DESIGN / Living ASEAN - Inspiring Tropical Lifestyle

Patchworks: A Dessert Café Looks Simple, Yet Stunning in Brutalist Architectural Style

By kangsadank
February 17, 2025
CULTURE,DESIGN

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Phattaraphon / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Nantiya June, Kittiya Kularbrat /

If the sweet aroma of baked goods is really your thing, here’s a dessert café dubbed a “hidden gem” in Charansanitwong, a vibrant neighborhood on the Thonburi side of Bangkok. Aptly named “Patchworks”, the small restaurant is renowned for its fine pastries and delicious desserts. It’s owned and operated by four siblings who possess different talents and passions. Characterized by the functionalist approach to building design, the place is likened to needlework in which small items and different details are sewn together beautifully.

Embracing a mix of brutalism and modernism, the raw concrete building is home to a dessert café serving rich, fluffy pastries and delicious light meals. Its bold forms bear some resemblance to a massive piece of cake visible in every direction. Conveniently situated across from of the MRT Bang-O station, its dining room affords a beautiful panorama of Charansanitwong, a vibrant neighborhood on the Thonburi side of Bangkok

As the saying goes, all big things start small. “Patchworks” began as a small business selling an assortment of baked goods back in the day. It grew and matured over time into an established bakery café, ultimately changing its corporate image and creating a strong brand identity thanks to a collaboration with the design firm p/s/d, or “party / space / design”.

It all took shape when the four siblings and a design team from p/s/d got to know each other not long ago. Purposeful meetings in the ensuing days soon paved the way for a smooth project implementation. They allowed for information exchange, problem solving and decision making that led to the integration of their specialized skills and passions into the new business plan. The result is an architectural style and branding concepts that tell the story of its products and services.

The downstairs welcoming hall has a dark emperador marble counter across which pastries and desserts are served. The mouth-watering light meals are made fresh daily in the kitchen located nearby. Busy movement and activity inside it can be seen from here, thanks to a large window separating it from the hallway. Together they are viewed as the highlight of the first floor.

A forest of pendant lighting is suspended from the ceiling directly above a void of space by the glass wall. The shapes and sizes of lampshades get their inspiration from a variety of whisks used for whipping and mixing ingredients, ultimately creating a bright and airy restaurant décor that goes together well with double-height ceilings.

Among other things, visuals of a whisk which is a utensil for whipping eggs and cream are used as the company logo. They are placed in different locations both on the building envelope and as ornaments enhancing the interior. Because the font style matters, the business name is made using a typeface ideally suited to a place in which to enjoy fine pastries, delicious desserts and a good dining experience.

For strength and durability, the floor is built of a type of concrete used in waterborne environments. Also known as “marine concrete”, it’s commonplace in Japanese lofts and widely preferred for its beautiful visual effects when touched by light.

Architecturally speaking, “Patchworks” is an interesting mix of modernism and the brutalist style characterized by raw materials, bold geometric forms and functionality over ornamentation. Expressed in a different way, the use of raw concrete contrasts sharply with the alluring aromas of baked goods and delicious desserts that are its signature dishes. The café has a view of the Metropolitan Rapid Transit (MRT) Bang-O Station.

A metamorphosis of purpose. Visuals of the kitchen utensil used for whipping eggs, cream and mixing ingredients play a new role as the company logo and a forest of pendant lamps suspended from the ceiling. Together they tell the story of brand building, meantime, making the dessert café original and unique in its own special way.

From a distance, it has the appearance of a cube-shaped building, something resembling a giant piece of cake facing all directions. Its proximity to the light rail station makes “Patchworks” a convenient place to meet, relax and indulge in tasty, fluffy pastries and delicious desserts, not to mention fresh brewed coffee and other refreshments. Critics may find the brutalist architectural style unappealing. But inside it, pleasant surprises abound.

Walk in the door and be spoilt for choice. The first floor holds a welcoming hall with a dark emperador marble counter across which rich fluffy pastries, desserts and beverages are served. The mouth-watering light meals are made fresh daily in the kitchen located on one side of the room. Busy movement and activity inside it can be seen from here, thanks to a large window in the hallway. Across from it, restaurant tables and chairs come in a combination of different shapes and sizes designed to satisfy customer needs.

Behind the pastry and dessert counter, a void of space directly overhead serves as engine that drives ventilation supplying fresh air and keeping the interior cool. Not far away, rustic pendant lighting in a variety of shapes and sizes provides a focal point inviting customers to explore extra seating spaces available upstairs. By design, the downstairs seating space is built only three meters tall for good reason. It’s painted calming colors while recessed lighting fixtures behind the sofas help create a peaceful ambiance.

Worthy of note is the board-formed concrete walls that add intrigue and interest to the room as well as the exterior. They convey a great deal about brutalism, an architectural style defined by the plainness of building materials and raw wood grain patterns in cement surfaces. Obviously, they add character and personality to the project.

Climb a flight of stairs, and you come to a large room where salads, brunches, pasta meals, burgers, coffee drinks and refreshments are served. Large glass windows infuse the room with natural light, meantime, offering stunning panoramic views of the light rail station and the surrounding cityscape.

Double-height ceilings, five meters tall to be exact, create a visually striking, more expansive interior. The counter front is adorned with a beautiful mix of glossy and matte finish marble. Placing the counter on the right side of the room creates a positive work environment. It gives company employees and baristas a clear view of the dining area located on the left side, thereby ensuring good customer service at all times.

To integrate natural elements into the built environment, the design team chose not to open up the entire facade overlooking the nearby MRT station. Rather, they filled up the back of the building with a large glass window, thereby bringing in the view of an ebony tree that provides a lush green canopy at the center of the floor plan. As a result, the café is able to offer its customers a variety of dining spaces to suit their taste or wishes.

The seating area overlooking the ebony tree is adorned with pendant lamps that hang from the ceiling above a void of space along the wall. Their balloon-like shapes are inspired by different types of whisks for whipping eggs or cream and blending ingredients. Some of them even resemble the shapes of pastries. Overall, the effect is impressive and goes together well with high ceilings.

A flight of stairs built of steel gives direct access to a hot kitchen and staff workspace located at the rear of the second floor. It’s inspired by fire escape stairwells typically painted flat black. The staircase looks somewhat bent out of place as it takes a twisting course to avoid hitting an ebony tree standing in the way.

The back of the upstairs room holds a hot kitchen with staff workspace nearby. They are separately accessible via a flight of stairs made of steel that gets its inspiration from a fire escape plan. By design, the staircase looks a bit bent out of place as it takes a twisting course to avoid hitting an ebony tree standing in the way. The third floor contains the business owners’ office space that opens onto a rooftop deck.

Taken as a whole, it’s a project that strikes a balance between architecture and the fun. Among other things, the openings in the wall bear some resemblance to the influence of David Umemoto, a Canadian artist famous for creating concrete sculptures and other art objects. It’s the very concept that inspires the design team at p/s/d to try something new and different from the norm. This includes the openings in the wall that ignore a window’s primary function, such as allowing daylight and a view.

A glimpse of the interior shows the feel and functionality of the back room holding a hot kitchen with staff workspace close by. The area is accessible via a separate set of stairs.

As an alternative, they put in a new kind of window with curved lines and a series of sharp zigzags. The same revolutionary idea applies to staircase design that’s treated like a decorative item. The result is a building resembling a concrete maze of corridors through which one has to find a way. Viewed from a passing train, it’s hard to imagine what’s going on inside, except what is seen through the openings in the wall.

A strategically placed opening in the wall is obvious evidence of the influence of David Umemoto, a Canadian artist famous for creating concrete sculptures and other art objects. It’s an interesting alternative that disregards a window’s primary functions, preferring instead to use curved lines and a series of sharp zigzags. The same applies to staircase design that’s treated like a decorating item.

In a few words, “Patchworks” is an outcome of detailed examination of the elements of building design. It’s the story of a small dessert café that evolved over time, meanwhile enhancing its image and generating brand awareness through a well-thought-out plan. In this particular instance, it’s a nice little collab between the owners and the designers that culminates in the bold, raw and deliberate plainness of brutalism. This much is clear.

It’s an architectural style that prioritizes functionality over ornamentation, plus pastries taste like heaven. Drop in for an unforgettable experience and discover why rich, fluffy pastries and delicious desserts here are a top choice in town. It’s only a short train ride away.

Architects: party / space / design

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Another Smith: Preserving Family Traditions through Contemporary Bamboo Architecture

By kangsadank
February 7, 2025
CULTURE,DESIGN

/ Tak, Thailand /

/ Story: Natthawat Klaysuban / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Jinnawat Borihankijanan /

Another Smith is a restaurant buzzing with energy and a vibrant atmosphere perched on the edge of the Moei river in Mae Sot, a district in Tak Province. It’s an add-on to an existing family-owned eatery famous for its pleasant and flavorful Thai and Chinese meals. Its signature dishes include fish maw soup made of the perfectly cooked air bladder of bony fish.

Soft concave curves in the roofline symbolic of Chinese architecture bring the architect’s idea to life. The building façade of bamboo and translucent corrugated sheets provides more privacy, safety and less noise. Up front, a welcoming hall and waiting area gives access to restaurant spaces located in the left and right wings.

The old eatery has served as a popular meeting place among the locals as well as foreign visitors for the past 62 years. Now the young generation who inherit the business from their forefathers think it’s time a new destination restaurant and services were created to support local community needs and tourist activities in the area. Located a stone’s throw away from the old family restaurant, Another Smith boasts the beauty of modern Chinese architecture that merges into the unique character and identity of Thailand’s Western Region.

The restaurant interior showcases an intriguing combination of bamboo poles, concrete construction and ceramic tiles, creating a balanced relationship between different elements that make the building not only strong but also beautiful.

The restaurant’s name is a portmanteau coined from a combination of the English word another and the Thai word Smithikorn, which is the business owner’s family name. Put the two words together, and you get Another Smith, for short. The new restaurant now serves as an iconic landmark during the time when the Smithikorn family enters a new era and Mae Sot town becomes one of Thailand’s top destinations for good reason.

The café zone situated up front doubles as a welcoming hall and waiting area. There’s a coffee station bedecked with bamboo poles and ceramic tiles in shades of blue that are inspired by the Blue Cave, a popular tourist destination in Tak Province. Nearby, exterior folding doors provide an example of historic and modern architecture coming together as one.

In a way that’s appropriate to the present circumstances, related business activities and functions are added to details of the overall plan. In addition to the restaurant, the new building also has plenty of space for a café and a jewelry store that’s another strength of the family business.

The bar serving alcoholic beverages and refreshments is adjacent to the café zone and welcoming hall. It starts in the evening and stays open late. There’s a central courtyard with an open-air dining area nearby.

The new restaurant design is inspired by indigenous architecture that has developed in China over millennia. Especially worthy of note is the open-roofed entrance hall or central court that recounts family history and their journeys through time. The project itself is a collab between TasteSpace who are tasked with planning the interior and implementing branding concepts, and Thor.Kaichon who undertake the architectural design process.

Interior design boasts a colorful array of furniture. In this particular case, the colors red and white are used in the right proportion to fit in with bamboo structural members in shades of brownish yellow.

The planning phase of project management starts out with interior design and works its way from the inside to the outside. This ensures that the restaurant has optimal work environments and all functions are in the right places, a system whereby many parts work together to achieve the common goal.

Semi-outdoor rooms roofed over with bamboo panels make up a majority of restaurant spaces. They look out over a lush garden oasis with large healthy trees that contrast with the brownish yellow of bamboo building materials.

