luminous café in ancient thailand unites historic context with contemporary expressions

flat12x pays homage to ayutthaya’s traditions

In Thailand’s ancient city of Ayutthaya sits Chirp Café & Chat Space, a café transformed from an old house to unite contemporary design with historic sensitivity. The project by Thai architectural practice FLAT12x forms a cozy nook for locals and tourists to gather in a light-infused space that enjoys the serenity of nature, fostering a harmonious dialogue between the building’s commercial use and the traditions and history of Ayutthaya.

From its planning and conceptualization to its structure, architecture, and interior design, the architects weave the project with elements that recall the past, fused with contemporary expressions. Together, the integration of brick plinths, contrasting vibrant and soothing color palettes, and double shingle roofs pay homage to the city’s rich history while creating a fresh space for diners.

all images by Room

a modern cafe space recalling historic architecture

Located in a residential area in the second oldest city in Thailand, Chirp Café & Chat Space fuses contemporary design with historical context. Just 500 meters away from Wat Mahathat, the most significant royal temple of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, FLAT12x simultaneously resolves the clients’ commercial needs while paying respect to Ayutthaya’s traditions and history with modern expressions.

To avoid flooding and guard the building from the surrounding elements, the architects made use of black plinths. This feature echoes the importance of the building foundations found in the ancient city. Further, welcoming visitors at the entrance, the elements are also used to separates the main building from the roofed terrace, which reflects the traditional Thai style terraced house.

a traditional double shingle-roof tops the main café space

A double shingle-roof, an element widely used in the past, covers the main café space which has been built as a vast open area recalling the monumental architecture of the region. The appearance of the main building also recreates an old Thai ‘bird house’, resolving the client’s wish for the project to pay homage to Ayutthaya’s popular traditional activity of bird watching which allowed people to gather while bonding over nature.

FLAT12x has also utilized a contrasting color palette which recalls that of the vibrant ancient era of the kingdom, while reinterpreting it with hues in a softer palette. The terrace area’s roof is painted in a Thai weave pattern that harmonizes with the hues found in the open-air garden below it.

FLAT12X pays homage to Ayutthaya’s history and traditions

Chirp Café & Chat Space allows diners to enjoy nature

terrace area roof painted in a Thai weave pattern that harmonizes with the hues of the open-air garden

a vast open space that recreates an old Thai bird house

fusing historic context with contemporary expressions

the cafe honors the rich history of ancient Ayutthaya

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project info:

name: Chirp Café & Chat Space

location: Ayutthaya, Thailand
architecture: FLAT12x

furniture: Superfurniture

photography: Room

completion: 2022

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom