Bangkok-based architecture studio ASWA (Architectural Studio of Work - Aholic) has designed a trio of buildings, composed of a cafe, restaurant, and kitchen with a bell tower in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Named Take a Breath Cafe, the 500-square-metre complex is envisioned like a cluster of modern-looking barns clad in wood-like metal sheet.

The complex is divided into three main barns which have share the same architectural language, while while arched openings are extended upwards.

Take a breath café provides a spaces for a new cafe and restaurant. The studio takes inspiration from a traditional barn typology in the wood. Three main buildings offer functions such as a cafe, restaurant, and kitchen along with a high noticeable bell tower.

The project is located in Bangkok's western suburb, the site approximately covers area of 4,600 square meters and is surrounded by a high-density residential zone. 

"The restaurant aims to connect people with nature by creating modern barns in the forest following the first concept by Taste Space, our collaboration team, and the interior designer of this project," said ASWA in a project project description. 

"After design development, The cafe has a cluster of three main volumes with almost 500 square meters of the total built area., all with the gable roof: a cafe, restaurant, and kitchen, along with the highest volume of 8-meter height for a bell tower and two small glasshouses."

The main restaurant has one-and-a-half-story structures that provide a space for the main dining area, oriented perpendicularly towards a kitchen and a cafe which fit in the other two main paralleled buildings connected by the roofed corridor. 

According to the studio, "another reason to separate each building is the building code in this area, which does not allow a restaurant bigger than its limit for one building."

The studio divides the layout into three parts from the front to the back of the site sequencing: the parking area, the functional area, and the backyard area. 

For material preference, the architects use a wood-like metal sheet as the primary material to clad all façades along the roof, while arch-shape openings making them a homogeneous look bold from the surrounding context. 

The team creates various size of arch-shaped voids that are specifically randomly located. 

For example, the voids are created on the corner of the central kitchen, which tends to show the movement of the chefs for the newcomer guest, and on the backside of the main dining area. Another void is created on the cafe to provide the view to the backyard behind.

Plan

Floor plan

Upper level floor plan

Roof plan

Sections

Elevations

Elevations

ASWA (Architectural Studio of Work - Aholic) also completed a small cafe in Bangkok. Meanwhile, the firm designed an office block in Bangkok.

Project facts

Project name: Take a breath cafe
Architectural Design: ASWA (Architectural Studio of Work - Aholic)
Interior Design: Taste Space
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Area: 500 sq.m.
Type: Cafe and restaurant

All images © Phuttipan Aswakool

All drawings © ASWA

> via ASWA