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

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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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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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Lei Ơi Càphê: An Airy, Well-Lighted Shophouse-Cum-Bistro in Da Nang

By kangsadank
September 16, 2024
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Da Nang, Vietnam /

/ Story: Phattaraphon / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Hoang Le /

No other place looks the epitome of a charming community like this neighborhood in southeast Da Nang. The area is no stranger to shopping streets lined with narrow front row houses commonplace throughout Vietnam. And that’s exactly the challenge that tests the ability of a design team at Tran Trung Architects. They are tasked with creating a small coffee shop combined with the owner’s residence on the second and third floors. The result is a clean, well-lighted shophouse named “Lei Ơi Càphê”, ơi being a word expressing love and affection in Vietnamese.

On the outside looking in, it’s the image of a beautiful place thanks to the quaint, storybook façade and a front yard under tree cover. The healthy green foliage is quite a contrast to the building exteriors with burnt orange undertones. The storefront itself is covered in corrugated metal roofing turning a rusty brown. It’s a creative way to add vintage aesthetic to the modern terraced home. More than anything else, it doubles as an outdoor privacy screen providing peace and seclusion from busy movement and activity outside. Walk in the door, and enjoy life in the slow lane, not to mention the tantalizing aroma of fresh brewed coffee.

First floor plan: Open concept design makes the entryway, coffee bar and seating area feel light and airy. / Courtesy of Tran Trung Architects

Second floor plan: Greenery is put in toward the middle of the house plan, separating the customer seating area up front from the owner’s residence tucked away at the rear. / Courtesy of Tran Trung Architects

Third floor plan: An open concept layout translates into improved foot traffic flow plus increased light and ventilation. / Courtesy of Tran Trung Architects

Meanwhile, open-concept spaces on the inside feel cohesive with everything blending together beautifully. There’s small courtyard, for lack of a better word, at the center of the house plan that’s illuminated by skylights built into the rooftop. On the whole, it’s the coming together of features produced by nature and a style of architecture that’s unique in its own special way. They work alongside each other to improve indoor air quality and excite interest as sunlight and shadow on the wall changes over time.

A long table crafted of reclaimed wood looks out over the void of space on the second floor, making the interior feel light and airy.

There’s more. Central to its character is the concept known as “Reviving the Life Cycle”. Fundamentally, it’s about the 3 R’s, reduce, reuse and recycle as a way to manage waste by putting discarded material to good use and creating works of higher quality and value than the original. This is evidenced by the use of old corrugated metal roofing on the building façade, as well as crushed brick landscaping in the front yard and the path for walking along.

shophouse — The façade of corrugated metal roofing in rusty browns speaks volumes for the 3 R’s of waste management – reduce, reuse and recycle to save planet Earth.

To create indoor thermal comfort, the east and south-facing walls are built of perforated bricks that offer a range of benefits, among them enhanced ventilation, moisture control and stunning geometric patterns in design. Small holes in the bricks let fresh air enter and circulate inside, thereby keeping the interior cool and comfortable even when it’s really hot outside. Where appropriate, the architects installed water mist systems at the top of the wall, a clever way to cool the room while cutting energy bills.

In a few words, it’s the expert use of light and shadow that makes this small café stand out from the crowd. Touched by the sun, brick wall textures create beautiful effects, adding visual interest, depth and character to interior design. At the same time open-concept planning makes the room feel larger, resulting in a seamless connection between indoors and outdoors. The fact of the matter is well-thought-out design has a role to play in enhancing customer experience.

Architect: Tran Trung Architects

Landscape: Bap’s Garden

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Ruen Lek: A Modern Cottage Café Celebrates the Enduring Allure of Chanthaburi

By kangsadank
May 16, 2024
CULTURE,DESIGN

/ Chanthaburi, Thailand /

/ Story: Wuthikorn Sut, Kangsadan K. / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul /

A home and café combination merges into the countryside vernacular of Chanthaburi, a province in Thailand’s eastern corridor bestowed with pristine forests, mountains and sea breezes. Designed for the Tropical climate prevailing in the area, it boasts the simplicity of extended eaves overhanging the walls. Together they provide protection from the elements keeping the interior cozy and cool in summer, while the gable front glazed using clear glass affords the view of a beautiful garden landscape.

