In the skyscraper-filled district of Yeouido, aptly nicknamed Seoul’s Manhattan, recently opened a member of Design Hotels, the GLAD Hotel Yeouido.
The hotel’s facade, with its unusual brick pattern, stands out from its neighbors’ modernist glass buildings. A common building material in South Korea, bricks have also taken many poetic twists and turns inside. The interiors are further enhanced by surprising quirks throughout – from the street signs that create an “on the street” experience, to the posters quoting renowned thinkers in the rooms. The effect is a traditionally rooted yet irreverent design concept.
Bricks & mortar
A local type of brick was chosen as the dominant structural material to give GLAD Hotel Yeouido the warmth and soul of a traditional South Korean home. Thanks to the vision of award-winning design agency Joh & Company, led by creative director and founder Suyong Joh – named one of the top 10 Korean designers – the hotel displays unique yet functional design. The brutalist-interiors are rendered light thanks to a playful use of materials, giving depth and texture to the spaces. The hotel also adheres to the national environment-friendly standard and proudly uses geothermal energy.
High quality natural materials used in the bedding and interiors of all of the rooms and suites give the spaces a sense of calm and warmth. Posters in each room play on the hotel’s ‘glad’ motif with amusing quotes from renowned thinkers such as Eleanor Roosevelt and William Shakespeare.
The 319-rooms are spread across eight room categories, varying between 23 and 48 square meters in size. Options range from ‘Standard’, a cozy room featuring practical open shelving, a desk, and an exclusively designed bathroom, to ‘Deluxe’ which overlooks Seoul’s main downtown area and is fitted with a king size bed, sofa and fully-stocked mini bar, to the ‘Heritage Ondol’ where time-honored Korean design gets a modern twist to create a distinctly unique space. Fitted with underfloor heating, surround sound speakers and a 42-inch Flat Screen LCD TV, the suites’ interiors are juxtaposed by a traditional Korean yo bed and two ondol seating areas.
One for the Road?
“Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.” So said whiskey enthusiast Mark Twain. Paying homage to the celebrated novelist, the hotel’s bar ‘Mark T’ boasts the city’s most extensive collection of Single Malt Whiskey alongside an array of signature cocktails. At ‘GREETS’ restaurant and café – which serves a fusion of Korean, Chinese and Japanese cuisine – the interiors are a contrasting mix of bricks, bronze, and marble. Meals are all served buffet-style with six serving stations: Sea, Home, Grill, Green, Grain and Dessert. Two private dining rooms are available for a more intimate setting and private events.
Business as Usual
When it’s time to turn down the pleasure and turn up the business, GLAD Hotel Yeouido has every angle covered. From a fully functioning banqueting hall seating 420 guests, an ‘Editorial Room’ suitable for business meetings, brainstorms and workshops to the ‘Creative Lounge’ which is fitted with comfortable lounging areas, the hotel has a space to suit all occasions.
Location
Yeouido is located on one of Seoul’s largest islands in the center of the city on the Han River. Aptly nicknamed Seoul’s Manhattan it is home to South Korea’s largest banks, major broadcasters and technology companies, the area is a business mecca. Merged with a booming contemporary art scene, fashionable stores and a thriving pop and youth culture, the district is also a hub of creativity and sophistication.
