Nana Coffee Roasters Bangna is a project that represents how eco-conscious design can renew a failed restaurant along the Bangna-Trad busy motorway into an iconic café that provides an unparalleled coffee-drinking experience. Within only five months of the working period, the design team worked together to determine the use of existing man-made structures and natural resources on the property to complete an innovative architectural space that blurs the line between, interior design, landscaping, and architecture.
Due to a limited schedule and budget constraints, the design team combined existing structures to produce a functional and effortless architectural space. In order to save time, the project is built and renovated from the three existing structures on the property – The existing house; the road; and the parking. The foundation and structural frame of the former restaurant were used as the base to construct the new Slow Bar and service zone. The design team decided to manage architectural resources and time efficiently by using the existing foundation to erect three new pavilions at the front of the property. The roofline continuity of these pavilions is maintained from the original building to create a harmonious space for the speed bar and indoor seating. The restrooms located at the back of the property were designed as independent pods surrounded by natural landscape to suit the concepts of social distancing; user privacy; and blurring the line between indoors and outdoors.
The existing landscape and trees on the property were also preserved to elevate the cafe's welcoming atmosphere where guests can relax in nature's tranquility. Surrounding greenery drifts into the interior to blend and connect the realism of the exterior and interior. Sustainably crafted furniture extends delicately onto the garden terraces while green spaces flow elegantly between the pavilions and into the interior to blur the distinction between indoors and outdoors. These green pockets offer a peaceful get-away, inviting visitors to slow down and appreciate life's simple joys away from the busy city.
The thick green spaces wrap around the café to create a microclimate that enhances ecological harmony and human comfort. The lush plant species act as a natural green buffer to protect the café from external PM2.5, air pollution, urban heat, and traffic noise while encouraging visitors to reconnect with nature. Visitors are encouraged to immerse themselves in a peaceful ambiance and appreciate the variety of plant and flower species that provide ecological food and habitat for local birds, bees, and small animals.
Nana Coffee Roaster Bangna’s seamless blend of greenery and built elements offers visitors a chance to communicate with nature in the busy urban district. The construction of this urban sanctuary achieves a careful balance between the preservation and renovation of architectural spaces. The project’s natural sustainability and modern aesthetics are harmoniously combined to push the limits of architectural resourcefulness and eco-conscious design.