Q&A – Quarta & Armando Architecture Design Research has recently completed the Ethai Café in Shanghai, China, and key to the design is a dome-shaped ceiling, formed by a grid of wooden beams, which conceals the space’s lighting.
The designers explain, “This structure defines a vaulted space that feels private yet convivial, like a contemporary interpretation of the primordial hut.”
As the Ethai Café offers a fresh take on traditional Thai cuisine, an earthy color and material palette was chosen based on gradients reminiscent of central Thailand’s archaeological sites and lands.
The nooks and sitting areas of the cafe also appear to have been carved out of the rammed earth that envelops the facade.
Complementing the earthy colors are the various plants that can be found throughout the cafe.
Here’s a look at the layout of the cafe.
