The Harudot Cafe Features A Curving Form With A Baobab Tree Growing Through It

Dubbed the Harudot Cafe, this unique-looking structure in the beachside town of Chonburi, Thailand is designed by local studio IDIN Architects. The building is highlighted by gabled forms clad in blackened wood which are curved, and subtly pulled apart, to form a “dynamic and memorable” space for the cafe brand Nana Coffee Roasters, and the owner of the property. The curving form of the cafe was inspired by the owner’s “particular interest in unique plants”.

Designer: IDIN Architects

The Harudot consists of three interconnected buildings which hold a meeting room, kitchen, and toilets. The various rooms have been arranged in a rectilinear form to the north, while the seating area is situated to the south. The southern structures hold circular areas of planting, wherein the gable roofs pull open, allowing natural light to stream in from above. This unique roof opening also allows a large baobab tree to grow!

“The building is separated into smaller masses to make it more human-scale, which established different zones such as the bar, coffee drinking zone, a lounge, a meeting room, and restrooms. The giant gable roof form of each mass is pulled apart at certain parts, allowing the tree to penetrate through a void to the sky creating a semi-outdoor space underneath. It appears as if the seed of the baobab has been planted long before and grew out through the architecture as time passes,” said IDIN Architects.

You are welcomed into the two curving structures via large triangular entrances that accommodate full-height glazing incorporating doors that connect the various external seating areas to the interiors, forming a well-connected and free-flowing space. Although the three forms are distinct and separate on the outside, internally they are connected via large arched openings. The stone floor is marked with flowing lines and embedded text, which builds a serene sense of continuity.

Harudot’s exterior is quite appealing, as it is clad in vertical blackened timber planks that accentuate the cafe’s curving form, which contrasts with the pale timber and black furniture and fittings. The entire identity of the cafe is inspired by Japanese design, which IDIN Architects describes as “humble simplicity with attention to details”.

The post The Harudot Cafe Features A Curving Form With A Baobab Tree Growing Through It first appeared on Yanko Design.

This luxury holiday home is every grown-up & child’s dream with an architecture designed to deliver ultimate fun!

If you have ever dreamed of having a treehouse, a pool, a slide, and more in your house but gave it all up because grown-ups can’t have fun, then do I have good news for you! PLA2 is a luxury house is made to incorporate the most fun activities – both indoor and outdoor – into its architecture and interior design. It is an extension of the Z9 resort in Thailand and therefore the holiday vibe is continued with PLA2. The floating villa lets you enjoy water rafting, karaoke, laze by the pool or sleep in the giant net over the water while still living in a modern structure.

PLA2 is close to the Z9 resort so all necessary supplies come from there. The slides and sloped stargazing beds are perfect for people of all ages to have their dream camping night. The team also plans to include a large movie screen for private screenings at the villa. The theme was inspired by active elements and words like dynamic, moving, energy, and vitality which resonates through the structure.

The exterior is inspired by the local fish which can be seen in the rounded curves of the cladding. The shape has two abstract volumes that echo the anatomies of a male and female snake-head fish swimming together. Males are smaller in size, and fresher in color, while females are larger and darker – hence the differences in tone and size observed in each spatial block. The main structure has a balloon frame to make the construction more dispersed and lighter in weight. It includes a water storage system a tugboat, and a backup generator for electricity in case the Z9 Resort can’t be accessed for supplies.

Just like the fish that swim together, the space is designed to blend in with each other in a harmonious flow both internally and externally. The rooms can be all opened up into one space during the day to make most of the natural light and wind while at night they can be separated to create sleeping zones and privacy. Nautical details inspired by submarines can be seen in the door handles or circular windows.

Wood and steel are the main materials used for construction. There are two different shades of wood – reflecting the female/male distinction. Each wooden volume is then punctuated by rusty-looking etched steel frames on the front façades, evoking the gills of the snake-head fish when its mouth opens up. To further illustrate freshwater life, the outdoor pool stands out with its light blue tone while darker and more sandy colors accentuate the interiors – from the bedroom suite to the entrance hall and gathering space. PLA2 incorporates all the fun activities while paying tribute to the local ecosystem beautifully!

Designer: Dersyn Studio

The post This luxury holiday home is every grown-up & child’s dream with an architecture designed to deliver ultimate fun! first appeared on Yanko Design.

Twitter suspends 1,600 accounts linked to state disinformation networks

Twitter has permanently suspended another 1,589 state-linked accounts that violated its platform manipulation policies. It says they’re connected to state information operations carried out by Iran, Saudi Arabia, Cuba and Thailand. Twitter has added...

Facebook vows legal action after being forced to block Thai anti-royalty group

After being forced by the Thai government to block access to a group critical of the country’s king, Facebook said it will legally challenge the demand, according to Reuters. The situation has once again cast a light on Facebook’s policies around aut...

Sustainable rice packaging becomes an artistic tissue box in afterlife

The Srisangdao rice grows in Thailand in a controlled environment and every year only a limited quality is produced. Because of how special the rice is, the environment where it grows and how it is stored is given the utmost care making sure there are no chemicals hampering the quality. To showcase Thung Kula Ronghai’s efforts of growing this gorgeous grain, a designer reimagined the packaging as a tribute to the process with a purpose that went beyond preserving rice.

The packaging is created using chaffs, a natural waste product from husking, which very literally incorporates the process which the designers wanted to celebrate through this product. The box has simple yet meaningful art surrounding the Srisangdao rice – it is die-formed with an oversized rice grain embossed on it which is the main artistic element. The grain graphic is complemented with wave-like lines and smaller embossed design of the crop in full bloom. The designer has also burn-stamped the logo of the rice mill from the Thung Kula Ronghai region on the box. A thoughtful detail that really completes the picture is the rice inside comes in a miniature sack just like the traditional one. All these pieces put together truly bring out the different elements of the rice’s identity and lifecycle.

What makes this organic packaging more interesting is the fact that it can be used as a tissue box after it has served its purpose of storing rice. It is completely eco-friendly as well as recyclable and generates minimal production waste. To see how a simple rice packaging can completely be reimagined and redesigned to tell a story while still providing value after its main job is done is an inspiration to continue being creative.

Designer: Somchana Kangwarnjit

Elon Musk painted as ‘thin-skinned billionaire’ in court documents

The fallout from Elon Musk's ill-advised "pedo guy" comments -- made last year about British cave rescuer Vernon Unsworth -- is not going away. In new court documents, Unsworth didn't hold back when it came to his opinion of the South African tech bi...