Glass House (글라스 하우스)

Tadao Ando designed the Glass House for Phoenix Island (휘닉스 아일랜드), a resort complex on the Seopjikoji (섭지코지) cape in the east of Jeju Island. The building opened in 2008. The neighbouring Yumin Art Nouveau Museum (유민 아르누보 뮤지엄) is also by Ando.

The building has two levels and is made mostly of concrete, glass and steel. Its entrance is hidden by a concrete screen wall, so nothing of what follows can be guessed. The ground floor stands 3.6 m above the entrance: only on stepping onto the terrace of that level, enclosed by volumes on either side and by the upper floor, does the sea suddenly open out ahead.

The entrance side is closed; the main facade, by contrast, is entirely glazed and open. The geometric plan opens its arms due east.

The Glass House holds, on both its levels, the Floyeast bakery cafe (플로이스트 베이커리 카페): bread, coffee, pasta, pizza, 140 seats, with the sea beyond large picture windows. The upper floor also houses a wedding reception space, with 40 seats for a multi-course dinner.

The outdoor garden holds a four-seasons garden with changing flowers, a wind shelter and a large swing facing Seongsan Ilchulbong (성산일출봉).

The cafe is open to the public from 10:00 to 18:00, and from 09:00 at weekends depending on the season; last order 17:30. The coastal path below the building faces Seongsan Ilchulbong.

Private cars cannot enter the Seopjikoji site: leave them in the car park of building C and continue by bus. A free shuttle runs for people with reduced mobility and in bad weather. Address of the complex: 107 Seopjikoji-ro (섭지코지로 107), Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo (서귀포). From Jeju airport, allow about an hour by road.