Koto Tea Space 咖啡室 by Takanao Todo is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award 銅獎 in 室內空間及展覽設計 Competition Category.

銅室內· 2024

Koto Tea Space 咖啡室

by Takanao Todo

Client: Takanao Todo

A' Design Award 銅獎 Winner in 室內 Category

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The Design

About Koto Tea Space 咖啡室

Koto Tea Space係一間隱藏喺曼谷市中心嘅恬靜日式茶室，將「市中の山居」呢個迷人概念活現眼前——喺都市脈動中嘅鄉郊隱居。入口以波浪紋陶瓷瓦片遮蔽，隔絕城市喧囂，抵擋陽光同雨水。室內嘅茶座設有6個座位同2個榻榻米區域，呈現出令人聯想到修學院標誌性棚架嘅恬靜橫向設計。整體以和諧為核心，現有結構、樸實牆身同天然漆面傢俬融為一體，營造出溫馨怡人嘅氛圍。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銅獎

Koto Tea Space 咖啡室是 A' Design Award 銅獎得主，這是授予以創造力、獨創性和敏銳見長的傑出設計的極具聲望的認可。銅獎得主是技藝嫻熟、創意驚人的作品，印證了其設計師豐富的經驗、想像力與機智。預計Koto Tea Space 咖啡室將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的物品，兼具顯著的專業性與創新性。這件贏得 A' Design Award 銅獎的設計融入藝術、科學、設計和技術領域的最佳實踐，並因注重細節而出類拔萃。Koto Tea Space 咖啡室出色地滿足需求，觸動渴望，迷住情感，並吸引好奇心。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

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.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 4600mm X Depth 14550mm X Height 3320mm

Ceiling finish, Dark Gray Paint

Wall finish, Beige Texture Paint

Furniture, Solid Ash, and Ash Veneer Plywood coated with a natural lacquer finish

Lighting specification,
Evotechi LINE1616
Evotechi LINE 2507
Evotechi LINE 1701
PhillipsMAS LEDspotLV 3.5-20W 827 MR11 24D
Evotechi RIBBON 2835 4.8W
PhillipsMAS MR16 LED 12V 5.5W 3000K 24D GU5.3 (NO DIM)
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.
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.
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.
Patents: n.a.
Team Members: n.a.
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