ASWA creates this 'take a breath' café as a group of arcaded barns in thailand

a space to take a breath

this café by ASWA, dubbed ‘take a breath,’ is designed with inspiration from a rural context. the project takes shape to mimic a cluster of three barn-like buildings divided by its functions as a cafe, restaurant, and kitchen, all marked by a monumental fourth building, the bell tower.

the project is sited in a western suburb of bangkok, and covers nearly 4,600 square meters. the design team organizes the complex with the aim of connecting its visitors with nature. these ‘modern barns in the forest’ follow a concept by interiors studio tastespace, a team with which the architects worked closely.

images © phuttipan aswakool | @aswa_bangkok

the café design by aswa

in designing its ‘take a breath’ café, ASWA developed an assemblage of three volumes and bell tower, all visually connected by their gable roofs. the highest of the grouping, the bell tower, rises nearly 45 feet and stands as a landmark for the complex. 

the main restaurant is housed within a one-and-a-half-story ‘barn.’ inside, the space is laid out with main dining area, oriented towards a kitchen and a café. these together are fit into the other two main buildings connected by a semi-enclosed corridor. 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 arcaded barns

the team at ASWA describes the organization of its ‘take a breath café,’ noting: ‘the layout is separated into three parts from the front to the back of the site sequencing is the parking area, the functional area, and the backyard area. a wood-like metal sheet was selected as the primary material to clad all siding along the roof, with arch-shape openings making them a homogeneous look bold from the surrounding context.

‘various size of arch-shaped voids is specifically randomly located, such as the corner of the central kitchen, which tends to show the movement of the chefs for the newcomer guest, the backside of the main dining area, and the cafe to provide the view to the backyard behind.’

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project info:

project title: take a breath cafe
architecture: ASWA | @aswa_bangkok
location: bangkok, thailand
design team: chotiros techamongklapiwat, phuttipan aswakool, pohntanate boonphaeng
interior design: tastespace
landscape design: pongsakorn

completion: 2022
photography: phuttipan aswakool