What makes it stand out from the crowd is the beautiful bamboo building with an atrium hemmed in by rooms and galleries reminiscent of Chinese homes in times gone by. Together they create a bright, breezy and more inviting atmosphere. Some observers liken it to a dried swim bladder of large fish that’s hard on the outside and airy on the inside.

By design, Another Smith is capable of opening for business all day. It’s divided into three zones, namely:

The Café, which is ready to serve customers from morning until midday. There’s a stylish coffee station located at the front that doubles as a welcoming hall and waiting area giving access to the restaurant nearby.
The Restaurant, which is open for lunches, dinners and nights of dining until the early hours of the morning. There’s an enclosed dining room in the right wing of the building. The left wing holds a dining hall with a garden view for those preferring to dine in the open air. There are rooms for private dinners and social occasions situated next door.
The Bar, which starts in the evening and stays open late. It sits tucked away in an area farther from the café and welcoming entrance located at the front. The room looks out over the central courtyard that’s aglow under the lights at nightfall, turning it into a fun place to hang out with friends.

An indoor dining room opens onto the central courtyard. It’s well-lit and well-ventilated by design. Equipped with bi-fold doors, the room can be divided into parts for private meetings and dinners when needed.

That’s not all. There’s also a special zone holding a jewelry store near the front entrance. It’s a business specialty in which the Smithikorn family has expert skill and knowledge.

Every square inch counts. Here, a vacant retail space provides room for a jewelry store that’s part of the family business. It’s situated at the front entrance by the welcoming hall and waiting area.

Bamboo is the material of choice for good reason. It’s desired as a building material and chic interior decorative items. There’s more. The giant woody grass that grows mainly in the Tropics has long been a building material that’s unique to the architecture of Thailand and China.

A façade of bamboo and translucent corrugated sheets protects an open-air dining area from the elements. It makes the restaurant space cooler without AC and keeps the sun and rain off the semi-outdoor room.

It’s also the building supply in which Thor.Kaichon has technical expertise. In this specific instance, only bamboo poles that have been properly treated are used. The appropriate treatment method ensures their longevity and strength in construction and other applications. Plus, they provide environmentally friendly options rooted in cultural heritage, even better when they are used in conjunction with concrete and reinforced by steel structural members and sheet metal. Together they go to work making the building strong and sure to withstand the years.

The restaurant interior is even more exciting, adorned with an intriguing combination of random tile patterns in shades of blue. The colors are inspired by the Blue Cave, a popular tourist destination in Tak Province. The designers experiment with new methods for dyeing bamboo to ensure it matches the restaurant’s ideas, themes and concepts. Where appropriate, blue and red are used in the right proportion that proves a perfect complement to bamboo structural members and paneling in yellow hues, resulting in a pleasant dining room atmosphere.

In the fewest possible words, Another Smith represents a step in the right direction for a business practice that focuses on adaptations to fit in with modern times. It’s a quality that has run in the family from the very beginning. Another Smith is the story of the diaspora of people from China who have come to call this part of Thailand home. Their business skill has sharpened over time.

Meanwhile, it gave rise to the assimilation of Chinese to Thai society in recent times. As the architects intended, it’s a proven way to create a good first impression and ensure a positive customer experience through good food and a beautiful architectural style. The bottom line: Mae Sot is full of pleasant surprises waiting to be discovered.

Project Concept & Branding: TasteSpace (https://www.facebook.com/tastespace.co)
Interior Designer: TasteSpace (https://www.facebook.com/tastespace.co)
Architects: Thor.Kaichon (https://www.facebook.com/thorkaichon)

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Rab-A-Bit: Old Café Remodeled as Restaurant Radiating the Charm of Vintage Crafts

By kangsadank
January 30, 2025
CULTURE,DESIGN

Rab-A-Bit is a small community restaurant in Mae Rim, a district to the north of downtown Chiang Mai. Originally a café, the building is tastefully renovated as a restaurant exuding an air of tranquility with spectacular rice fields and a rich cultural tapestry. Built mostly of local materials, it’s a design that embraces a humble appearance and follows the principles of long-term sustainability.

Housescape Design Lab, a Chiang Mai-based architecture firm, is tasked with renovating the building belonging to Prof. Chunlaporn Nuntapanich. The professor himself is an architect renowned for his many masterpieces that blend with the environment and embrace the local culture.

In this particular case, the original architectural plan remains intact. The interior is restored to all its former glory, while a stunning open-concept layout brings a refreshing change. As a result, more square footage is gained without changing the floor plan. Plus, a roof inspection and repair ensures there are no leaks.

The project was completed in a short space of time to minimize disruption’s impact on business. This was achieved by careful planning in the pre-construction phase whereby all the necessary materials were gathered and prepared to ensure a smooth building process.

Plus, there was no need for a complete teardown to make room for an entirely new building. For strength and durability, the architect preferred instead to reinforce the timber framing in existence at the time with steel structural members. This gave him plenty of time to incorporate additional spaces and functions into the design. They included a customer waiting area inside the building, dust control measures plus safety and protection in bad weather.

There is beauty in simplicity and strategies to meet customer expectations. Rab-A-Bit is built to last a very long time with all functional areas working effectively from the dining room to the kitchen and prep stations. All in all, the pleasant atmosphere makes the restaurant stand out as a peaceful destination for lovers of nature. For others, it’s a green space to spend time and enjoy the sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch of the countryside. From business perspective, it’s thoughtfully devised to attract and keep repeat customers.

Rab-A-Bit is an intriguing combination of the culinary delights and crafts indigenous to the area. It’s built of solid natural wood by local artisans skilled in traditional carpentry. Walk in the door, and you come into a room bedecked with handicrafts of the Northern Region that give the restaurant its character. Together they blend perfectly with nature, becoming one with the rice fields around.

