PAVA transforms old tobacco-drying barn into preserved brick teahouse in thailand

PAVA breathes new life to brick tobacco barn in chiang mai

In Chiang Mai, Thailand, PAVA architects has transformed an old tobacco processing site into a new teahouse that respects its surroundings. The project, named ‘Kaomai Tea Barn,’ preserves the character of the existing barn and reconstructs the preserved bricks with modernized steel and reinforced concrete. In this way, the new design revives an industrial typology that has been forgotten, while still presenting a contemporary esthetic. Thanks to its permeable character and lighting elements, the building glows in the dark, further highlighting the beauty and authenticity of the old tobacco barn.

the new Kaomai Tea Barn ties the existing surrounding structures and the local landscape together

all images by Spaceshift Studio

a new teahouse that glows in the dark

The new design by PAVA architects respects the specificity and authenticity of the historic barn, preserving its architectural dimensions, forms and materials, including the repetitive 6 x 6 meter planning typology. The new teahouse is designed to sink into the ground, further emphasizing the authentic volume that rests on top, and creating a modest connection between the two buildings and the surrounding landscape.

Installing large openings and hidden lighting elements, the Bangkok-based architecture practice designed the new tea room to glow in the dark. In this way, the project highlights the authentic brick exterior as well as the vertical interior. The contrast between the firmness of the tobacco drying barn and the new opening space becomes a modest design experience along the historic routes and existing architectural and natural heritage through the suggested lighting scheme.

the design respects the authenticity of the historic barn, preserving its architectural dimensions, forms, and materials

appreciating thai architectural heritage & lush surroundings

Under the umbrella of the ‘Historical and Ecological Tourism’ framework, Kaomai Tea Barn is another vital part of the holistic masterplan in the area which has the potential to flourish commercially, socially, and environmentally throughout time. Visitors are encouraged to experience the aesthetics of the preserved tobacco drying barns and lush nature, as well as learn about the local history, native plants, and ecology on-site. The project restores the past function of the tobacco processing estate as the social and economic core of the town, while also boosting today’s sense of local inclusion and promoting social sustainability.

the sunken tea house reflects the trace of the old tobacco drying barn