CourtSide Café by TCTC: A Minimalist Dessert Café Inspired by Texture, Flow, and Form

A Dessert Café Designed by Designers

CourtSide Café is a dessert-focused coffee shop in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, directly designed and operated by TCTC—a Seoul-based multidisciplinary design studio. Created as both a branded space and a studio flagship, the café blends minimalist interior design with intentional spatial separation and material experimentation.

TCTC approached the café as an opportunity to express the brand’s identity through spatial storytelling. The result is a café that is both functional and conceptually cohesive, where material, layout, and design language coalesce around the idea of the "court side"—a reference not only to proximity but to texture, performance, and interaction.

Key Design Priorities

Three primary design objectives guided the development of CourtSide Café:

1. Material Expression Aligned with Branding The material palette had to embody the concept and mood implied by the name "CourtSide." TCTC chose Marmoleum flooring in a distinct red hue, evoking the visual and tactile qualities of a worn athletic court or a vibrant coat. Unlike typical floor finishes, Marmoleum was selected for its uncommon presence in retail spaces and its dynamic aging characteristics, which will develop a patina over time, enhancing the 'worn-in' authenticity of the environment.
2. Spatial Separation for Dual Functionality Though housed under one roof, the café and TCTC's studio office needed to operate independently. Careful attention was paid to the circulation strategy to ensure that the café’s flow did not interfere with the private studio area. The layout was planned to create an invisible yet functional boundary, separating public hospitality operations from private creative work.
3. Flexible Yet Unified Seating Arrangements Avoiding the overly linear or cramped feel often associated with typical coffee bar interiors, CourtSide features diverse seating arrangements designed to promote interaction and flexibility. These include: Basic two-person tables A large eight-seat communal table Bar seating where guests can observe and engage with baristas preparing desserts and beverages Highchair signature seating near the entrance, offering a more elevated café experience
4. Basic two-person tables
5. A large eight-seat communal table
6. Bar seating where guests can observe and engage with baristas preparing desserts and beverages
7. Highchair signature seating near the entrance, offering a more elevated café experience

Each seating style was chosen to fit seamlessly into the overall circulation and aesthetic, encouraging a sense of spatial harmony while still offering varied customer experiences.

Minimalism with Material Richness

TCTC’s design favors minimalist composition over excessive detail. Once the layout and forms were determined, the team focused on material application. Given the bold tone of the red Marmoleum flooring, the rest of the design utilizes achromatic tones and neutral materials to maintain balance. Key finishes include:

• Zinc metal for its muted sheen and tactile quality
• Glass surfaces for transparency and light diffusion

These materials create a refined yet understated environment, allowing the red floor to act as a focal point while preserving a calm and modern interior tone.

A Holistic Brand Experience

CourtSide Café is more than a coffee shop—it is an immersive branded environment designed with intention. By integrating strong material identities, intelligent zoning, and varied seating formats, TCTC has crafted a space that is both architectural and atmospheric. It invites customers into a layered experience where design, interaction, and identity unfold naturally.

All Photographs are works of Beezy Studio