Clearly noticeable is the restaurant’s clean, simple appearance and attention to detail, while its flagship products are mainly authentic Thai dishes on a no-fuss menu. The restaurant owner’s specialties include shrimp fried rice that’s uncomplicated, easily accessible and very popular among the locals as well as foreigners.

Rab-A-Bit is the story of a passion for doing small things with great love. It’s about the power of determination. As its name suggests, this place has enjoyed a good reputation that’s built bit by bit over the years, ultimately resulting in a piece of architecture that harmoniously blends with elements of the everyday landscapes in Chiang Mai.

Underneath it all is a design approach that seeks to minimize negative impacts on the environment, the society and the local economy as the region is tackling the problem of air pollution caused by seasonal slash-and-burn agriculture.

It’s obvious that sustainable design is the only way forward as shown in this restaurant that’s built of local materials by local people. It makes certain that a heritage of exquisite artisanship lives on. Add a unique dining experience, a welcoming atmosphere, and tasty healthy lunches and dinners to the list, and it’s easy to get why many come away impressed. Drop into Rab-A-Bit next time you’re in the area.

Architect: Housescape Design Lab

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Morico: A Japanese Concept Café and Restaurant Sparkles with the Refreshing Allure of Green

By kangsadank
January 20, 2025
CULTURE,DESIGN

/ Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam /

/ Story: Phattaraphon / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Paul Phan /

The Morico Café and Restaurant is nestled in an impeccably restored shophouse in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. There’s more than it seems at first sight. A well-conceived renovation obviously plays a pivotal role in improving the functionality and value of the building. The narrow façade, typically 5 meters in width, opens onto the sidewalk and, beyond, a very busy street. The elongated building plan is 35 meters deep, making it adaptable and incredibly useful. From the architect’s point of view, it’s an opportunity to create a warm, inviting place that fosters positive connections between people and nature.

A design masterpiece by the Ho Chi Minh City-based company Inrestudio, the beautiful café and restaurant is thoughtfully devised in keeping with a contemporary Japanese concept that prioritizes the aesthetics and practicality of space. The secret lies in decorating with lush green plants, thereby creating an oasis of peace and quiet despite being in the city center.

The building facade facing the sidewalk welcomes customers to a semi-public area with a well-crafted set of concrete steps sprucing up the entryway. It balances greenery with minimalist hardscaping, creating a bright, airy transitional room radiating positive vibes. Against the walls, healthy green foliage is arranged in a zigzag order, alternating with semi-outdoor furniture designed to improve customers’ waiting experience.

The Morico Café and Restaurant blends inviting design and nature in a restored, elongated shophouse in Ho Chi Minh City.

The coffee bar boasts original and unique designs thanks to the counter frontages that vary in height from one barista station to another depending on the task being undertaken. Lower frontages open up windows for good customer interaction, while higher ones keep non-customer contact areas out of sight creating a neat appearance.

Walk past the entryway, and you come to a well-conceived the coffee bar in earthy brown tones that give it a professional, polished appearance. What makes it unique is the bar counter frontages that vary in height from one barista station to the next depending on the nature of work being carried out. The beautiful frontages are kept as waist height where customer service takes place and raised higher for jobs that require less to no human interaction.

At the farthest end, a part of the second floor is taken out to make room for a curved steel staircase painted dark forest green. The vertical shaft enclosing the stairs is brightened by a skylight system built into the rooftop, while the double-height ceiling is hung with a forest of white Noren curtains commonplace at restaurants, shops and homes across Japan. There are about 180 of them in all. Together they create light and shadow effects that change throughout the day due to the angle of the sun in the sky.

The glass ceiling is hung with a forest of white Noren curtains commonplace at homes and business spaces across Japan. There are 180 of them in all. Together they create light and shadow effects that change throughout the day.

A curved steel staircase painted dark forest green gives access to upstairs dining rooms. The shaft at the farthest end of the building is created by taking out a part of the second floor to make room for a new set of stairs illuminated by skylights built into the rooftop.

The overall effect is impressive. Precise floor plans and interior décor speak volumes for a philosophy of Japanese art and design that blends together beautifully with modern architecture. The downstairs is designed to please even the most avid coffee lover making the coffee easily accessible.

Earthy brown and deep forest green go well together on the stairs and the corridor enclosed by a balustrade giving access to dining rooms on the second floor. By nightfall, the restaurant is aglow under soft lights elevating dining experiences. Plus, there’s private and secluded space for large group dining nearby.

The upstairs room focuses on the good seating arrangements for comfort, the relaxed ambiance and a good dining experience. When evening comes, soft lights create a signature glow bringing depth and warmth to the cozy dining room. Plus, there’s private and secluded space for larger group dining, too.

Architect: Inrestudio

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Red Riding Wood: Red Forest Cabins in Chiang Mai Bring Fun Back to the Holidays

By kangsadank
January 14, 2025
CULTURE,DESIGN

/ Chiang Mai, Thailand /

/ Story: Kangsadan K.ม Kor Lordkam / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul, Kranchanok Boonbamrung /

Here’s a design project that fills a family’s teak wood plantation with enthusiasm and energy. It’s home to a cabin vacation destination oozing with the serene beauty of nature. Named the “Red Riding Wood”, the project boasts simple two-story houses that are a source of pride. They sit well on four rai of land (roughly 1.5 acres) snugly tucked into the forest of Chiang Mai’s Hang Dong District.

Evoking a timeless charm through simple materials and craftsmanship by local builders, the forest cabins are the brainchild of SHER MAKER, an architectural practice renowned for using ordinary items in such a way that brings about amazing life experiences.

Bi-fold wooden doors with glass panels open from one end to the other, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living.

In essence, the “Red Riding Wood” is the story of an old family-owned hotel that has since undergone a complete transformation. It now includes peaceful vacation cabins in the woods, a couple of pool villas, and children’s playgrounds amid lush greenery designed for families to reconnect with nature.

