Harudot by Nana Coffee Roasters | IDIN Architects

Harudot is an independent café in Chonburi, a famous beachside town in Thailand. The café was created by collaborating with the owner of Nana Coffee Roasters and the landlord, who is interested in unique plants. The name “Haru,” which means “Spring” in Japanese, represents new beginnings and growth, while “Dot” signifies a starting point.

Harudot’s Design Concept

The café aims to attract visitors and incorporate the landlord’s identity into its design to represent the unique partnership. The architect used trees in the design to emphasize growth and new beginnings. A bottle tree, specifically a baobab, is in an inner courtyard. The architectural gable form was intentionally opened for the tree’s upward growth. This design element creates an illusion that the baobab seed was planted long ago and has gradually emerged through the architecture.

The café brand’s identity is heavily influenced by Japanese culture, and this influence strongly impacts the design approach. The architect interpreted this influence as representing humble simplicity while paying close attention to detail. This concept is reflected in the exterior design, where three simple gable forms in black color create a subdued aesthetic that contrasts with the natural warmth of the pine wood walls within the interior space of Harudot. As visitors enter the café through the roof, they encounter a space that gradually curves and transitions, leading them deeper into the café. Here, the environment becomes more dynamic and leaves a lasting impression on guests.

The Harudot building is designed to create a more human-scale environment by dividing the structure into smaller masses. These zones include a bar, coffee area, lounge, meeting room, and restrooms. Each mass features a prominent gable roof design, intentionally separating at specific points to allow trees to grow through voids in the structure, creating semi-outdoor spaces underneath.

These voids contribute to the building’s intriguing curved form, infusing movement and dynamism into the architecture. They also serve as openings for rainfall and sunlight, fostering a connection with nature despite enclosed walls. The design feature of voids extends into the interior space, where Barrisol stretch ceilings are used to diffuse lighting, creating a warm and softly illuminated ambiance. The Barrisol ceiling mirrors the open voids in the courtyard, visually and conceptually linking both spaces into a cohesive whole at Harudot.

Harudot’s seating arrangement creates a seamless ribbon-like flow around the interior space, establishing a sense of continuity. The counters vary in height to cater to different functions and purposes. The café’s outdoor seating, made from resin, coffee grounds, rice, and leaves, perfectly complements the coffee-themed ambiance.

Every aspect of Harudot’s design is crafted with attention to detail. Even the graphic elements, such as the custom fonts and signage, are inspired by circular dots and the spring season. The floor, made of terrazzo, requires distinct separations, which the architect meticulously designed as circular floor separations with embedded quotes and words to guide visitors to different functions within the café. Furthermore, the terrazzo floor has a playful pattern of flower petals, as if scattered from the surrounding trees, adding a whimsical touch. This playful interplay between dimensions creates a delightful connection, offering customers yet another hidden surprise at Harudot.

Project Info:
Architects: IDIN Architects
Area: 475 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: DOF Sky I Ground
Manufacturers: American Standard, Hafele, Lamptitude, Light Up, SCG, Sana, Sita
Interior Designers: IDIN Architects
Structure Engineers: NEXT Steps Design & Consultants Co.,Ltd.
Contractors: Wimutti Construction Limited Partnership
Country: Thailand