Named “Ruen Lek”, the small contemporary home consists of two parts; a semi-outdoor café located downstairs and a living space upstairs with wrap-around balconies made for coffee or just chilling out.

The brainchild of GLA Design Studio, a Bangkok-based architectural practice, the home and café combination offers 110 square meters of usable space. It stands parallel to a nearby homestay destination called “Baan Lek Villa”, separated only by a center courtyard lying in between.

The upstairs living space with a garden view is enclosed by a wrap-around balcony made for coffee and floor seating ideas.

By design, the yard filled with greenery and fresh air provides a respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life, while lush lawns hemmed in by healthy trees and shrubs create a cooling effect during warm weather.

A diagram of the first floor plan shows the positioning of the coffee shop, customer service areas and support facilities in relation to outdoor environments. / Courtesy of GLA Design Studio

A drawing of the second floor plan shows the living space with a home office enclosed by a wrap-around balcony made for relaxation. / Courtesy of GLA Design Studio

A front elevation view shows the small home and café combination on the right side of the property, separated from the main homestay villa on the left by a center courtyard filled with greenery. / Courtesy of GLA Design Studio

Thoughtfully devised to run cool in summer, the first floor is kept closer to the ground, slightly raised at plinth level. For good ventilation, the storefront and a side wall are fitted with bi-fold door systems that fully open from one end to the other, while the other side wall lined with a souvenir display shelf is glazed using clear glass paneling for visibility.

Awning windows at the top of the glass wall open to admit fresh outdoor air. Underneath them, glass paneling lined with a souvenir display shelf lets natural daylight shine through.

The coffee bar itself is set further towards the back with plenty of room behind it for cooking light meals. From here, the nearby “Baan Lek Villa” homestay can be seen across the center courtyard. Up front, a few sets of tables and shares are ready for customers who prefer relaxing and dining in the open air.

A place to hang out with friends, the coffee bar is set further towards the back, creating a sense of depth. There’s plenty of room behind the countertop for making drinks and cooking light meals.

Taken as a whole, the small café makes a good first impression as a peaceful place to enjoy a nice cup of bean juice, lean back and chill. Besides good local food, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, thanks in part to the crisp cool canopy of overhanging trees, native shrubs and vines thriving luxuriantly. Together they bring back memories of Chanthaburi in times past like the architects at GLA Design Studio intended.

The second floor contains a humble abode and office space with a large drafting table. Simple, well-lit and well-ventilated, the room is enclosed by a wrap-around balcony designed for sitting on the floor with legs hanging. The side entrance at the top of the stairs affords views of green spaces and, beyond, the Baan Lek Villa homestay. For privacy, the second floor of Ruen Lek is set slightly lower than that of the main villa.

For privacy, the second floor of the home and café building is set slightly lower than that of the nearby main villa.

Except for the glass façades on two sides, the walls are built of handmade bricks and the floors covered in fireclay handmade tiles sourced locally. For charm, good looks that blend into the community and local traditions, door and window casings and decorative materials are made entirely of real wood.

Morning light creates a warm ambience, enhancing the brown of wooden balcony floors and the orange of fireclay tiles on the home office floor.

From a design point of view, it’s a home that speaks volumes for a desire to be close to nature and a love of the allure of Chanthaburi’s unspoiled countryside. And the team at GLA Design Studio has succeeded in doing exactly that. The result is a cozy dwelling that’s a little bit modern, a little bit country mixed in one place that’s simple yet attractive, inviting and warm.

A center courtyard filled with shade trees and lush foliage separates the home and café combination from the nearby Baan Lek Villa homestay.

A way to connect with nature, the center courtyard is kept cool by shade trees and lush vegetation. Nearby, a driveway surfaced with gravel gives access to the main villa raised on piles.

