In the famous beachside town of Chonburi, Thailand stands a café that’s taking a literal approach to “bringing the outdoors in.” In the center of Harudot by Nana Coffee Roasters, IDIN Architects placed a bottle tree (or baobab) where the gable form of the architecture is pulled apart to allow for its growth towards the sky, thus making it appear as if the seed of the baobab was been planted long before and has grown out through the architecture as time passes.
The name “Haru” translates to “Spring” in Japanese, referring to a “new beginning” and “growth” while “Dot” symbolizes a “starting point”. IDIN chose to focus on the concept of new beginnings and growth by including nature in the heart of the design.
The cafe brand’s identity is strongly inspired by Japanese culture, which IDIN chose to channel with humble simplicity and attention to detail. This is represented through the exterior, using three simple gable forms in stark black for a subtle look that contrasts with the natural warm pine wood walls of the interior space. As visitors enter the cafe through the gable, the space morphs and bends with curves as it leads guests further into the cafe, where the space becomes more dynamic and memorable.
The building is separated into smaller masses to make it more human-scale, which establishes different zones such as the bar, coffee drinking zone, a lounge, a meeting room, and the 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. These voids also resulted in an interesting curved form which added movement and dynamism to the architecture. The voids allow for rainfall and sunlight to enter into the semi-outdoor court, maintaining a connection with nature despite the enclosed walls. These opening features continue into the interior space, where instead of actual voids, they are enclosed with Barrisol stretch ceilings that help diffuse the lighting inside, creating a warm, softly lit space. The Barrisol ceiling also echoes with the actual open voids in the courtyard, visually and conceptually connecting both spaces into one entirety.
The seating arrangement is designed to be continuous like a ribbon, wrapping around the interior space to create continuity, whereas the height of the counters differ to suit the different functions and uses. The outdoor seating is made from resin, mixed with coffee grounds, rice, and leaves to tie into the coffee theme.
The attention to detail extends to the graphic elements, with custom-designed fonts and signage which have been inspired by circular dots and the spring season. The floor is terrazzo, and the separation in the material is necessary, therefore the architect specifically designed the floor separations to be circular, with insertions of embedded quotes and words that lead to different functions in the cafe. Another playful element includes the flower petals pattern in the terrazzo floor, radiating outward as if they have fallen from the actual trees. The architect formed a playful connection through this interplay between the different dimensions, resulting in another hidden gem for the customers to unveil.
Photography by DOF Sky | Ground.
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