From Rubber Factory to Minimal Café with a Hint of Japan
The Rubber(er) Coffee & Space is a minimalist café in Rayong that tells the story of the rubber industry —
a key part of the province’s identity — through honest materials and architecture.
Designed by SA-ARD architecture & construction,
the project transforms an old family rubber factory into a calm, detail-rich space that honors both craft and memory.
It serves not only as a café but also as a living archive of a generational business that spans plantations, processing, and drying facilities.
Situated along Route 4040, the 20-meter-long single-story structure reinterprets the form of the original rubber shed.
Over 80% of the materials are reused, rearranged with new proportions, and softened through details inspired by Japanese minimalism — reflecting the owner’s affection for 1980s Japanese culture.
“The owner loved classic Japanese manga like Ikkyu-san, so I brought that era’s architecture into the design —
the low-pitched roof, wide eaves, and paired roof tiles reminiscent of traditional Japanese homes.”
— Sithanon Cha-em, Architect
Material and Craftsmanship
The building’s walls are made from eco-blocks, a recycled lightweight material with natural grooves that form linear patterns.
By repeating these patterns, the façade and interior achieve a rhythm that feels both structured and subtle.
The blocks also act as thermal insulation, reducing energy use and construction complexity.
Inside, a cast-in-place concrete counter anchors the café, complemented by solid wood frames and furniture,
balancing strength with warmth.
A unique detail lies in how the walls are built without reinforced concrete posts —
instead, steel angles connect directly to the masonry,
allowing a seamless junction that celebrates the honesty of structure — a hallmark of SA-ARD’s design philosophy.
A Café that Preserves Memory
The rear semi-outdoor area features three antique manual rubber-press machines,
carefully preserved from the family’s original factory.
Above them, suspended raw rubber sheets sway with the wind,
creating a poetic installation that visually narrates the process of rubber making.
The result is more than a coffee shop —
it is a place of memory, bridging local heritage with contemporary sensibility,
and reaffirming that in Rayong, rubber remains as vital to the landscape as the region’s famed summer fruits.
SA-ARD Perspective
“We believe that architecture should reveal, not decorate.
The Rubber(er) stands as a quiet dialogue between craft, memory, and material —
where the beauty of simplicity is not added, but discovered.”