A former residential building in Thailand's Chiang Mai province has been transformed into an innovative micro coffee roastery that showcases creative design elements, including a unique sunken seating area covered with coffee beans. The Single Origin Store Chiang Mai, located in the San Phisuea district, represents a successful adaptive reuse project designed by architectural firm FLAT12x.
The project converts an existing house into a fully functioning micro roastery for the coffee brand, building upon design principles originally established at the company's flagship location near Chiang Mai's historic Phae Gate. The architects prioritized locality and material authenticity throughout the design process, carefully integrating the renovated structure with its natural surroundings.
The architectural approach emphasizes a low, linear form that blends harmoniously with the residential neighborhood. Deep roof overhangs provide essential shade and protection from Thailand's seasonal rains, while the building's design incorporates large openings and passive ventilation strategies. These features enable cross-ventilation throughout the space and maintain visual continuity with the surrounding garden areas.
The roof's pitch and orientation were specifically engineered to minimize solar heat gain while ensuring consistent natural light penetrates the interior spaces. This thoughtful approach to climate-responsive design helps maintain comfortable conditions for both coffee roasting operations and customer comfort.
Sustainability played a central role in material selection, with locally sourced materials used extensively throughout the project. This approach not only reduces environmental impact but also reinforces connections to regional craft traditions and supports local suppliers. The interior design palette features neutral finishes, textured ceramic tiles, and tactile surface treatments that create a sophisticated yet approachable atmosphere.
The centerpiece of the interior is a custom-built coffee bar constructed entirely from local hardwood, which serves as the focal point of the main space. One of the most distinctive design features is a stepped-down floor plate that creates a sunken seating area. In this lowered section, actual coffee beans are used as ground cover beneath the stairs, providing both a sensory and visual reference that directly connects to the store's primary function as a coffee roastery.
FLAT12x architects arranged this spatial configuration to enhance layering throughout the interior, promoting fluid movement between different zones designed for both communal gatherings and individual activities. The seating arrangements accommodate various modes of use, including informal reading sessions, coffee tasting experiences, and small group interactions.
Lighting design receives particular attention, with both natural and artificial illumination carefully calibrated to shift the ambiance throughout different times of day. This dynamic lighting approach draws attention to the various material finishes while creating a responsive interior atmosphere that evolves from morning through evening hours.
The overall design philosophy of Single Origin Store Chiang Mai creates a physical space that directly supports the brand's focus on coffee origin, roasting process, and artisanal craft through its architectural language. Every design element, from the locally sourced materials to the coffee bean ground cover, reinforces the connection between the physical space and the coffee experience.
This adaptive reuse project demonstrates how thoughtful architectural intervention can transform existing residential structures into specialized commercial spaces while respecting local context and environmental considerations. The Single Origin Store Chiang Mai stands as an example of how contemporary architecture can celebrate regional materials and craft traditions while serving modern commercial functions.
The project emphasizes the importance of place-based design, showing how global coffee culture can be expressed through distinctly local architectural approaches that respond to climate, materials, and cultural context in Thailand's northern region.
