Cafe French Kitsch III in Thailand

Located in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, French Kitsch III draws its inspiration from the unique blend of its name—‘French’ and ‘Kitsch’. This design concept is brought to life by TOUCH Architect, combining the sophistication of a traditional French patisserie with the quirky charm of the owner’s beloved French bulldogs, which play a key role in the café’s brand identity. The result is a space that exudes both playful elegance and a distinct personality, making it more than just a patisserie, but a destination that reflects the owner’s passion and creativity. The design aims to enhance this image together with the concept of ‘Kitsch’, a form of art that appreciates imperfection through architecture elements and materials, which refers to an imperfect shape of ‘croissant’.

The French cathedral is taken as a primary reference to the design, where rhythmic arches are developed. Instead of symmetrical arches, imperfect arches of different scales are used. The design started from a perfect rectangular mass, rendered imperfect by carving out imperfect arches on the first level and inverted imperfect arches on the second level. On the first floor, these arches embrace visitors with their antique yet modern looks, creating shadows along the path. When light passes through the arched window, it creates reflections on the floor, similar to that of cathedral glass. The oversized, imperfect arch also creates a continuous space from the counter to the second floor, highlighting the full-function counter, allowing it to be seen from both floors. On the second floor, voids are carved into the inverted curves, allowing sunlight to enter while acting as a shading device.

By using textured concrete, it strengthens the concept of perfection of imperfection, where the wall is not completely smooth, but it reflects the authenticity of the material which can be beautiful by itself. Moreover, by using concrete as the main material, the furniture, decorations, and LED lights are made outstanding, emphasizing the imperfect arch curves within the tunnel space, creating a strong memorable image of the cafe.