There are two vacation cabins that serve as the most prominent features on the old teak wood plantation. Just a stone’s throw from them stands a pavilion used for multiple purposes, ranging from business spaces to pop-up stores and cafés to workshop venues.

The pool villas have since been restored to a good state of repair that blends well with the vacation cabins in front. Where appropriate, large openings are installed to reduce opacity in red concrete walls

Playground equipment for kids lies at the center of the property. The two vacation cottages are positioned in front overlooking the road. Not far away, two pool villas were recently renovated to accommodate visiting extended families. The project has all of its goals achieved, at the same time avoiding the unnecessary cutting down of trees on the property, ultimately creating architectural design that blends with the surroundings.

As to be expected, the cabin’s front façade is glazed using frosted glass to protect personal privacy. There’s a playground for kids on the side. The two cottages are made of timber from teak wood farming that was cut down to make room for an extra living space expansion.

Weathered wood beams contrast with structural steel members painted a beautiful deep red color.

The villas are raised above the ground on vertical posts to avoid damaging tree roots.

The building’s structural steel members, such as beams and columns, are painted a deep red anti-rust color coating, while wax finishes protect wood surfaces from the ravages of sun, rain and temperature fluctuations. In the living room, bi-fold doors glazed with transparent glass open to a deck with spectacular views, blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors.

Vertical posts recycled from much older homes find a new purpose as structural support for the pavilion designed for a future pop-up café and workshop space.

The area adjacent to the cabins holds a pavilion that provides plenty of room for pop-up stores, cafés and interactive workshop activities. It’s designed to meet the needs of extended families and groups holidaying together. Meantime, clear glass walls enhance natural light to create a sense of openness and allow parents to keep an eye on children playing outside.

The pavilion is built out of timber recycled from components of the roofs of two old villas that were torn down as part of the expansion plan. It’s put together by local builders highly skilled in making and repairing wooden structures. Precisely, it’s the aged, rustic look of old wood that gives the forest cabin project its character.

A narrow passageway hemmed in by red walls arouses curiosity. It’s inspired by a scene from the fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood”, where the girl ventures into the woods looking for grandma.

Next, we come to the two villas that were recently restored to a good state of repair to accommodate large families and travel groups. A small gate giving access to the front door has since been rebuilt after the old one was torn down and wood recycled to serve new purposes elsewhere. The villas stand environed by perimeter fences painted shades of red color that interact directly with nearby buildings.

Red is the color of choice for good reason. It serves as a focal point that makes the forest cabin project stand out in the neighborhood. Plus, it blends well with clean lines that foster calm and clarity in spaces and cement plaster finishes on the walls. In a way, the project got its inspiration from “Little Red Riding Hood”, a fairy tale about a little girl and a cunning wolf.

The company logo is inspired by the fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood”. It’s a way to express rich and subtle meanings about life in the wild and its influence on design concepts.

Everything about it conveys a great deal about the project owner, who is a creative always curious and inquiring as a child. With regard to the project’s visual appearance, the architect picks the color of the red millipedes that thrive in the teak forest, subtly telling the story of fascinating colors of wild animals. This pretty much explains the presence of red fence panels and the narrow passageway that evokes memories of an unforgettable holiday experience.

Red cement plaster walls are everywhere. They connect all parts of the forest cabin project, from the front entrance to concrete edges lining garden walkways, to children’s playgrounds and the pool villas at the rear. Among other things, they divide the project site into different zones, provide outdoor privacy screens, and give information about the distance and direction to places on the property.

Together they bring all the parts together as one. Combine that with the property owner’s character, and you get a development project that’s in and of itself a work of art. All things considered, it’s a fascinating place to visit, a world of curiosities in the middle of a teak forest.

A vacation not only provides the way to escape the daily grind. It’s also about gaining fresh perspectives, broadening one’s horizons and living a more fulfilling life. In this particular case, the little houses in the forest of Chiang Mai represent the coming together of a team of architects with pragmatic approaches and the property owner who proves creativity knows no bounds.

Together they tell the story of a realistic, interactive experience about travel into the woods. It’s a chance to discover the extraordinary, relax, wake up fully rested and ready for the day.

Architect: SHER MAKER

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Klang-Pa: A Cute Little Café in the Woods Celebrates Nature and Truth to Materials

By kangsadank
December 11, 2024
CULTURE,DESIGN

/ Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand /

/ Story: Kangsadan K. / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: SkyGround Architectural Film & Photography /

Anyone for coffee? Here’s a little café aptly named “Klang-Pa”, literally translated “in the middle of the forest”. It’s nestled snugly in the woodland of Pak Chong District in Nakhon Ratchasima, formerly Korat. Telling the story of father and son bonding, the modern coffee shop is an add-on to an existing building belonging to the owner’s father. “Klang-Pa” is the brainchild of Context Studio, a Bangkok-based architectural practice.

Originally a thriving orchard, the land under the crisp, cool canopy of overhanging trees is home to the family-owned “Secret Art Garden and Galleries”. His father, who’s an artist, taught art here for many years. Now the son has decided to put in a small café to make it lively and fun, ultimately creating a positive atmosphere to enjoy coffee with a view of the natural surroundings.

And that’s where the architects from Context Studio come into play, transforming an empty plot of land into a little cafe in the wilderness. It bears some resemblance to a glasshouse with naked concrete forming the framework of upright pillars, beams and walls. They are chosen for their ability to withstand challenge on-site, including dirt, mud and stormwater in the rainy season. In so many ways, it shines like a work of art that chronicles the history of a family bound together by strong relationships and common interests.

From a distance, bare concrete walls and components of a structural system form a framework that supports and holds up the building. The room is completely enclosed by transparent glass paneling and rooftop skylights to admit light and allow people to see out. Like a lit torch casting flickering light through the trees, the glasshouse coffee shop is aglow under electric lights in the nighttime.