Architect: GLA Design Studio

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Mitbury the Public House: A Café in Pastel Brown Humbly Camouflaged in Nature’s Embrace

By kangsadank
April 17, 2024
CULTURE,DESIGN

/ Chiang Mai, Thailand /

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

/ Photographs: Prueksakun Kornudom, Ornpailin Leelasiriwong /

Tucked away amidst the crisp mountain air and dense green plants thriving under tree cover, a quaint country café takes center stage giving off friendly vibes. It’s enclosed by glass walls on three sides, while perimeter fence walls of large breeze blocks in pastel brown speak volumes for the humble origins of mankind.

Lying furthest from everything else, a lazy brook passes by reflecting sunlight glistening with sparkles in misty winds. Aptly named “Mitbury the Public House”, the café and nearby support buildings merge into the cool shade of wooded hills in the backdrop. It’s arguably the most exquisite kind of scenery. And it’s located right here in Mae Rim District, only a short ride from Chiang Mai’s city center.

At the risk of stating the obvious, the aroma of coffee beans being ground and roasted in the background smells like heaven. There’s nothing like chilling out, sipping one’s favorite Morning Brew on a quiet day at nature’s edge.

The project comprises three small buildings with a chic coffee bar located at the center of the property. The other two buildings lie hidden in plain sight behind the walls of perforate blocks in muted brown designed to promote ventilation and regulate sunlight. The coffee bar itself affords 140 square meters of restaurant space canopied by overhanging trees.

A charcoal sketch of the premises illustrates the positioning of the café and two support buildings enclosed by a perforate wall and surrounding terrain features. / Courtesy of WOS Architects

A side-elevation view of the café building in cross section, silhouetted against a breeze block wall lying under the canopy of overhanging trees / Courtesy of WOS Architects

The brainchild of WOS Architects, a Bangkok-based architectural practice, Mitburi the Public House is a design masterpiece that seeks reconnections with the natural world.

Walk in the door, and you find an ample space used for guests and seating. Interestingly, the rough textured wall in soft pastel beige at the back is the sight to behold. It stands overlooking the space used for preps, the coffee bar and kitchen.

From a distance, a paved passageway glides past lush lawns leading to first building that houses the café and kitchen. The second building holds storage space and staff quarters, while the third is a complete toilet building. By design, they lie hidden from view behind the perforate brick walls.

A footbridge gives access to nearby wooded hills. It’s built of structural I-beam framing, with wooden planks and railings of wire infill panels for protection against slip and fall accidents.

All of them are built of structural steel framing. Where appropriate, the exterior walls are crafted of natural building materials sourced from within the community. Immediately appealing among them is the floor tiled in grayish brown. It lies covered with thin slabs of baked clay from a local kiln, creating charm, good looks that embrace imperfect simplicity.

For visual continuity, the café building itself is enclosed by glass walls on three sides, with a pair of transom windows at the top of the front door. A clean, well-lighted place, the interior is warm and welcoming, thanks to pale soft lights that are less distracting, adding romantic appeal to the room.

From inside the café, glass walls provide undisrupted visual continuity between indoors and outdoors. The floor is tiled in reddish brown slabs fired the old-fashioned way by a local kiln, the beauty of imperfections that blends with the surroundings.

The café building stands among the trees, enclosed by glass walls on three sides. They open to admit natural daylight and fresh outdoor air into the room.

Out-of-doors, yard landscaping ideas are just impressive. Perforate blocks in reddish brown fill up the entire boundary fence, blending seamlessly into the dark green of the forest’s edge. Located furthest to the rear, a footbridge built of steel I-beams, wooden planks and wire infill railings provide access to nearby forested hills.

Attention to detail is evidenced by the breeze block fence in muted brown that separates the business premises into clearly defined zones depending on functionality.

The complete toilet building stands hidden from view, separated from nearby lush lawns and café space by a wall of perforate bricks for ventilation.

The I-beams are painted a grayish green hue that merges into large areas of old woodlands in the background. Underneath the footbridge, a babbling stream runs idly by meandering through the rock-covered forest floor. Above it, cool breezes and leaves rustling in the trees entice the imagination.

