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ArchitectureNews

The Facade Of This Cafe Holds Recycled Beer Bottles

A modern cafe with a facade that features metal rings that hold recycled beer bottles.

Design firm Spacecraft co. has completed Early BKK, a cafe in Bangkok, Thailand, that has a unique facade.

Kaytita Chaisuksiri of Early BKK wanted to have a cafe that would introduce recycling and green concepts to visitors and neighbors.

A modern cafe with a facade that features metal rings that hold recycled beer bottles.

Since the statement of Early BKK was very clear, Spacecraft started researching upcycled materials and trash found around the neighborhood. They then decided to use waste containers, like glass bottles, as materials throughout the design, from the facade to the interior.

A modern cafe with a facade that features metal rings that hold recycled beer bottles.

The facade is made up of metal rings that house around 600 used beer bottles. These bottles were placed in the metal ring structure of the facade, casting ever-changing shadows during days into the interior of the cafe.

A modern cafe with a facade that features metal rings that hold recycled beer bottles.
A modern cafe with a facade that features metal rings that hold recycled beer bottles.
A modern cafe with a facade that features metal rings that hold recycled beer bottles.
A modern cafe with a facade that features metal rings that hold recycled beer bottles.

The designers also worked together with a factory to produce a ‘re-board’ which is a board made from 100 percent of small cut pieces of used milk cartons. Re-board was used in most of the interior space such as the door, ceiling, chairs, and tables.

Some of the walls in this cafe are made by bumping bottles into a concrete wall, creating interesting wall patterns and texture.

Some of the used beer bottles were also broken down into pieces and used as a main component of the terrazzo counter and toilet floor.

Some of the walls in this cafe are made by bumping bottles into a concrete wall, creating interesting wall patterns and texture.

An interesting detail are the “Bottles fossil”, where some of the walls are made by bumping bottles into a concrete wall, creating interesting wall patterns and texture.

Some of the walls in this cafe are made by bumping bottles into a concrete wall, creating interesting wall patterns and texture.

The cafe has a small seating area on the main floor that includes a wood banquette with hidden lighting.

A modern cafe with built-in wood banquette seating.
Wood banquette seating with hidden lighting.

A spiral staircase leads from the main floor up to the upper floor and provides a close-up view of the facade.

A spiral staircase leads from the main floor of this cafe up to the upper floor, and provides a close-up view of the facade.

The upper floor is dedicated to seating, with one area designed for multipurpose uses, like being transformed into a workshop room, when needed.

A modern cafe with wood seating and tables, and built-in planters.
A modern cafe with wood seating and tables.

Here’s a look at some of the shadows the bottles and rings cast into the interior.

The facade of this cafe has shadows cast from rings and bottles.

The cafe bathroom also includes a used galvanized iron oil tank as a basin counter, and used glass bottles as door knobs.

This cafe bathroom includes a used galvanized iron oil tank as a basin counter, and used glass bottles as a door knob.
Recycled beer bottles are used as door handles.

Here’s a look at the floor plan of the cafe.

The floor plan of a two-storey cafe.
The floor plan of a two-storey cafe.
Photographer: Thanapol Jongsiripipat | Architect: Spacecraft co.,ltd | Interior architect: Spacecraft co.,ltd | Structural Engineer: Aphichart Wongdee

Source: Contemporist