Wood plank concrete forms leave their marks on cement walls, adding unique textures to the cute little café.

Spaces between individual wooden boards create ridges and grooves in naked cement walls.

By design, the use of ordinary items conveys a great deal about Truth to Materials, a principle which holds that materials should be left in their raw or lightly finished state. Among other things, local wood in its organic shapes is used for concrete forms, resulting in the colors and textures that give great aesthetic pleasure. Small gaps between planks create narrow ridges and grooves on the building walls, bringing out a stunning light effect when touched by the sun’s rays.

Poured concrete is used for the framework and components of the building with a rectangular floor plan. Together they create simple and straightforward movements from the coffee bar and nearby wash basins to the casual, cool sitting area, to the set of steps at the entrance. The overall effect is impressive.

“Klang-Pa” has become a rendezvous to enjoy good coffee and appreciate the scenery of the natural world. Step outside and you discover nature’s dining room is always open. To achieve a neat appearance, plumbing is concealed within walls while rainwater is emptied through downspout systems inside concrete columns.

The cute little café in the woods is the story of a relationship between an artist and his son, who’s an aficionado of the finest coffee. With the help of a team of architects, it becomes a new destination offering an off-the-grid alternative to popular places while still reconnecting with nature, rich culture and family traditions,

Architect: Context Studio (https://www.facebook.com/contextinterior)

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Banyan House: A Country Villa in Cambodia Provides a Perfect Off-the-Grid Getaway

By kangsadank
December 6, 2024
CULTURE,DESIGN

/ Siem Reap, Cambodia /

/ Story: Kangsadan K. / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Hey Chhorn, and Makara /

Looking for a perfect escape from noisy, chaotic and fast-paced city life? Here’s a country villa immersed in nature’s grace. Known as “Banyan House”, it reconnects with the physical world in a way that’s visually pleasing. The brainchild of Asma Architects, a Siem Reap-based architectural firm, it’s achieved by integrating natural materials, colors and patterns in the design, culminating in a peaceful home that inspires a sense of space in nature and freedom in every movement.

“Banyan House” is the story of a contemporary rustic dwelling whose name depicts a scene of renewed vitality and well-being beneath the crisp, cool canopy of healthy trees. There are lush lawns hemmed in by green foliage that offer a quiet spot to relax and unwind in nature. To avoid disrupting natural energy flows, every precaution is taken to reduce detail in the basics, thereby creating in a light and airy place that has less impact on the environment.

The house plan is carefully thought out to blend with lush landscapes, meantime reducing detail to enhance focus on key elements that give a sense of openness, well-distributed lighting and good ventilation.

Bedecked with the lovely colors and patterns of tropical foliage, a garden path gives access to the entryway, extending a warm welcome to the modern rustic villa in Siem Reap.

The overall atmosphere feels relaxed with good summer vibes and a fine view of the landscape. From the gate, a tree-lined garden path gives access to the large front door made of wood. Walk in the door, and you come to a comfy living room on the ground floor complete with modern conveniences for everyday living. The kitchen has a freestanding island that provides additional storage and work space. The dining room is a hub of social activities conveniently connected to the sitting room nearby. Step outside, and you discover a veranda giving access to a swimming pool enclosed by well-kept gardens.

Open floor plans make the sitting room look and feel good, hemmed in by lush gardens.

A kitchen island in marble finish adds a touch of elegance to the overall interior design.

What makes this country villa stand out from others is a larger-than-normal terrace along the front part of the building. It’s designed to blend together beautifully with plants indigenous to tropical countries. And that’s precisely where lush greenery and banyan trees come into play. They provide a focal point in the landscape, meantime, keeping the home cool in hot weather.

Glass windows paired with soft textures make bedrooms on the second floor feel warm and relaxed.

To increase privacy in the home, all four bedrooms are tucked away in secluded areas on the second floor. The principal bedroom with an en-suite bath lies at the farthest end, while the other three are disposed at various places. Regardless of their location, they share one quality that makes them look and feel good – a clean, well-lighted place with a lush garden view.

The floor finished in white and blue terrazzo creates a modern appeal in the bathroom.

As people try to get away from the chaos of city life, teeming streets and overcrowded places, “Banyan House” comes in handy as a haven of peace and tranquility. It’s a place to relax, recharge and wake up fully rested. Beyond everything, the positive effects of nature will benefit us all.

Architects: Asma Architects

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Ton Corner Coffee Shop: A Backstreet Café in Hue Embraces the Beauty of Ordinary Materials

By kangsadank
November 28, 2024
CULTURE,DESIGN

/ Hue, Vietnam /

/ Story: Phattaraphon / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Ton That Hoang Anh /

There are plenty of good reasons to visit Hue, the former capital of Vietnam. Rich in history and cultural heritage, it’s home to imperial palaces, holy shrines and a wealth of architectural treasures. Who would have thought there’s a cute small café tucked away in a backstreet far-removed from the teeming thoroughfare of the city center?

Named Ton Corner, it’s a café constructed using basic, locally sourced materials, a strategy that matches a short-term rental agreement. Plus, the area is prone to seasonal flooding during heavy rains. That’s exactly the challenge that tests the ability of the design team at TON Architects, an architectural firm based in Hue. And the final outcome is worthy of admiration, thanks to well-thought-out design aimed at creating a good customer experience.

Against all the odds, the architects successfully accomplish their goals by picking out ordinary items as being the best and the most appropriate to the location. They include structural steel framing, corrugated sheet metal, reclaimed timber and tempered glass. They are easy to be put together and taken apart just in case the business relocates to a new place in future when the lease expires.

Like so, corrugated sheet metal normally found on roofs and walls now serves new purposes as decorative materials and other components of the building. And it’s done in an interesting way, plus it’s strong, durable and suitable for the hot and humid climate prevailing in the central region of Vietnam.

