Terracotta Cafe by Studio Bewell

Set serenely above a tranquil body of water, Terracotta Café by Studio Bewell is a delicate interplay between contemporary architecture and the deep-rooted craft traditions of Korat, Thailand. Developed as an extension to the beloved Chai Thung Restaurant, this project offers a new zone for visitors to gather, relax, and connect with nature—without disturbing the atmosphere that defines the original dining space.

The design was driven by a brief that emphasized integration with water, cultural sensitivity, and the use of locally sourced materials. With these criteria in mind, the architects turned to the nearby village of Dan Kwian, renowned for its artisanal pottery. The area’s signature terracotta, with its earthy red and deep bronze tones, became the material and conceptual core of the project.

A Contemporary Tribute to Traditional Craft

Dan Kwian’s distinctive terracotta is not just a building material—it is a symbol of regional heritage. Formed using traditional methods and fired at high temperatures without added pigments, these ceramics range in hue from reddish brown to almost black, depending on the clay composition and intensity of the fire. These natural gradients shaped the café’s warm, elemental palette and underpinned the project’s narrative of craftsmanship, memory, and place.

This contextual material was used generously and inventively throughout the café. Most strikingly, terracotta tiles were applied to both the roof and flooring, creating a unified envelope that echoes the textures of the surrounding landscape. The café’s cut-edge roof tiles, reinterpreted at a novel angle, establish a visual dialogue with the pitched roofline of the main restaurant while quietly asserting a distinct identity. This subtle reflection ensures that the new addition feels connected yet independent.

Architecture That Feels Handcrafted

At the ground level, solid red bricks were laid in a playful, curving pattern along the approach to the entrance. This gesture—reminiscent of traditional pottery forms—establishes a welcoming scale and a tactile intimacy, softening the formality of the architecture and drawing guests into the space with a sense of curiosity. Inside, the white terrazzo floor carries further traces of the region: it incorporates fragments of grade B terracotta tile leftovers from local factories. Sourced as waste and given new life, these fragments were broken, repositioned, and carefully patterned by local craftsmen into a mosaic of textures. The result is a rich, irregular floor surface that is playful underfoot and visually engaging, capturing the spirit of reuse and regional pride.

Natural light filters through the café via floor-to-ceiling glass panels, allowing uninterrupted views of the pond and its surrounding greenery. Timber beams and glass walls form a light, floating structure, balancing the weight of the ceramics with an airy, contemporary frame. The openness of the café promotes natural ventilation and creates a seamless transition between the interior and the outdoors, enhancing the overall visitor experience.

The Poetry of the Unseen

Among the most poetic features of Terracotta Café is the use of “jor”—a rarely seen ceramic object deeply embedded in the pottery-making process. Traditionally, these curved vessels are used as saggars—protective casings in the kiln that support and shelter more delicate pottery during firing. Although essential to production, jors are usually discarded after their functional life ends and seldom appreciated for their form.

Studio Bewell has reintroduced these anonymous workhorses of the kiln as sculptural installations, placing them thoughtfully throughout the café. Their quiet presence serves as both an aesthetic element and an homage to the unseen hands of craftsmanship. In many ways, these objects tell a richer story than any polished final product could—speaking of process, tradition, and the beauty of imperfection.

Terracotta Café is not simply an architectural intervention—it is a sensitive response to place, an act of storytelling through materials, and a testament to regional identity. By using the familiar in unexpected ways, Studio Bewell has created a space that is both rooted and imaginative, inviting guests to slow down and rediscover the quiet elegance of handmade things.

Photography: Koraphin Oantaralok & Atiroj Thongsen