Heritage meets modernity in Van Cleef & Arpels’ Seoul maison
Jouin Manku studio designs Van Cleef & Arpels’ Seoul project, running Korean and French design codes throughout

Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Thank you for signing up to Wallpaper. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Van Cleef & Arpels has once again partnered with Jouin Manku studio, this time on the creation of its Seoul maison, in a vast new space nodding to both French and Korean design codes. The striking building is encased in celadon, a traditional Korean ceramic, and cast aluminium, in a considered marriage of the old and the new.
Embracing nature: Van Cleef & Arpels’ Seoul maison
‘Given the importance of closeness to nature in Korean culture, the guiding principle of this project was to create a mountain in Seoul, a small mountain with gardens at different levels,’ says the studio of the Korean influences that run throughout. ‘So, we created this jewel case in the heart of an ultra-mineral city, featuring a delicate, protected, and omnipresent garden, which represents the interdependence between the building and nature.’
Nature is also a frequent inspiration for Van Cleef & Arpels, which depicts flora and fauna in brightly coloured precious gems. ‘The main inspiration was obviously the oneiric world of Van Cleef & Arpels, and how to transcribe this atmosphere into the building itself. The idea was for this house to be a fully-fledged Van Cleef & Arpels ambassador for Korean customers, so that they could instinctively understand the very fairytale, natural spirit that defines Van Cleef & Arpels.’
Creating the building during Covid proved challenging, as did shaping the exterior. ‘Getting all the craftsmen to work together was also complex, especially for the facade, which is a technically highly sophisticated object due to the contrast between the celadon and the extruded aluminium structure, which, nevertheless, creates a unified whole in the end. Ceramic is a living material, which is not precise. Because of the firing process, the result is not predictable; it can change colour as well as shape, which is not compatible with placing it on a rigorously rigid structure. This encounter between industry and craft, tradition and innovation, was not an easy one. Another challenge was to bring nature into the heart of the boutique. Thanks to the landscaper STL – Seo-Ahn Total landscape – this challenge was successfully met so as not to be too burdensome in terms of care for the teams on site.’
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Hannah Silver joined Wallpaper* in 2019 to work on watches and jewellery. Now, as well as her role as watches and jewellery editor, she writes widely across all areas including on art, architecture, fashion and design. As well as offbeat design trends and in-depth profiles, Hannah is interested in the quirks of what makes for a digital success story.
-
São Paulo Biennial 2023: activism, repressed cultures and South America’s art history under the lens
The 35th São Paulo Biennial considers ‘Choreographies of the Impossible’ as the theme. Amah-Rose Abrams reports on what to see
By Amah-Rose Abrams Published
-
Jacqueline Rabun’s sculptural jewellery design goes on show in London
‘Jacqueline Rabun: A Retrospective’ opens at London’s Carpenters Workshop Gallery
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Tokujin Yoshioka’s flaming glass cauldron sets Tokyo alight
Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka plays with fire with an exhibition of glass torches and cauldrons, on view at 21_21 Design Sight Gallery 3 in Tokyo (until 5 November 2023)
By Danielle Demetriou Published
-
Van Cleef & Arpels brings the myths of the Black Forest to life in its high jewellery
The Grand Tour inspires the new Van Cleef & Arpels high jewellery collection
By Caragh McKay Published
-
Van Cleef & Arpels takes a Grand Tour of high jewellery
Van Cleef & Arpels presents a new high jewellery collection inspired by the traditional Grand Tour around Europe
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Van Cleef & Arpels’ flora- and fauna-inspired fine jewellery celebrates spring
New animal jewellery pieces in Van Cleef & Arpels’ ‘Lucky Animals’ and ‘Lucky Spring’ collections rethink familiar motifs
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Van Cleef & Arpels’ high jewellery ballerinas are an ode to dance
High jewellery becomes fluid with Van Cleef & Arpels’ ballerina clips, which capture the movement of dance in gold and precious stones
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Van Cleef & Arpels explore the history of gems
Van Cleef & Arpels connect mineralogy, gemmology and jewellery in a Paris exhibition
By Caragh McKay Last updated
-
Van Cleef & Arpels' 2021 high jewellery collection launches at Paris Couture Week
Sous les Etoiles looks to the heavens for inspiration
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
New gold dream: we’re drawn to yellow gold’s powerful primal light
The enticing appeal of yellow gold captivates us as strongly as it did our ancestors
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Once upon a time: Van Cleef & Arpels’ automaton tells a very human story
By Caragh McKay Last updated