Because it rains a lot in this part of the country, corrugated sheet metal comes in handy to prevent damage caused by a water leak. Sheet metal is easy to install, easy to care for and suitable as a building material for the coffee shop. Plus, it provides an inexpensive solution that blends smoothly with others in the neighborhood.

Imagination helps them think up new ways to solve problems. The architects are quick to combine industrial building materials, such as steel frames and corrugated sheet metal, with timber recycled from much older buildings, resulting in a welcome contrast between the two kinds. The building’s outer shell crafted of sheet metal showcases a noticeable difference in texture, appearance and feel, while reclaimed wood adds visual interest and depth to design.

Step inside, and you find a home-like atmosphere that’s impressive, warm and inviting. The overall effect is up-to-date and appropriate for the kind of weather it is in. More than anything, it’s handcrafted by local builders and skilled artisans, which translates into big savings and contributes to the local economy.

As to be expected, open-concept floor plans are easy to understand and easy to follow, ultimately creating a lively interior space rich in pattern, color and texture. Lust shade trees on the storefront and in the backyard can be seen in full view from inside the café. The scenery becomes visually stunning when it rains. The sound of raindrops tapping the window panes can be mesmerizing for nature lovers. On sunny days, both downstairs and upstairs rooms are filled with energy and excitement, thanks to daylight streaming in through large storefront windows and other openings at the rear.

To avoid feeling claustrophobic despite being a small place, the architects put in a mezzanine floor and second floor for customers who prefer a little more privacy, a quiet reading nook and personal space in which to work or relax while enjoying a good cup of coffee. The second floor gives the appearance of being inside an attic of a building with a view of urban landscapes that changes over time.

In a nutshell, Ton Corner Coffee Shop is a perfect example of what makes a building comfortable even though there are problems on site. The answer lies in an awareness of the surroundings, knowledge of materials, clever building strategies and, most important of all, forward thinking. The same concept can apply to both commercial and residential design. In this particular instance, using simple, readily available materials can translate into big savings and reducing human impacts on the environment.

Architects: TON Architects

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Baba Yaga Restaurant: A Restaurant Beautifully Renovated to Blend with the Surroundings

By kangsadank
November 21, 2024
CULTURE,DESIGN

/ Da Nang, Vietnam /

/ Story: Kangsadan K. / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Quang Tran /

A restaurant housed in an old building has been renovated to provide a unique experience for diners. It’s wrapped in a new envelope of tree branches with organic shapes designed to blend into a beautiful setting in Da Nang, a city in central Vietnam. Named Baba Yaga Restaurant, it’s an architectural masterpiece that values materials found in nature, one that seeks reconnections with its physical environment.

Situated at the intersection of two streets, Baba Yuga Restaurant is the brainchild of Duoitancay Concept, a design studio based in Da Nang. The old building has 436 square meters of usable space. In front of it stands a row acacia trees that are commonplace in tropical regions. As the architect and the property owner intended, they go to work improving air quality and providing shade making the atmosphere inviting, cozy and cooler during summer months.

The first and second floor plans illustrate ideas for decorating with plants and creative design solutions to the problem of being close to busy streets. / Courtesy of Duoitancay Concept

To protect structural integrity, the steel building frame remains intact. On the outside, the curved facade of woody stems, branches, twigs and sticks doubles as a buffer against noise and traffic-related pollution. The overall interior is impressive, canopied by overhanging trees nearby. In the meantime, the exterior walls with perforations add privacy, create patterns and provide ventilation making the dining room feel comfortable and warm.

Shade trees alternating with closely growing foliage plants reduce noise and absorb harmful particles from traffic, meantime creating a positive environment for diners.

A closer look at interior design reveals a pleasant ambience well-lit by daylight. The walls are decorated with perfect raw wood finishes with rough textures and earthy tones. The restaurant comprises two levels, each of which is tailored to suit specific customer preferences. The first floor holds ample semi-outdoor rooms for those who prefer dining al fresco.

The first floor holds a semi-outdoor dining room with plenty of space for those who prefer dining in the open air. At the center, a flight of stairs provides access to quiet and secluded dining rooms on the second floor.

A wide opening in the building façade affords a view of the city of Da Nang as seen from inside a second floor dining room.

On the periphery, closely growing bushes and shrubbery provide protection and reduce the amount of dust entering inside the rooms. Upstairs is an entirely different story. It offers plenty of space for four private dining rooms, plus a foyer with a view of the beautiful city of Da Nang. From here, open floor plans allow natural light and fresh outdoor air into to the dining rooms nearby.

Parts of trees in organic shapes add natural touches to a dining room.

A dining room bedecked with wooden masks unlocks the power of storytelling that taps into the innate human sense of connection.

Apart from using materials found in nature, it’s the love of art that makes Baba Yaga stand out from others. Together tree branches, twigs, sticks and barks combine to give the restaurant its unique character. It’s design that speaks volumes for the Truth to Materials concept, which says that material should be used in the most honest way possible. The result is a completely new building envelope reminiscent of an art gallery. Yet everything about it, from elegant décor to soft lighting and well-placed tables combines to create a positive experience for all.

In short, Baba Yaga Restaurant is a renovation project that brings out the best in the architects who create it. As a rendezvous for communities, it’s a spacious, positively clean place where people meet, enjoy good meals, foster relationships and make memories. More than anything else, it’s well-thought-out design inspired by nature that gives it a decided plus.

Architects: Duoitancay Concept

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Rimkhobfa Bookstore & Black and Milk Café: Stunning Bookstore Café Renovation Fosters a Culture of Reading

By kangsadank
October 28, 2024
CULTURE,DESIGN

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Kangsadan K. / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Anupong Chaisukkasem, Phumpakorn Na Bangchang /

How would you like your coffee? Black or with cream? Welcome to Rimkhobfa Bookstore & Black and Milk Café, a stand-alone store and coffee shop snugly cocooned in a cozy neighborhood of Bangkok’s Bang Plat District. The name is a bit of a mouthful, but you get the idea. The cybercafé is thoughtfully devised to ignite the love of literacy and open new horizons among younger fans of books.

