bathed in a lush green ambiance, this coffee shop in bangkok doubles as a meditative retreat

blurring lines within the NANA Coffee Roasters Bangna

Completed by IDIN Architects, the NANA Coffee Roasters Bangna branch in Bangkok could very well double as a meditative retreat in the heart of the bustling city. The architectural expression reveals a cluster of white-toned, minimalist buildings that combine with the outdoor landscape to create a lush atmosphere, drawing visitors away from the buzzing Bangna-Trad motorway and redirecting their focus onto the coffee.

‘Through this concept, the boundaries between the three practices, architecture, interior, and landscape, are blurred – the realism of the exterior and interior are connected,’ write the architects. These ‘blurred’ spaces create ‘undefined areas’ bathed in a calming botanical setting. Further blurring the lines, the outdoor landscape infiltrates the gaps wedged between architectural masses and flows into the coffee shop interior thanks to a generous paneling of reflective glass mosaics on the ceiling.

all images © W Workshop

focusing the design on the coffee-drinking experience 

IDIN Architects (see more here) designed all buildings within NANA Coffee Roasters Bangna to be simple and functional, with touches of bold strokes. Indeed, while the team did soften the architectural body with lush greenery, it still gave way for the boldly slanted rooflines to escape through. This roofline maintains continuity with the existing building, which extends into three masses where the Speed Bar and the indoor seats are located. The front part of the existing building was effectively renovated as a part of the Slow Bar and service zone. Furthermore, the restrooms at the back of these buildings are designed as independent pods, surrounded by the landscape for added privacy.

Simplicity and functionality extend into the interiors, where the main focus revolves around the coffee-drinking experience, a preference strongly emphasized by the main counter with its unevenly contoured top surface. The latter also serves as a social distancing tool, referring to the northern mountains range, where the coffee beans originate.

NANA Coffee Roasters Bangna is enveloped by lush greenery

using reflective and clear surfaces to extend the landscape inward

natural lighting pours in generously