Koto Tea Space

Cafe for Takanao Todo

Koto Tea Space, a tranquil Japanese teahouse nestled in downtown Bangkok, brings the enchanting concept of "Shichu no Sankyo" to life a country retreat within the urban pulse. Concealed by wave-patterned ceramic tiles, the entrance shields from the city's chaos, warding off sunlight and rain. Inside, the Tea Salon boasts 6 seats and 2 tatami areas, offering a peaceful horizontal design reminiscent of Shugaku-in's signature shelf. With a focus on harmony, the existing structure, earthy walls, and natural lacquer-finished furniture unite to create an inviting coziness.

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Koto Tea Space by Takanao Todo

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Cafe by Takanao Todo

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Takanao Todo Koto Tea Space

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Takanao Todo Cafe

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Unique Properties

Koto Tea Space is an exclusive Japanese tea House to appreciate and promote authentic Japanese tea in downtown Bangkok. The entrance of the tea space is covered in wave-patterned ceramic tiles to conceal the tea space from outside while blocking light and rain. Tea Salon has 6 seats and 2 tatami spaces to relax. Space consists of a horizontal composition with a signature shelf. There is a clear hierarchy of the existing structure, earthy walls, and natural lacquer-painted furniture.

Tags

Japanese Tea, Ceramic, Digital fabrication, Tea Salon, Cafe

Production Technology

Ceramic tiles are fabricated from a 3D print mold. There has been a series of prototypes to rationalize the component. Each tile is placed on a slightly different angled metal bracket allowing view and wind penetration simulated in a 3D model. Simple on-site assembly system completed 2 hours on site with precision.

Design Challenge

Construction Working with local contractors made it difficult to communicate design intentions as often they make interpretations or design changes without the designer's approval. Only the frequent visit to the construction site with careful on-site explanation improves the difficulty. Ceramic Fabrication Tiles have been modified several times through physical fabrication tests to be finalized. 3 prototype cladding leads to the final design.

Project Duration

The first design phase of the project started in August 2021 and finished in October 2021 in Bangkok. The Construction started from 2021 October to 2022 January Ceramic wall installation in 2022 June Interior update completed in 2023 July Location 492 Si Lom, Suriya Wong, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500

Operation Flow

Most of the service takes place at the main counter space. Due to the popularity, and limited seats, all seats must be reserved in advance. Frequent workshops take place in the shop to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Japanese Tea Culture. Tatami space is designed to accommodate tea ceremonies, as well as a casual resting area for the customers.

Research

The Japanese Design Concept This project embraces the concept of Sichu no Sankyo. Learning from precedences informs the spatial arrangement of the design. Thai Ceramic Cladding Chulalongkorn University granted to develop an environmentally performative ceramic cladding. The team studied precedence from the Thai application of ceramic in cladding and Brise Soleil in Thai modernism architecture. The digital fabrication and computer simulation led to novel expression in Thai ceramic cladding.

Inspiration

The space is designed with a Japanese design concept, Sichu no Sankyo, a rural hut in the bustling city. There are layers to help escape from ordinary life, from the entrance to a main tea salon and a bathroom for enjoying solitude and silence. There is respect for the classic Japanese architecture for proportion and composition. Important references are from Shugaku-in palace and Tai-an tea house. Tile patterns derive from the pan-Asian motif as a sign of cultural exchange.

Image Credits

Image #1, Santawat Chienpradit and Swita Uancharoenkul, Koto Tea Space, 2023 Image #2, Santawat Chienpradit and Swita Uancharoenkul, Koto Tea Space, 2023 Image #3, Santawat Chienpradit and Swita Uancharoenkul, Koto Tea Space, 2023 Image #4, Santawat Chienpradit and Swita Uancharoenkul, Koto Tea Space, 2023 Image #5, Santawat Chienpradit and Swita Uancharoenkul, Koto Tea Space, 2023 Video, Takanao Todo, Koto Tea Space, 2023 Sound, Lalinea, Blue Butter, 2022

Project Overview

Koto Tea Space Cafe has been a Bronze winner in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design award category in the year 2023 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.

Bronze Recognition

Takanao Todo was recognized with the coveted Bronze A' Design Award in 2024, a testament to excellence of their work Koto Tea Space Cafe.

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