Aptly named “Rimkhobfa”, literally translated “horizons”, it’s home to a bewildering array of books about Thailand and classics that every bookworm should read. Originally located on Rajadamnoen Avenue, the store only recently moved across the Chao Phraya River to a new address in Bang Phlat District. And that’s where the design team at BodinChapa Architects came in play, transforming an old building that had fallen into disrepair into a new bookstore-cum-café rendezvous. There’s charm and the power of storytelling that captivates a thirst for knowledge. Plus, fresh brewed coffee smells like heaven and the atmosphere is pleasant.

The building that formerly housed offices is located on Charansanitwong Road, a main thoroughfare on the west bank of the Chao Phraya. There was a problem when an overpass was built nearby, making the structure less visible while the interior became dark, poorly lit by dim light. To breathe new life into the old building and make the dark rooms brighter, the architects added openings in the wall and painted the interior a light and airy color. Meanwhile, an open concept layout provides ample space for a café that’s part and parcel of the bookstore.

The first floor plan offers equal amounts of space for the café and the bookstore. / Courtesy of BodinChapa Architects

Drawings illustrate spatial arrangements on the second and third floor plans. The interior is made light and airy by taking away the ceiling and creating a void of space in the second floor. / Courtesy of BodinChapa Architects

A vantage point affords a view of areas on the first and second floors.

Stair railings provide visual transitions enhancing the flow of interior space that culminates in a massive wall called the “Tower”. In all places, the interior abounds with custom built-in shelves for storing books and product displays.

In renovating the old building, the architects had a part of the second floor removed to create a double height ceiling, resulting in a visually striking interior on the ground floor. After that the bookstore and café spaces were put in, each occupying roughly equal amounts of floor area.

Climb a flight of stairs, and you come to the second floor with plenty of space for organizing events and seminars. The low ceiling that was there originally is gone now. The room is cozy and comfortable thanks to a double height space. It also has abundant space for bookshelves. The third floor holds a conference room with large windows overlooking the second floor.

A product display paired with restaurant furniture in various styles creates a good bookstore café experience.

Low ceilings that were there originally have since been removed to add headroom to the retail space on the first floor. Plus, it makes the small area nice and tidy by hiding utility systems.

The first floor comprises two parts, the first being a bookstore and the second holding a small café. There’s a coffee bar up front for greeting customers arriving in the store. Go further inside, and you come to an area filled with bookshelves alternating with coffee shop seating. From here the aisle leads to a collection of books beautifully arranged for public viewing.

On the whole, the interior abounds with bookshelves and library furniture starting from the café zone all the way to the stairway giving access to the second floor. Together they provide the perfect ambience for coffee aficionados and book lovers.

There’s more. Filling the interior space with style is a massive wall called the “Tower” that rises from the bottom to the top of the building. It’s an element of design dividing the interior space into parts, meanwhile doubling as the focal point drawing customers to other attractions on the second floor. Plus, it’s thoughtfully devised to provide the visual connection linking the cashier zone with the stairway nearby.

The decoration of the “Tower” keeps firmly to the original Rimkhobfa bookstore concept, whereby the gradual change of color symbolizes the horizon.

Overall, the furnishing and decoration of the interior keeps firmly to the original “Rimkhobfa” bookstore concept, whereby an image of the horizon is represented by a wall of fired clay bricks that change colors from dark at the bottom to light at the top. At the same time, indoor lights and a quadrangular opening at the top of the Tower go to work alongside each other to create a clean, well-lighted place perfect for reading and displays of books.

The second floor is well-lit and filled with shelves on which books are stored. It’s illuminated by natural daylight shining in through an array of tall windows. To protect the interior from the sun, the windows are dressed with light filtering shades. Flex space ideas help create multipurpose rooms for meetings and other events.

Low profile shelving units can be stowed away in the back room when not required, while high profile ones are used to store books and display products. They are placed against the wall with spaces in between to avoid enclosed spaces that could be signs of claustrophobia. This makes it easy to browse around the bookstore, find a quiet place to sit and enjoy a good read.

A flexible space for seminars and events has low profile shelving units that can be stowed away when not required.

Slightly tucked away from the main, noisy thoroughfare, the bookstore café makes the most effective use of natural materials to attract passers-by. Like so, the raw brick façade in shades of orange performs dual functions; structural and aesthetic. Nearby, a small signboard displaying the business name and logo directs customers to the store.

The floor is covered with tiles in shades of dark gray alternating with orange hue with brownish tints. To make the building more visible from the street, the front façade protrudes slightly from the wall while light-colored wood paneling slants up to the window sills adding instant curb appeal.

Fired clay tiles in shades of orange contrast with a gray stone wall displaying the business name. Together they add instant curb appeal to the bookstore café.

The atmosphere inside and outside the bookstore café is pleasant thanks to the use of eco-friendly materials in all places. Needless to say, it’s design that respects nature and the importance of art and culture in our lives. The materials and color shades remind a crowd of onlookers of the humble origins of man. Together they create stunning color combinations blending with the circumstances that form the setting of the neighborhood.

The second floor contains bookshelves alternating with reading nook furniture.

As print media struggle to survive in the age of technology, Rimkhobfa Bookstore manages to stand its ground in the fight by incorporating Black and Milk Café in its business plan. The result is a forward-looking bookstore café that answers the lifestyle needs of the new generations. By design, it’s a flexible business space capable of performing many functions. It’s the story of a renovation done right, one that transforms an old building in need of repairs into an oasis of calm for book and coffee lovers. Swing by the café next time you’re in town.

Architects: BodinChapa Architects

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