Overall, the business premises keep firmly to the owner’s initial resolve to leave every tree and the nearby brook where they have always been, giving rise to house-among-trees ideas. For a good reason, they are built small and disposed around the periphery of the project site. The building shell is topped with a simple gable roof made of natural materials that are friendly to the environment.

To live and let live, a native tree stands where it’s always been. Cutting it down is not a choice.

Nature lovers should find the small café in the woods a paradise, thanks to rocks being used to create a set of steps leading to the glass-glazed façade, a clever hack to create visual continuity between indoors and outdoors.

Surrounded by lush lawns and shade trees, a set of rock steps adds beauty and functionality to the building’s glass-glazed façade.

Thanks to thoughtful design, the trio of small buildings in earthy browns lies beautifully ensconced among the trees and wooded hills in the background. Day in, day out, the smell of coffee ground and roasted fresh on site induces a sense of warmth and comfort among people who feel a yearning for the mountains.

It comes as no surprise that they name it “Mitbury”, a Thai term literally translated as a place for friendly people, and in this particular case, a café built into nature that celebrates the easy, laidback lifestyles that have made Chiang Mai famous. Swing by next time you’re in town!

Architect: WOS Architects (https://wosarchitects.com/)

Interior Design: Estudio (https://www.facebook.com/Estu.interior/)

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Tanatap Wall Garden: A Restaurant-cum-Café and Bar among Lush Trees and Immaculate White Walls

By kangsadank
April 9, 2024
CULTURE,DESIGN

/ Central Java, Indonesia /

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

/ Photographs: Mario Wibowo /

Central Java, Indonesia – Neat and clean walls rise above a reflecting pool and lush lawns brightened up by shimmering lights. They are made attractive by warm-toned whites and smooth curved lines twirling lightly around like poetry in motion. Shaped into alternate ridges and grooves, the concrete surfaces in zingy warm hues slant up to the skyline reminiscent of a graceful dance. It’s an amazing innovation thoughtfully devised to sync with rhythms in the urban landscape that gives it aesthetic appeal.

A welcoming reception area lies adjacent to the reflecting pool designed to blend with the rounded contour at the very top of a white wall separating the restaurant’s interior from the exterior.

The clean, well-lighted trio of restaurant, café and bar is located in Central Java, an Indonesian province that’s home to the famous Borobudur Temple, one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world. Named “Tanatap Wall Garden”, it’s a delightful business space in a class of itself, one that advocates for form and function being joined in a way that requires less energy to operate.

The restaurant-cum-café and bar, together with its land that forms a verdant oasis, affords 2,500 square meters of commercial space nestled among beautiful cityscapes. It’s an all-encompassing design that combines commercial real estate with elements of nature in close physical association to the advantage of both.

A charcoal sketch shows the positioning of functional spaces in relation to existing big trees, a relationship to the advantage of both. / Courtesy of RAD+ar

A side elevation view in perspective illustrates the positioning of restaurant, café and bar spaces under lush tree cover. / Courtesy of RAD+ar

The concept delineated above is the brainchild of a high performing team at RAD+ar, an architectural practice based in Jakarta, Indonesia. The team of architects was tasked with transforming what used to be a parking garage into a calm, secluded garden in which to wine and dine; meanwhile preserving the existing natural environment and the property’s significance as part of a central business district.

The result is a piece of architecture showcasing perfectly clean, white walls rising among very big lush trees, a beautiful sight unlike anything out there. Viewed from above, the floor plan consists of three straight lines on the ground moving centrifugally from the center. Along these lines, concrete walls rise to different heights forming gently curved lines at the very top as they traverse among stands of homogeneous trees.

Viewed from above, the restaurant-cum-café and bar merges into beautiful and cool landscapes so that they become an indivisible whole.

Apart from bringing shade and regulating temperatures, the trees growing wild in every direction give the business premises charm, good looks that please the senses and the mind.

It’s design that comes from understanding the warm, humid climate prevailing in Central Java, and the company’s principles advocating for simple and sustainable lifestyles. Together they are the key attributes that make Tanatap Wall Garden one of the most agreeable places to be.

