This naive, pure but striking transparent box creates a distinctive space and unique appearance within this natural environment of Thonglor, surrounded by coconut and palm trees in this liveable nature of Thonglor in Bagkok. Designed by Bangkok-based architecture firm NitaProw Architects, a wooden-frame simple box functions as a shop or showroom for Patom body care products with a small 25-seat café.

The purpose of this pure form is to create a particular place raising ecological awareness and sustainable living through a series of workshops and farmers market held in the garden, selling fresh produce from the local network of organic farmers.

The Patom Organic Living features very proportional wooden divisions on the façade with double-height for the interior to provide a comfortable space and a satisfying feeling to spent much more time to stay in it while watching this glamorous green backdrop in nature.

Tucked away in Thonglor’s prime residential neighbourhood, the architects use all structural posts and beams made of reclaimed Redwood and Tabak wood recovered from the owner's old and abandoned houseboat for a renewable and sustainable building material.

Occupying a total of 110 square-metre space in this green environment, this small wood-framed glass building sits on a slightly raised mound covered by wild grass and ferns that naturally soften its rectangular footprint while carefully preserving an existing line of fruit trees. 

The building's transparency and its modest size set out to unveil the expanse of the lush garden around and beyond its volume, which in turn create a setting where passersby can catch a clear glimpse of the livelihood inside the glass enclosure alongside the garden’s natural surroundings.

"The use of curvature in the design facilitates both the physical and the visual flow of the rectangular enclosure and conceptually reconnects the interior design language with its landscape", said NitaProw.

"The rattan wrapped spiral staircase and the corresponding curved mezzanine add to the overall interior, an elevated getaway with a privileged view, a hint of intimacy and playfulness."

"The composition of wood posts and ceiling pattern owe its visual reference to the scenic view of coconut trees and palm trees at Patom’s Organic farm where their tall slender trunks with branches that radiate around the trees’ zenith form an inspiring gesture which initiates the design of the ceiling’s structural layout and the central wood post of the building," added the studio.

Tree trunks that form the base of the brass display tables were collected from fallen trees at the owner’s farm. Café tables and chairs were refurbished from the owner’s unused teak furniture collection. An organic and modern approach in balancing the natural and the constructed environment.

Site plan

1st floor plan

2nd floor plan

Project facts

Location: Thonglor 25, Bangkok

Plot Area: 1280 SQM (320 SQW)

Floor Area: 110 SQM

Project Year: 2016

All images © Anak Navaraj

> via NitaProw Architects