Bangkok-based design studio TOUCH Architect has created a curious concrete cafe in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, with an architectural style influenced by French cathedrals and croissants. “French Kitsch” is a 360-square-meter (3,875-square-feet) French cafe and patisserie with an added sense of kitsch in the form of several pink French Bulldog sculptures, reflecting the owner’s love for the popular French breed. The concept of kitsch is also represented in architectural elements and materials that allude to the shape of a croissant.
The image of a French cathedral with its Gothic architecture is used by TOUCH Architect as a primary reference for the cafe’s rhythmic arches. “Instead of symmetrical arches, imperfect arches of different scales are used,” says the studio. “The design started from a perfect rectangular mass, rendered imperfect by carving out imperfect arches on the first level and inverted imperfect arches on the second level.” The final building shape acts as a contemporary sculpture with a mix of architectural styles — the cafe also enjoys a certain brutalist aspect. Altogether, French Kitsch embodies an abstract croissant in concrete form.
On the first level, the arches have a cocooning effect, embracing visitors while playing with light and shadow. “When light passes through the arched window, it creates reflections on the floor similar to that of cathedral glass,” says TOUCH Architect. A large, “imperfect” arch forms a continuous space from the cafe’s 12-meter-long (39-feet-long) reinforced concrete counter to a seating area on the second level — the counter can thus be seen from both floors. On the second level, a skylight diffuses natural light across the space and an indoor garden creates a serene green area.
TOUCH Architect has made use of board-marked concrete both externally and internally, adding to the idea of perfection in imperfection: “the wall is not completely smooth, but it reflects the authenticity of the material which can be beautiful by itself,” says the studio. The board-marked concrete also alludes to a croissant’s characteristic “stripe”. The use of concrete as the main material accentuates other design elements, for example: the LED lights very much stand out in the ground-floor tunnel-like seating space while enhancing the arch’s irregular shape; greenery provides a natural contrast to the concrete; and the pink French Bulldog sculptures add to the overall sense of kitsch and fun.
A number of the arches in French Kitsch act as solar shades, helping to cool the building. The upper floors have reinforced concrete walls with voids carved into the inverted curves, providing shade and reducing heat from direct sunlight.