For a good first impression, the welcoming entryway is adorned with green spaces that create positive moments in people’s lives. It’s connected to a pathway system leading to cool and restful places amid the beautiful backyard landscape.

Old trees and new walls become inextricable parts of the design advocating for sustainability.

On the way, an 800-square-meter reflecting pool provides a focal point in the scenery, bringing joy, pleasure and contentment in nature’s peaceful embrace. Interestingly enough, tiers of seats similar to a sports arena are added to the mix in a way that’s proper in the circumstances.

A reflecting pool under tree cover provides a focal point in the landscape. It works in tandem with other passive design strategies creating thermal comfort for both indoors and outdoors.

A lounge area offers wide seating space and flexibility seamlessly integrated into the building’s architectural styles.

In addition to being a rendezvous for good food and drinks, Tanatap Wall Garden offers an enormous richness of nature-inspired outdoor rooms for those who love spending time indulging in music and live stage performances.

Keeping to its original concept, an amphitheater is put in for customers who appreciate dramatic works as a genre of literature and expression of ideas encouraging participation in the discourses of society. All of these features are neatly integrated in one cohesive design aesthetic.

Tiers of seats similar to a sports area lie under a pedestrian bridge connecting different parts of the building. By design, it’s a work of art that keeps creative energy flowing.

In short, it’s a metamorphosis of purpose that results in neat and clean white walls transforming into a stunning commercial space, in this particular case, a trio of restaurant, café and bar set amidst a verdant oasis.

From inside looking out, a part of the white wall with ridges and grooves in it is visible through the doorway at the furthest end.

The restaurant has a lovely garden under tree cover for those who prefer to wine and dine alfresco.

Drop by Tanatap Wall Garden for a drink or two next time you sojourn in Central Java. It’s an opportunity to experience the beauty of architecture and nature coming together in one indivisible design.

Architect: RAD+ar

Principal Architect: Antonius Richard

Sculpture Artist: Wisnu Ajitama

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CoCo Cha Taiwan Tea & Coffee: A Coffee Shop in Earth-Toned Green Where the Classic Meets the Modern

By livingasean
January 12, 2024
CULTURE,DESIGN

/ Ninh Thuan, Vietnam /

/ Story: Phattaraphon / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Nguyen Duy Hoach /

Fresh brewed coffee smells like heaven, or so they say. And if you have a chance to swing by the beautiful central coast of Vietnam, get yourself a good strong cuppa at CoCo Cha Taiwan Tea & Coffee located at Phan Rang-Thap Cham in Ninh Thuan Province. Find pleasure in the timeless atmosphere where the classic meets the modern. Here, lush green color paired with earth-toned brown turns a cute coffeehouse into a Shangri-La making every day a perfect day.

CoCo Cha Taiwan Tea & Coffee — Seen from across the street, the coffeehouse façade features a beautiful mix of classic and modern architectural styles.

From architectural perspectives, it’s about creating a design that embraces the beauty of works of art that have become classics and, at the same time, make use of modern materials that are right for prevailing weather conditions on the ocean front.

The front façade is built of glass bricks, a classic material designed to admit light, turning the coffeehouse into a well-lighted place.

The Tropics is warm all year as we know it, and the city of Phan Rang-Thap Cham is no stranger to intense sunlight and strong winds. For this reason, the storefront has to be made impervious to storm water.

Plus, it must be capable of keeping the heat out and, at the same time, letting natural light in. Rising to the challenge, the architects at PT Arch Studio chose glass bricks for the façade, and it works perfectly.

Aa axonometric projection shows interior space arrangements with a rooftop layout in relation to two glass dome skylights over the stairwell and seating areas. / Courtesy of PT Arch Studio

Downstairs floor plan with the terrace storefront. / Courtesy of PT Arch Studio

Upstairs floor plan. / Courtesy of PT Arch Studio

In cross section, a diagrammatic representation shows the side elevation and space arrangements in relation to the glass dome skylight at the midpoint. / Courtesy of PT Arch Studio

The coffeehouse features large lounges typical of classic restaurant interior design. To make customers feel comfortable, the seating areas and coffee nooks are arranged in neat, attractive order.

