SALA Phuket Restaurant / Department of Architecture

Nov 2009

Uploaded by Nico Saieh — Filed under: Hotels and Restaurants ,Selected , Department of Architecture, Thailand

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Architect: Department of ARCHITECTURE Co., Ltd.
Location: Phuket, Thailand
Owner: SALA Phuket, Co., Ltd.
Principals in Charge: Twitee Vajrabhaya Teparkum and Amata Luphaiboon
Collaborator: Penwisa Kietduriyakul
Interior Designer: Department of ARCHITECTURE Co., Ltd.
Lighting Designer: ACCENT Studio
Structural Engineering: SPC Consulting Engineers Co., Ltd.
M&E Engineering: A E Two O Co., Ltd
Interior Contractor: New Muang Thong Furniture Co., Ltd.
Project year: 2009
Photographer: Wison Tungthunya

Sala Phuket Restaurant is a main restaurant for a resort in Phuket, Thailand. Because of its pristine surrounding, the design is intended to respond to the sensational dimension of experience embodied within the area—beauty, simplicity, and silence. Taking advantage of its tropical climatic conditions and its beachfront location, the restaurant is designed to operate as an open-air pavilion. With 50 indoor and 70 outdoor seats, the restaurant offers its patrons with island breezes that beautifully accompanied by unimpeded views and sound of the sea in front.

The volume of the restaurant and bar has been programmatically stretched horizontally to maximize overlooking beachfront view to all patrons. Contrary to the grid system which usually demarcates a clear boundary line, structural columns are re-positioned at an unconstrained rhythm, thus creating an ambiguous edge– a sense of borderless. Consequently, the inside space and surrounding environment is seamlessly merged into one.

While exterior appears to be more solemn, overall atmosphere of the restaurant is soften with elaborate architectural details of interior space. Ceiling for instance, instead of a plain wooden slats, technique of splitting and rotating is employed to create various patterns on the ceiling. The same technique is applied to front panel for a counter bar as well.

Besides dining area on the ground, a new landscape of dining experience can be found on the restaurant’s rooftop. Dining area is depressed forming sunken dining pods. By replacing conventional guard rails with water boundary, visual obstruction is removed. The space is extended outward indefinitely.

Even though accommodating a number of elements such as structures, water ponds, seating pods, and shading device, the roof has been carefully designed to appear thin and light. By suspending the ceiling from the roof structure creating a gap between the roofs and ceiling. Functionally this gap allows technical elements to be concealed inside. To further emphasize an impression of thinness, the pond’s edges are lowered to form gutters whose outermost edges are shorter than those of the pond. The thinness of the roof which does not seem to be inhabitable further intensifies excitement when the outdoor dining area is finally discovered on the rooftop.

Solid volume of the service area, including kitchen and restroom, is separated from the main building; allowing the dining area to be surrounded entirely by nature. Unlike the dining area, the restroom, with constraint on its location, establishes its relation with nature in a different way. Hidden behind the wall, an outdoor space is carved out of the solid volume of the service area. This hidden open space with installation-setting vanities serves as a surprising entrance to the restroom.

: floor plan 01

: floor plan 02

: restroom floor plan

: section

: sections diagram

Cite:
Saieh , Nico . "SALA Phuket Restaurant / Department of Architecture" 20 Nov 2009. ArchDaily. Accessed 19 Feb 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/40688>

Comments (31)
Tweets (6)
Links to this entry (17)

amonle says:

beautiful craftsmanship, colours, richness – round of applause!

# November 20, 2009 at 13:49

Stonehorse Alpha says:

I hope Modern Zen Architects or Michael Earle have nothing to do with this project…

Why???

Type those names in Google and discover…

# February 6, 2010 at 11:45

Pok Kobkongsanti says:

You trying to say DEPT copied Michael Earle?
Who’s Michael Earle anyway?
We’ve never heard of him in Thailand. You gotta be kidding or probably stoned, Stonehorse….

# April 24, 2011 at 04:34

loydd says:

Impressive!!!

# November 20, 2009 at 13:54

Nicolas says:

just beautiful!!.. i hope the food is as good as the the looks!

# November 20, 2009 at 15:26

luiz felipe says:

amazing project! the food must be good, and expensive hahaha

# November 20, 2009 at 15:32

Mai says:

MOOOI..

# November 20, 2009 at 16:07

sullka says:

Beautiful!

The interior design work is simple yet top notch, that huuuuuuge change of scale with the furniture in the restroom’s foyer is amazing, looks like Alice in Wonderland.

# November 20, 2009 at 16:25

GTO says:

very beautiful. I would love to visit there some day

# November 20, 2009 at 17:32

norbert says:

Been there and falled in love with details and space!
Being in the place looks a whole lot better than photo.
It simply is the best-designed hotel in thailand, for me at least.

# November 21, 2009 at 03:08

SoN says:

It looks very elegant. But am I missing something? How do they due with the rain in the second floor of resturant?

# November 21, 2009 at 06:15

are you asking that for real?…..it’s an outdoor sitting area, they wouldn’t use those tables if it’s raining…..but you made me wonder…..how would the people in the pool area do when it rains? (yes, sarcasm)

# November 23, 2009 at 13:07

I wonder how!

# February 6, 2010 at 11:41

Dana says:

would love to experience the atmosphere there spectacular site and very elegant taste of interior with the exterior!!

# November 21, 2009 at 14:20

Babra says:

I would love to work with them. Have they an official web site?

# November 21, 2009 at 14:49

Wison says:

Hope this helps,
http://www.departmentofarchitecture.com

# February 13, 2011 at 03:13

archez says:

เที่ยวเมืองไทยครึกครื้น เศรษฐกิจไทยคึกคัก

อ่านยากชิบหาย

# November 22, 2009 at 12:02

deo says:

แสดงความคิดเห็นได้มีสาระมากครับคุณ archez
ชาติมันไม่เจริญเพราะมีคนแบบคุณนี่แหละ

# November 23, 2009 at 01:43

sanook kapook hunsa says:

เกรียนนนนนนน มาเยือน

# November 23, 2009 at 07:28

Halima Rashid says:

That’s amazing!

# November 22, 2009 at 15:40

shatha says:

Soooo relaxing.The space….the elements….the colors….the materials….the lighting. Amazing.Want to be there.

# November 23, 2009 at 02:58

Mariam says:

I loved the space !! i can say that the architect has taken the culture of Thailand in consideration while designing, through the interior space, the exterior, the water front, and the lighting. All these elements merged and presented in one building made a relaxing open restaurant that will add alot to the resort of Phuket !!

# November 24, 2009 at 10:35

amata says:

Any readers interested in us, Department of ARCHITECTURE Co.,Ltd., may check out our temporary portfolio in our under-construction website; http://www.departmentofarchitecture.com.

# November 26, 2009 at 03:10

Architect Services says:

Michael Earle, Modern Zen Architect, recommends: Department of Architecture, Phuket, Thailand: http://bit.ly/7Tm47Z

# January 26, 2010 at 02:17

Modern Zen Architecture says:

You can find out more about them here: http://www.salaresorts.com/phuket/gallery-en.html

It is indeed, one of the architectural highlights of Phuket Island. I can say that it is located far from Patong, the de facto tourist capital of this large party island. The location is in the Northern part of the island, a much more quiet, relaxing, and dare I say, romantic, setting… :-p

# January 26, 2010 at 04:13