Zabb E Lee cooking school teaches the art of Thai cooking to visitors from around the world.
In order to complement the local charm, Chiangmai Life Architects was commissioned to design and build the actual teaching pavilions made of locally acquired bamboo. A wise decision, as their charm, functionality, and Instagrammability proved to be a huge success with clients.
The location for the third bamboo pavilion was at the small end of the property, between a big tree and a little pond. The challenge was to incorporate the dead-end in an attractive way, and also to accommodate all the space necessary for teaching. The sala had to provide ample space for 10 food preparation stations, 10 cooking stations, and a big dining table.
The front would be visible from anywhere in the property, and the back would have to accommodate some views of the adjacent rice field. As a big tree on one side, and a pond on the other, reduced the available span, the architects designed the main body in a U-shape to increase the covered space. Then, letting creativity flow, a bull’s head with pointy horns emerged, resulting in a dynamic design that immediately attracts attention.
The upward-pointing horns create welcoming entrances that lead to two dome-like spaces connected by a longer space, thus creating three distinct areas for the three functions: preparation, cooking, and eating. The domes are based on crossing bamboo arches made of bundled bamboo rods. This design gives the interior space a bigger feel than the outside form would suggest. The natural colour and flowing lines create a warm and harmonious atmosphere, enhanced in the evening with well-positioned lighting.
As bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide during its growth, the carbon footprint is negative, which means more carbon was captured than set free.