Both downstairs and upstairs rooms are well-lit and well-ventilated, thanks to a stack ventilation system that uses temperature differences to move air. The rooftop has two glass dome skylights that allow natural light streaming inside and double as engine driving cross ventilation forcing warm and stale air to exit through the rooftop.

As is the case with business buildings across Vietnam, CoCo Cha Taiwan Tea & Coffee is situated on an elongated rectangle with a narrow frontage abutting on the street. Originally, it was a design lacking fresh air and ventilation, an unpleasant situation that had to be dealt with from the start.

The team of architects at PT Arch Studio solved the problem by integrating natural elements into the plan as much as possible. And glass bricks came in handy to avoid the interior becoming a stuffy, overcrowded space. Overhead, a pair of rooftop skylights let natural light shine into both downstairs and upstairs.

A tree thrives under the glass dome skylight illuminating the interior in muted green hues and earth-toned brown.

Precisely, it’s a layout that effectively harnesses the feel-good benefits of nature to make the business space feel comfortable, warm and welcoming. Where necessary, glass mirrors are added to give the impression of ample space in the interior.

A glass dome skylight illuminates the stairwell connecting the first and second floors.

In terms of building performance, walk in the door and you find a beautiful, large coffee bar illuminated by natural light streaming in from above. At the midpoint, a spiral staircase enclosed by glass brick walls provides access to seating areas on the second floor.

Small bench seats with coffee trays along the outside of the circular wall add visual interest to interior design. They serve a useful purpose as extra seating when the house is full and no seats available. Every step of the way, signature interior furnishings in cool-toned earthy green and brown promote positive thinking and peace of mind.

Two glass dome skylights illuminate the stairwell and seating areas in cool green and earth-toned brown.

Taken as a whole, the interior is spacious and neatly arranged. The stuffiness of the unusually long and narrow space is nicely compensated for by well-thought-out design, building strategies and creative use of modern materials.

And the result of all this? CoCo Cha Taiwan Tea & Coffee capable of fulfilling a role for which it is intended – a place that’s convenient, neat and clean plus coffee smells like fresh brewed heaven. And, the price is right, too. Looking for a good strong cuppa? Well, you get the idea.

Architect: PT Arch Studio (www.ptarchstudio.com)

Lead Architects: Nguyen Van, Phuoc Thinh

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The Thingamajiggy Coffee Roaster: Rice Granary Adapted for a New Use as Café amid the Rice Fields

By livingasean
November 16, 2023
CULTURE,DESIGN

/ Chiang Mai, Thailand/

/ Story: Ektida N. / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Rungkit Charoenwat /

Here is a café and roastery with an ear-grabbing name. The Thingamajiggy Coffee Roaster stands in the middle of the rice fields of Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim District. A metamorphosis of purpose, it’s performing a new function as café with panoramic views of the stunning mountain landscape. The brand may be hard to say, but it certainly holds the attention of listeners while its rustic appearance merges into the farmhouse vernacular symbolic of the Northern Region.

The room of this Chiang Mai café in itself has only 21 square meters of space. At the outset, that was a difficult situation that tested the ability of the design team at Yangnar Studio, a homegrown atelier based in Chiang Mai. But they stepped up to the challenge by creating a functional business space, in which everything on the premises was fused into a single entity.

And the result of all this? A piece of vernacular architecture worth remembering. It’s a wholesome destination for coffee lovers that fits right into its surrounding farmlands and the reality of simple life in the countryside.

Chiang Mai Cafe Rice Fields Thingamajiggy Coffee Roaster — Built by locals using local building materials, the small coffee shop merges beautifully into farmland vernacular.

To begin with, the project owner wanted an oasis of calm where customers could sit back and relax as they enjoyed a good cup of coffee with nothing to obscure the view of the landscape. The design team responded with a three-part plan, including a small coffee shop at the front, followed by a cozy sitting area under a bamboo pavilion, and a restroom building at the farthest end.

Here, a 360-degree-view that changes from season to season can be seen all year round. Like a wallpaper from nature, it’s a design that seeks to connect more closely with the natural world for lighting and ventilation. Hence, there’s no need for air conditioning, which translates into huge savings and contributing in its small way to a sustainable future.

In terms of design, the coffee shop gets its inspiration from old rice granaries commonplace in this part of the country. The interior holds a coffee bar service/ordering area complete with an assortment of bakery goods. Nearby, a west-facing bakery room provides insulation against hot afternoon sun, thereby keeping the bar and customer seating area cool and comfortable.

Plus, double height ceilings add a light and airy atmosphere to the room. From the outside, what looks like a two-story building is in fact a cross ventilation system which relies on wind to blow cool outside air into the room through one side, while warm inside air is forced out through rooftop vents and outlets on the opposite side.

The building’s external envelope crafted of bamboo splits creates a more open and airy atmosphere in the room, plus it protects against humidity damage.

The little café amid the rice fields is built by artisans skilled in traditional carpentry using timber and other natural ingredients readily available in Chiang Mai, except for the load-bearing foundations that are made of poured cement or concrete to protect against soil moisture damage. As is the case with rice granary construction, slat wood wall paneling is installed on the inside while supporting vertical beams or columns are on the outside.

Apart from retaining much of its architectural heritage, the reverse exterior walls add visual interest that merges with a massive gable roof designed for sun and rain protection. In the fewest possible words, it’s a picture of modern countryside ideas blending together beautifully into one cohesive whole.

To make customers feel comfortable, this Chiang Mai café amid the rice fields has patio and outdoor furniture that can be set up anywhere under the bamboo pavilion canopy. It’s a relaxation room that conveys a great deal about the humble origins of mankind and their responsibility towards nature.

To reduce the chance of exposure to harmful substances, the bamboo shades and blinds are not chemically treated to extend their longevity of life cycle. It’s a design based on the belief that everything changes and everything will be replaced when the time comes.

A drawing of the floor plan shows functional spaces in relation to the trees and shrubbery thriving on the property.

The same applies to the method of construction that’s simple and straightforward. Take for example the bamboo pole footings that are wrapped in plastic bags for protection against humidity damage. Or the overhead black mesh rolls that create diffuse light and protect against the sun’s harmful UV rays. They, too, get changed from time to time to ensure customer comfort and satisfaction.

Architect: Yangnar Studio (www.facebook.com/Yangnarstudio)

Lead Architects: Dechophon Rattanasatchatham, Apiwat Chainarin

Construction Supervisors: Rungroj Tansukanun, Metee Moonmuang

Builder Team: Yangnar studio builder team, Yaiwood

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Tanatap Ring Garden Coffee Shop: A Design Experiment on the Interaction between Commercial Space and Nature

By livingasean
July 27, 2023
CULTURE,DESIGN,room x Living Asean Design Talk 2023,SPECIAL SCOOP

/ Jakarta, Indonesia /

/ Story: Baralee / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: KIE, Mario Wibowo /

Introducing a prototype of the small café well thought out as place for a rendezvous. Aptly named Tanatap Ring Garden Coffee Shop, it’s a work of outstanding artistry integrating restaurant space planning with nature to form a cohesive oasis of calm. The key elements of design include a sloping garden beautifully ensconced in a stadium-like enclosure. There’s a circular path at the top of the stairs for a leisurely stroll. At intervals, the paved path is marked with outdoor tarp canopies for protection from the sun. It sends out one important message — time well spent is time spent in the great outdoors.

The theme of an enchanted garden cafe is derived from a simple question. “What is it like if a piece of architecture behaves like it’s non-existent?” In this particular case, the centerpiece of the project is a lush tropical garden enclosed by a circular glass-block building envelope.

It’s home to a café space that lies hidden in plain sight, concealed by a grassy knoll that blends perfectly into the surrounding landscape. It’s a meeting place where people mix socially and interact with one another bringing youthful exuberance to this part of the city of Jakarta.

