Koto Tea Space
Cafe for Takanao Todo
Koto Tea Space, a tranquil Japanese teahouse nestled in downtown Bangkok, brings the enchanting concept of "Shichu no Sankyo" to life a country retreat within the urban pulse. Concealed by wave-patterned ceramic tiles, the entrance shields from the city's chaos, warding off sunlight and rain. Inside, the Tea Salon boasts 6 seats and 2 tatami areas, offering a peaceful horizontal design reminiscent of Shugaku-in's signature shelf. With a focus on harmony, the existing structure, earthy walls, and natural lacquer-finished furniture unite to create an inviting coziness.
Download Press Kit № 154704
Download Press Kit № 154704 Cafe for Takanao Todo by Takanao Todo to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.
Available Now for Your Next Story
At design|newsroom, we understand the pressures and deadlines journalists face. That’s why we offer exclusive access to our curated press kits and high-resolution images, tailored for accredited journalists. These resources are designed to enrich your stories with depth and visual appeal, spotlighting the world's most innovative designs.
Please Note:
- Credit the work's creator and/or photographer.
- Mention design|newsroom as your source.
- Share your published pieces with us; we love to celebrate and promote your work on our platform and social media.
Let’s Collaborate: Your stories matter. design|newsroom is here to support you with quality, accessible content. Once you are accredited, reach out for the images and content you need. We will provide the specific images and content directly, along with recommendations on works to feature.
Get Accredited Easily: Quick access to our resources requires media accreditation. Apply for media accreditation to join our network and start exploring a wealth of design stories.
Koto Tea Space by Takanao Todo
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
Cafe by Takanao Todo
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
Takanao Todo Koto Tea Space
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
Takanao Todo Cafe
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
Takanao Todo Designer Portrait Photo
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
Takanao TodoBrand Logo
Download 1800 Pixels JPEG Image.
Takanao Todo Interview
Content for Journalists: We're providing an interview with Takanao Todo, approximately 903 words, free for editorial use. Gain access and download instantly. Access Takanao Todo Interview Now.
Koto Tea Space Cafe Press Releases
Explore press materials for Koto Tea Space, available in languages such as English.
Koto Tea Space Cafe Media Articles
Leverage our ready-to-publish articles on Koto Tea Space, offered in a range of languages: Hindi, English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, Portuguese, Indonesian, Japanese, Arabic (Standard), Turkish, Korean and Russian.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Project Overview
Koto Tea Space Cafe has been a Bronze winner in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design award category in the year 2023 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
Bronze Recognition
Takanao Todo was recognized with the coveted Bronze A' Design Award in 2024, a testament to excellence of their work Koto Tea Space Cafe.
Takanao Todo Press Releases
Access a rich repository of press releases on Takanao Todo, offered to press and media professionals for unrestricted use in their stories. Available now: 1 press releases ready for immediate access by journalists.
Koto Tea Space: A Tranquil Japanese Teahouse in Downtown Bangkok
Takanao Todo Unveils Koto Tea Space, Embracing Japanese Tea Culture in Urban Oasis
Takanao Todo Newsroom
Takanao Todo Newsroom is your gateway to exploring acclaimed design and award-winning works.
