The Happiness for Daily Life Café opened 10 years ago this week in South Korea. Clare Cumberlidge shares her memories of curating the project, commissioned by the British Council, and the joyful experience of collaborating with the designers, the British Council team and the Professors and students of the Korean National University of Traditional Craft.

Tell us about the Happiness for Daily Life Café and why this is one of your favourite  projects? 

As a curator, my greatest pleasures are developing processes of collaboration and producing commissions that allow artists or designers to work in new ways and significantly develop their practice. I am interested in constructing new models and in the potential of creativity to trigger or enable positive social change. Happiness for Daily Life Café a joy in that it fulfilled all of these interests.

The fully functioning café was located in a semi-derelict old town hall in the centre of the small town of Gongju, in South Korea. We developed it with the local partners the Gongju City Council and the Korean National University of Traditional Craft. I was interested in constructing an exchange between the highest level of heritage craft skills of the University and the contemporary design thinking of the UK practitioners. The team 4 designers were assembled. Michael Marriott the lead designer was responsible for the overall conception of the interior. Anthony Burrill’s visit involved workshops with students and immersion in the contemporary and historic graphic context of South Korea – resulting in the fabulous identity which expressed itself across the graphics, interior textiles and marketing  Linda Brothwell and Fabien Cappello had recently graduated from the RCA and were invited to go out to Gongju and spend 6 weeks working with students and producing functional elements of the Café – Fabien creating furniture for the exterior public realm inspired by dancheong temple decoration and Linda making Raku fired ceramics and ceremonial cutlery for the café.

The café operated beyond its intended 6 months, being open for a year. Our friendships have lasted even longer.

Why do you think the concept of this project is still relevant now after 10 years?

The ethos of happiness for daily life seems very relevant to our current lockdown situation. Happiness for Daily Life Café proposed that meaning and joy are to be found in the humble pleasures of everyday life – whether these be a beautifully crafted plate, a shot of colour, a moment of communication, a considered and simple room of light or a coffee shared with friends. The café, created through a respectful collaboration between two cultures, was a beautiful space in which people came together to enjoy our shared humanity.

What you do think is the legacy of this project? 

I understand that the project delivered a new way for working for the Gongju City authorities - enabling dialogue with citizens and collaboration with organisations which fed into ideas for the permanent redevelopment of the building. It also gave a new understanding of the value of local character, traditions and materials to local people. On a personal level, the designers and I have all continued to enjoy working together in various configurations and on a variety of projects.

Happiness for Daily Life Café was commissioned by the British Council, conceived by Clare Cumberlidge & Co and co-curated with the British Council, with lead designer Michael Marriott and Linda Brothwell, Antony Burrill, and Fabien Cappello.