transparent volume of NITAPROW's patom cafe in thailand reveals expressive, folding roof

expressive of bold geometries yet respectful to its natural surrounding environment, the patom cafe is completed by bangkok-based architecture practice NITAPROW. the project is defined by its dynamically folding roofscape which seems to float atop a volume of reflective glass. the team at NITAPROW designs its patom cafe together with a new surrounding watercourse in nakhon pathom, thailand. this feature creates a natural and physical boundary where access is controlled by bridges and checkpoints, allowing for a feasible shift between the private and public areas of the site at patom organic village.

all images by ketsiree wongwan

in the development of its patom cafe, NITAPROW expresses influence by the ‘patom’ product brand which bridges traditional wisdom with a contemporary aesthetic. the brand emphasizes the principle of traceability, a value which had lead to the creation of ‘patom organic village,’ where visitors are invited to follow the journey of raw materials from farm to product. a continuous glass façade wraps the project, capped with a folding roof. this roof slope was divided into four segments, its geometry pivoting around the center column to follow the flow of circulation at the ground level while inviting natural light to illuminate the underside of the roof along all four axes.

the design team at NITAPROW finished the sculptural roof with terracotta tiling. this choice serves to recalling the traditional values of the brand with its primitive yet intricate installation technique. the architects note that they have long admired the underside of these roof tiles that rarely get the deserved recognition, commenting that they may be even more beautiful than the outcome to the exterior. the transparency of the construction technique is as conceptually important to the designers as the clarity and transparency achieved by the surrounding glass enclosure.

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project info:

project title: patom cafe

architecture: NITAPROW

location: nakhon pathom, thailand

lead architects: nita yuvaboon, prow puttorngul

design team: piyaporn rattananukul, pintusorn chantranuwat, thipharphan artthaweekul

client: suan sampran co. ltd.

engineering: S.K.F. construction ltd. part.

landscaping: suan sampran co. ltd

landscape director: kritsada aunphim

photography: ketsiree wongwan | @photo.ketsiree.wongwan