Skincare boutique in Seoul is inspired by herbal medicine

Wide view of the interiors at The Eath Library Showroom, Seoul — The Eath Library Showroom, located at Sogyeokdong area in central Seoul

(Image credit: eathlibrary.com)

A warm cup of herbal tea welcomes you into Eath Library's wood-clad cosmetics boutique in Seoul's historic Sogyeokdong area. Water-droplet shaped windows cut the corners off the outside world, letting in just enough light to bathe the space. It's an inviting atmosphere, refined and perfected by generations of traditional Korean medical practitioners, and adapted here for the needs of the contemporary skincare consumer.

The products from Eath (which stands for Evolutionary Achievement from Traditional Heritage), combine the latest technologies with natural ingredients, based on traditional Korean medicine – which dates back as early as 3000 BC. This sense of heritage and tradition also informs the interiors of its first boutique, for which creative director Teo Yang drew from memories of his first visit to a traditional Korean medicine clinic.

Product shot from Eath Library Showroom, South Korea

‘Unlike hospitals which felt too clean and cold, the traditional clinic felt cosy,' he explains. ‘The intimate space, surrounded by countless books on traditional Korean medicine, had a subtle scent of the herb tea, and made me feel like I was at a small and peaceful library.’ He aimed to reorganise this fond recollection into a contemporary space, filled with the cutting edge in herbal medicine skincare innovation, alongside local art and design.

Traditional South Korean architecture meets innovation in a renovated hanok house

Yang was inspired by the Hanok – a traditional Korean house – to apply a layering effect into Eath Library’s showroom. In a Hanok, windows can be seen through other windows, creating textured viewpoints. Here, multiple frames in tandem open and close the space; a simple gesture creating a rhythm that guides clients through the welcoming area (where tea is served), through to the wrapping area, and finally the archive area, where five pieces of master craftsman-made traditional furniture are meticulously placed within Korean Hanji rice paper screens.

Shelving in the Eath Library cosmetics boutique in Seoul, South Korea

Throughout, clients are subtly exposed to Eath Library's slim collection of next generation skincare products (highlights include a skin-calming soap, matt finish sunscreen, and an advanced hydrating toner, each with its own light and verdant scent). Stacks of wooden shelves (formed from traditional pieces, updated with product-specific down-lighting) are also sparsely populated with diffusers, ceramics, and plenty of books, which are central to the local herbal medical tradition.

With Eath Library, Yang has successfully respected tradition, while anticipating a bright future for Korean herbal medicine in contemporary cosmetics.

Wide view of the interiors at The Eath Library Showroom

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Eath Library website

ADDRESS

31, Road 2, Samcheong-ro
Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Elly Parsons is the Digital Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees Wallpaper.com and its social platforms. She has been with the brand since 2015 in various roles, spending time as digital writer – specialising in art, technology and contemporary culture – and as deputy digital editor. She was shortlisted for a PPA Award in 2017, has written extensively for many publications, and has contributed to three books. She is a guest lecturer in digital journalism at Goldsmiths University, London, where she also holds a masters degree in creative writing. Now, her main areas of expertise include content strategy, audience engagement, and social media.

Eath Library skincare boutique in Seoul is inspired by Korea’s traditional apothecaries

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