Double B Hostel

Double B Hostel is a project located in the Sao Chingcha area of Bangkok, a district renowned for its cultural and historical heritage, as well as for being a must-visit destination for tourists visiting Bangkok. The area is also famous for its long historical street filled with Buddhist sculpture art and crafting, and Double B Hostel finds its roots amid this rich tapestry of cultural and historical treasures.

The land plot for the project posed a considerable challenge, as the strict height limitation regulations in the old town area presented significant difficulties. All the neighboring buildings had already maximized their space usage, leaving little room on all sides adjacent to the site. The only unobstructed areas with natural light were the front space connecting to the street and the roof of the building.

To address these issues, one of the key ideas to ensure the success of this project is the creation of a central courtyard space, topped with a large skylight roof, to draw people from the narrow front area into the heart of the site through the constrained width at the front. The internal courtyard would act as the lobby area connecting to the hotel function and the cafe & lounge zone, acting as a second front area of the hotel.

The concept for the facade and material was inspired by the site's historical culture of handmade crafting and the aesthetic of wood grain and textures. A concept of a curving wooden facade was designed using composite wooden rods, covering the frontal area of the building and wrapping under the building over the lobby and onto the internal wall area at the back. These rods were individually heat-blown and bent following a handmade template into shape. The facade system is visible from both the front road and internally on all the internal walls and ceiling in the central courtyard space.

Natural light was brought into the interior spaces by the large skylight window above the main internal courtyard area. Some parts of the internal walls above the courtyard are clad with mirrors to bounce the sunlight into the lower levels. Small pocket window chambers, serving as mini green balconies, were created in each guest room to bring in natural light.

To complement the natural wooden tones of the curving facade concept and add warmth to the space, earthy brown tones were introduced into the project's interior. White PU flooring and mirror stainless steel elements were incorporated, creating a dynamic interplay of light and reflection. Above the central courtyard, some sections of the facade have been transformed into planters, enhancing each floor with lush greenery and imbuing the atrium above the main courtyard with a sense of verdant green space and natural light.

Bespoke furniture pieces were crafted for the hostel project. The stepped seating arrangements, complete with integrated coffee tables, resemble a miniature version of the facade, with mirrored cladding on the sides that heighten the sense of fluidity and interconnectedness between the interior and exterior spaces. The centerpiece mirror table, accompanied by refined wooden stools, invites guests to a communal gathering space in the natural light-filled courtyard, surrounded by lush greenery.

The Double B Hostel project addressed the challenges posed by the land plot while taking inspiration from the site's rich cultural and historical heritage. The central courtyard design concept, the curving wooden facade lines, and the introduction of natural light and greenery create a welcoming and refreshing space that invites guests to immerse themselves in the surrounding culture and history.