Bangkok’s Mother Celebrates the Four Elements
At Mother, a new restaurant tucked away in historic Talat Noi, local interior design consultancy Taste Space has created a space inspired by nature and the four elements. Here design director Kijtanes Kajornrattanadech tells us more about the project
Design Anthology: What was the client’s brief to you for the project?
Kijtanes Kajornrattanadech: The brief for Mother restaurant was inspired by the concepts of motherhood and Mother Nature, which we linked with the idea of cooking — Mother Nature provides the natural ingredients to make food.
Where is the restaurant and what’s great about the neighbourhood?
Mother is on Charoen Krung Road in Talat Noi, one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Bangkok. It’s a vibrant area with a lot of local shops and a mix of Thai and Chinese cultures. Recently the neighbourhood has attracted young entrepreneurs who have opened creative cafes and restaurants.
How did you approach the project — what design narrative did you incorporate into the space?
The restaurant’s design evokes the four elements — fire, air, earth and water. We created the four paintings behind the bar, each representing one of the four elements — they really give the space a unique character.
We wanted customers to feel close to nature as soon as they walked into the space, so we hung a gigantic tree root that floats above the entrance. The building itself represents the element of earth. The roof tiles are made of glass and clay and were designed so that sunlight shining on the roof creates patterns of light and shadow that emulate the natural shade of a tree. At first Mother was only open in the evening, but when the owner saw the light and shadow effect created by the roof tiles, they decided to open the restaurant during lunchtime as well.
Please tell us a little about the material choices for the space.
We used a wood-concrete composite as the main material for the building. It creates a worn yet sophisticated texture that has a warm, earthy colour. The open kitchen was built mainly with black iron, which contrasts with the rest of the space and makes the chef ‘s area stand out.
Do you have a favourite element or design detail in the architecture or interiors?
We love the beautiful curved staircase at the back of the restaurant through which customers can access the second floor. We’re also very happy with the tree root, which the owner helped us source. It’s the main decorative element in the space and embodies the concept of the restaurant.
Images / Jinnawat Borihankijanan