With respect to construction, Tanatap Ring Garden Coffee Shop is the result of three design strategies combined.

First of all, it’s well planned to blend with the healthy foliage of a tropical forest setting. This is evident in the preservation of all the existing trees on the property.

Secondly, the circular building envelope is designed to encompass all positive aspects of ornamental grounds where plants grow luxuriantly. Located at the center of the floor plan, the café covered by a grassy knoll affords a large room where people meet plus plenty of ample spaces for relaxation. A few steps away, remarkable garden design offers sensory pleasure and the opportunity of reconnecting with nature.

Lastly, it’s about enhancing customer experience by merging indoor and outdoor spaces bringing them together into a cohesive whole.

The overall effect is impressive. It’s a layout that strikes the right balance between the relative size of the project, the building materials used, and the impact of color, texture and natural light in the design process.

To reduce the harshness of the built environment, the building envelope is made of glass blocks that allow maximum daylight between spaces. They add aesthetic appeal to the place and blend well with the existing trees.

As regards functional design, walk into the café and you come to a counter bar occupying a central position. Carefully thought out design promotes ease of movement in every part allowing people to traverse through and around unhindered.

The circular glass-block wall that separates the interior from the garden is decorated with lush leafy plants. It’s marked at intervals with plain-looking sets of tables and chairs for customers. Nearby, a corridor creates smooth transition between spaces giving access to the yard on the outside.

The nature-loving café project is built amphitheater style. Like so, the commercial space is positioned at the center of landscape design. It’s a beautiful greenery-covered building adorned with tiers of outdoor seating set at intervals.

Meanwhile, the boundary along the outer circumference is filled with café seating situated directly below the concrete rooftop corridor made for a leisurely stroll. From here, a vista of high-rise buildings in Jakarta’s CBD can be seen in full view from afar. All things considered, it’s a piece of architecture devised from experience in tropical garden landscaping.

By design, Tanatap Ring Garden Coffee Shop is an experimental project involving new and innovative ideas for commercial space planning. In this particular case, it provides the opportunity of observing how users react to a less familiar environment. It’s implemented with a view to identify the furniture choice, seating arrangement and features in hardscape architecture that are right for business.

It’s a design that blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. The color green that fills the landscape has strong associations with nature, hence comfortable furniture and a conducive semi-outdoor environment make perfect sense.

Plus, it’s interesting to discover how well-planned open design can facilitate social interactions in everyday life.

Aside from that, the recent outbreak of Covid-19 was also a factor that compelled the architect to undertake this experiment to determine how a commercial space with plenty of outdoor landscaping ideas performs in the ensuing days.

It’s exciting to see how new ideas in outdoor environment design play a role in enticing people to spend more time outdoors and live a lifestyle more closely connected with nature, one of many actions people can take to support sustainable living.

Architect: RAD+ar (www.radarchitecture.net)

More about nature-inspired designs similar to the above-mentioned are waiting to be discovered. It’s a chance to meet up with Antonius Richard, architect and founder of the architectural practice RAD+ar of Indonesia during the upcoming conversation event titled, “URABN FUSION / RURAL FLOURISH: Interweaving Urban and Rural Designs”.

It’s a part of the annual “room Books X Living ASEAN Design Talk.” This year’s panel of experts is made up of four distinguished architects from three countries. The Design Talk is scheduled for Sunday August 6 at the room Showcase zone inside BaanLaeSuan Fair Midyear 2023, BITEC Bang Na, Bangkok. It’s an opportunity not to be missed. Mark your calendar!

For more details: https://livingasean.com/special-scoop/room-x-living-asean-design-talk-2023-urban-fusion-rural-flourish-interweaving-urban-and-rural-designs/

Register to attend at: https://amarinfair.com/booking/room-x-living-asean-design-talk

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The Thingamajiggy Coffee Roaster: Rice Granary Adapted for a New Use as Café amid the Rice Fields

Tanatap Ring Garden Coffee Shop: A Design Experiment on the Interaction between Commercial Space and Nature

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