CHIRP is a small cafe in Ayutthaya, Thailand, designed by Anatomy Architecture + Atelier. It is an extension attached to a larger cafe, and it was built to sell traditional Thai Roti desserts.
A box with an arched front
The building is a simple cube that faces the street, so people passing by notice it. Its front is a group of large windows arranged in an arc. Together they read as one big arch, and they do several jobs at once: they bring daylight inside, act as shop windows and displays, and form the entrance.
Heritage motifs and clay tiles
Inside, the arched walls and ceilings carry decorative Ayutthaya motifs and brick patterns, a reference to the cultural heritage of the region. Traditional materials such as sand wash and clay tiles are used next to contemporary furniture and fittings.
The clay tiles are laid in a pattern that shifts from dark brown to light brown. Many of them stick out from the wall, so the light throws small shadows across the surface and give it extra depth.
As a general point, a small shop on a busy street depends on its front. A facade that also works as window, display and door gives a tiny building a strong presence without adding floor area.
Drawings
Project credits
- Project: CHIRP cafe, Ayutthaya, Thailand
- Design: Anatomy Architecture + Atelier
- Photography: VARP Photography
- Source: Contemporist