Aesthetics of inheriting context and recycling materials
Located in Bangkok‘s Bangna district, Archive Auto is a comprehensive vehicle center offering car washing, repairs, maintenance, and storage.
The site was originally home to a house and a truss-structured warehouse. The house has been converted into a café, while the warehouse now serves as a workspace. Positioned along the roadside, the café is easily accessible to pedestrians and is also connected to the workshop at the back, allowing customers to enjoy a coffee while checking on their vehicle’s progress during service.
Instead of installing stairs at each mezzanine in the service area, movable stairs were used to reduce costs and save space. The car storage features translucent walls that clearly define the space while minimizing a sense of confinement. Parts of the roof were modified to allow for natural light and ventilation.
The façade facing the road incorporates materials from the original structure. In the former garage, metal mesh was used to hang and store automotive parts and equipment. This mesh was layered—one inclined diagonally and the other vertically—to create a three-dimensional pattern that provides an open and airy feel. The design enhances ventilation at the front of the building and strengthens security without the need for tall fences. The metal mesh also casts shade over the building’s exterior and interior, functioning like an extended eave.
The café at the front of the building reuses materials from the original row house. Its interior layout has been altered to reduce the feeling of an old house. Well-preserved shutters and uniquely detailed metal doors are repurposed as decorative elements on the rear wall. The counter and entrance are positioned at an angle to align with the building’s structure and the flow of traffic from the road. The second and third floors are designated as rental spaces.
Amid the bustling urban environment, Archive Auto has transformed from a simple vehicle service center into a multifunctional space by recycling both building materials and the context of the site. The integration of vehicle services and a café provides both practicality and comfort, offering a contextual continuity and the aesthetics of recycling.
Project: Archive Auto / Location: Bangna, Bangkok, Thailand / Architect: PHTAA Living Design / Project team: Ponwit Rattanatanatevilai, Harisadhi leelayuwapan, Thanawat patchimasiri / Collaborators: tst design and con / Client: Archive Auto / Completion: 2024.9. / Photographer: ©Kukkong Thirathomrongkiat (courtesy of the architect)
