Located on the 6th and 7th floors of the exhibition hall at the head office in Nonhyeon-dong, maximizing positive interaction through diverse communication and cultural exchange
Sang-a Tile Co., Ltd. (CEO Choi Hyeong-gyu), a tile specialist with a 43-year history, recently unveiled a 'very special' space. Named 'Lounge de flore,' it is located on the 6th floor and the 7th-floor rooftop of the Sang-a Tile head office exhibition hall, and is used as a multipurpose space for a special few. The reason it is described as 'very special' stems from Sang-a Tile's spirit of sharing culture: the purpose of the space departs from a tile showroom's original goals of displaying and selling products, and instead seeks to realize higher values by communicating and exchanging with the people who gather there.
In the public perception, a 'lounge' is typically understood as a rest area located in an airport, hotel, department store, or club. Recently, it has become more upscale as a venue for the convergence of diverse culture and art for a special few, and private lounges are sometimes designed within the highest-end residential spaces. In that a degree of public accessibility is maintained, it contrasts with today's 'salon culture,' which is premised on a thoroughly individualized form of sociability. The 'salon,' a regular social gathering held among the upper classes of 18th-century France and England, has recently been transforming into a community culture where one can express personal tastes and individuality.
Sang-a Tile's 'Lounge de flore' finds the ultimate aim of the space in forming relationships with people based on communication and exchange around diverse themes and purposes. The name 'de flore,' inspired by the name of a storied French café, was chosen because it carries a similar symbolism. 'Café de flore,' located on Saint-Germain street in Paris, France, was a place of rest and a space for the exchange of ideas for 20th-century French intellectuals, artists, and politicians. Opened in 1881, this café became famous as a place where many artists and philosophers such as Sartre, Picasso, and Hemingway gathered to freely debate and pursue their creative work, and it maintains that reputation to this day.
Sang-a Tile CEO Choi Hyeong-gyu explained, "'Lounge de flore' is the result of contemplating the question, 'Why do exhibition halls focus only on sales?'" He added, "We expect that the diverse communication and cultural exchange mediated by Lounge de flore—through meetings with domestic and overseas companies as well as small gatherings among related companies—will play an effective role in maximizing positive interaction between one another."
Because the purpose and usability of the space were discussed through communication with Sang-a Tile members from the very planning stage, Lounge de flore is currently used as a meeting place for the sales department, as well as a space for joint meetings and multilateral conferences with various companies. Lounge de flore is equipped with multimedia and various facilities and equipment for diverse forms of online and offline meetings. In addition, through a reservation system, one team per day—anyone associated with Sang-a Tile—can plan a small gathering. It operates until midnight, and coffee, beverages, and more are provided free of charge. Depending on the nature of the gathering, alcoholic beverages may be used, and the space is equipped with broadcasting equipment capable of media production and a lighting setup function with 10 scenario-based settings, enabling customized use of the space such as film screenings or a wine bar.
Sang-a Tile CEO Choi Hyeong-gyu said, "We hope that Lounge de flore will be a space where anyone can relax and unwind before leaving, whatever their purpose in visiting the company." He continued, "In particular, we hope that the Sang-a Tile products applied to the space will not merely showcase the trends of the times, but rather, combined with the meaning of the space, serve as a medium that connects genuine relationships between people."
Sang-a Tile also makes effective use of Lounge de flore in proposing contemporary tile trends. The island kitchen stretching along one axis of the space is finished with big slab tile not only on the countertop but also on its sides, creating a majestic yet clean appearance. The floor tiles are likewise installed in a large 1,200 mm format that is rarely attempted in Korea, and the restroom features tiles with distinctive patterns that reflect future trends. In the 7th-floor rooftop space, 20T-thick exterior tiles rarely used in Korea, along with tiles of various thicknesses—6T, 9T, and 20T—are applied within a single space without any sense of incongruity. In particular, elements paying homage to motifs from Sang-a Tile's 43-year history are applied to the space design of Lounge de flore, blending with the recently future-oriented and sustainable image of Sang-a Tile's products to complete a distinctive space that is neither flashy nor ordinary. 02-3442-1250
