Design of a women’s restaurant using five glass blocks with a wooden frame
Design of a women’s restaurant using five glass blocks with a wooden frame,
In a village in the Ban Ran district of Thailand,
the Bangkok project studio used wood and glass to complete the construction of a women’s restaurant.
Restaurant was called Artisans Ayutthaya or The Woman Restaurant and the two main materials used in the buildings of this village were used.
The complex is located on an area of 950 square meters and consists of five right-
angled triangular volumes made of glass blocks and framed by wood.
Although the sizes are all equal, each building has its own function,
and the main objective of the project is to create a distinctive physical language consisting of materials that attract everyone’s attention.
Design of a women’s restaurant using five glass blocks with a wooden frame
The studio began designing with unsold blocks of glass,
both because of their less attractive style and their reputation as bathroom wall blocks.
The architect tried to add value to these unwanted elements by cladding them with wood panels,
so that the color of the wood was reflected on the blocks.
Design features:
The perimeter of each building is 8 x 8 x 11.31 meters.
Common area of the five buildings is 310 square meters.
The five buildings have two floors including corridors.
There is a walking path around the complex, including the reception area and the 640 square meter waterfront terrace.
Five glass block buildings sparkle under the light all day and night on the border of the Chao Phraya River in Ban Ran District.
Powerful geometry elements that solve all program elements were used in the project layout drawing,
with all volumes scattered around the paths, while each volume complimenting each other.
Design of a women’s restaurant using five glass blocks with a wooden frame
Translucent PVC panels have been used in place of giant glass door panels and panels,
in order to reduce weight and construction budget.
Ropes were also used over the doors and windows to reduce the force of the wind that blows in times of winter,
and the door and window hinges were pulled from the hinges of the doors of ten-wheeled trucks and adapted to bear the weight of the huge doors and windows.
The construction method of these five buildings differs from that of building glass block walls in general,
which are a little more difficult.
Studio used steel as mortar and wood covering,
and the builders were local laborers who learned to master the construction method developed by the studio.
The story of the construction of this complex and the use of materials more interesting, gave life to The Artisans Ayutthay,
since most of the inhabitants of the place where the project is located are single women or widows.
These women are between 55 and 94 years old and cook local cuisine for visitors, as well as locally meticulously crafting plates, bowls and crockery.
The origin of the project name
The project was called Artisans Ayutthaya,
because the women working on the project are descendants of the Ayutthaya people bent on preserving Ayutthaya cuisine and handicrafts.
As generous as these women are, they are publishing all the recipes and secrets of the food they serve,
so that everyone can help keep the local food in Ayutthaya alive instead of disappearing as they age
