Author: Mia+Niko KIM+HEEP

Girls Meets Manga

Girl Meets Manga
exhibition &
communication design for the MAK

The different thematic areas of the exhibition are expressed through the zig-zagging rhythm of the display walls. While their end faces are reminiscent of book spines, the walls seem to bleed out onto the floor. The contours of these floor markings are inspired by ‘manpus’, the emotional symbols found in manga comics.

Oversized manga page reproductions invite you to dive into their many worlds. Custom-made manga boxes echo the theme of bookshelves in both children’s rooms and comic book shops.

The intellectual voice of curator Mio Wakita can be found on the walls, while Mio’s voice as a girl hovers above the table displays in the form of speech bubbles. At the end of the room, an interactive photo wall entices visitors to become the manga character ‘Lamu’, referencing the motif of the exhibition’s poster.

Tucked away behind the photo wall is a cosy reading corner where visitors can browse through books. The seat cushions are reminiscent of Mio’s bedding and allow visitors to immerse themselves in the secret world of manga.

Halmi


Halmi
contemporary Korean bistro

We designed and built the contemporary Korean restaurant Halmi together with and for our son Mino.
Halmi means Granny in Korean and is an homage to the home cooking that inspires the cuisine served.
The first thing one sees when entering is the bar with a floating roof hovering above it. The colours used for the trusses are drawn from the vibrant hues of classic buddhist temples in Korea.
The main space is warm and welcoming with a 4.6 metre high vaulted ceiling and a wall exposing 100 year old clay plaster and traces of roller patterns. Low wall panelling hugs the room on three sides.
East Asian mulberry paper can be found in multiple iterations: as papering of the bar front, crumbled and sewn as floating lanterns suspended from the ceiling, and as papier-mâché shades for the cordless table lamps. Together they add a soft glow and depth to the space.

Photos by Leonhard Hilzensauer

Spezerei

Spezerei
spice grinders

Spezerei is a family of spice grinders that breaks away from the dogma of turned traditional models. It consists of a salt and pepper mill, a nutmeg grinder and a salt box. Deliberately additive and architectural, these everyday objects do not immediately reveal what they are. These small sculptures arouse curiosity and invite you to touch and explore them.
Since they don’t look like kitchen utensils at first glance, they also cut a fine figure on the dining table.
Spezerei are available in fine domestic hardwoods such as walnut, oak and ash. The salt and pepper mills are equipped with Danish ceramic grinders and the nutmeg mills with Swiss quality grinders.

We distribute the mills directly—if you’re interested, please send an email to office@kimheep.com.

Photos by Leonhard Hilzensauer