Zoo Shin Dang, Embracing the Stories of Twelve Zodiac Guardians
Zoo Shin Dang is the second cocktail bar by Jean Frigo, who operates a cocktail bar themed around fruit and refrigerators. This dining bar offers unique dinners along with cocktails made using traditional Korean liquor and Korean ingredients.
Sindang, where Zoo Shin Dang is located, was once a stagnant area centered around Seoul Jungang Market and a cluster of furniture shops. With the arrival of new cafés and restaurants, however, it has recently become a rising destination among visitors in their twenties and thirties.
Based on this context, we planned a space in Sindang that is not just a simple cocktail bar but a new cultural venue that can strengthen Jean Frigo’s distinct brand identity. The spatial concept combines the locality of a “neighborhood that serves gods” (神堂), the stories of the Twelve Zodiac Guardians (十二支神), and elements of a speakeasy bar to present a differentiated and immersive experience.