came at this space with a Korean perspective and a Fritz Hansen perspective, working with colours and layouts that we believe our local customers will enjoy. We were able to create four lounge areas for both business meetings and relaxation within this first-floor space.
We worked closely with our Asia CEO, Dario Reicherl, to build the Fritz Hansen Lounge and the collaborations within the building. We knew it was a special opportunity to have neighboring businesses upstairs with such strong reputations within food and natural wine.
Q HOW DID YOU SELECT FURNITURE?
We created the Fritz Hansen Lounge primarily for contract business (B2B) with products that show the history and spirit of Fritz Hansen. That includes the Egg™ chair and the Swan™ chair by Arne Jacobsen and Poul Kjærholm’s PK series.
In the showroom, we have also used Vico Duo chairs released in 2020 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Vico Magistretti, Jaime Hayon’s Lune sofa for a warm sensibility, and Via 57 chairs. We were able to create different styles of lounge areas.
The space also features artwork and prints by Guk Hwa and photographs by Kim Jae-hoon. These are truly unique editions that complement the furniture well.
The showroom and office are separate, but they are both work and meeting spaces where employees and clients can experience Fritz Hansen designs together. The goal is inspiration.
Q COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CHARACTER OF FRITZ HANSEN?
The value of Fritz Hansen design and craftmanship has been continuously demonstrated for more than 160 years. It is an honest brand with a very long history.
Quality is meticulously adhered to, also the belief that some designs are genius and can remain relevant for a very long time. This is the philosophy of the original designers, and it is a philosophy that is firmly ingrained in Fritz Hansen craftsmanship.
Q SHOWROOMS ARE EVOLVING IN VARIOUS WAYS. WHAT SHOULD A SHOWROOM LOOK LIKE TODAY?
Showrooms should be places that shows brands’ product quality, not just large quantities of product. Showrooms should inspire.
We hope that the Fritz Hansen Lounge will be a space that inspires architects, designers, and all our visitors. The special collaboration that we have undertaken with Big Lights and Tetu creates a unique cultural experience. The process of creating this showroom has been inspiring, so we believe that will be passed on to our customers.
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