Monday, July 26, 2010

cafe by the river

This concept sketch is for a small cafe by the Rejang river in Sibu; the focus of which are two decades-old rain trees. The building was designed as a series of structures, seemingly suspended from the branches of the trees; transient and impermanent. And yet with enough presence to address the street and the river. Last year, this little building was awarded a Prize by the National Architect's Institute - we felt like the proud father of a child protege playing his first piano recital. But in reality, architects cannot be real parents for long; we hand over our 'children' to their foster parents - the clients - and wish for the best. 

This year, the client has completed the total destruction of the building's original intent through a series of additions. Apparently these were done to improve the business of this little cafe. The most damaging is the roofing over of the open-to-sky terrace on the first floor; shutting off the view of the sky and the trees' canopy. This used to be the only part of the buiulding where one could truly sit under the trees and listen to the wind conversing. 

The owner chose to open several other doors along the street front to induce customers to walk in - thus compromising the building's mystique and privacy. 
Of course architecture was not the cause of the poor business, the source of which lies in the kitchen. But architecture is a physical product, which makes it an easy choice for a scapegoat. 

NOTE: These photos show the building before the client's renovation

2 comments:

  1. Hello there,
    I stumbled onto your blog from another chap's, just want to say thank you for doing this little number, i thought it was the only building in Sibu worth looking at. I must say, having returned recently, i thought everything's gone to hell here.

    Was it a difficult one to build ? I'd be surprised if our local contractor's up for this kind of craft?

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  2. Yes you are right, the business' gone to shit because of the rubbish food they serve, when will they learn.......

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