A new ice cream shop on Thailand's Koh Phangan island has been designed to honor the site's natural history as a former coconut grove. Bamboosaurus Studio created Satimi.sook with an architectural approach that reinterprets the landscape through building design that seamlessly integrates with both the natural environment and local cultural traditions. The project demonstrates how small-scale commercial architecture can maintain ecological sensitivity while creating a distinctive sense of place.
The design concept draws directly from the geometry and rhythmic patterns of the coconut palm trees that previously occupied the site. Structural columns have been strategically positioned to align with the original locations where trees once stood, preserving the spatial rhythm that connects the new building to the site's ecological heritage. This thoughtful placement maintains the visual flow and natural cadence that characterized the former grove, creating continuity between the past and present use of the land.
The building features a low-gable roof inspired by traditional local vernacular architecture, specifically designed to respond to Thailand's tropical climate conditions. This roofing system effectively reduces wind pressure during intense monsoon seasons while simultaneously reinforcing the building's connection to regional architectural identity. The roof design serves both practical and cultural purposes, demonstrating how traditional building methods remain relevant in contemporary construction.
Bamboo serves as the defining architectural element throughout the project, appearing prominently in columns, partial wall systems, and intricate roof detailing. The material's natural texture and widespread local availability create both visual and material connections to the island's environment. To ensure long-term structural integrity in the challenging tropical climate, the bamboo elements are strategically combined with steel framing, cement board panels, insulated metal sheets, and glass blocks. This hybrid approach allows for efficient construction processes while providing enhanced resistance to humidity and severe weather exposure.
The interior structural system showcases an innovative fusion of materials, merging steel framework components with timber framing and overlapping wood cladding to establish a warm and cohesive interior environment. The street-facing facade incorporates a sophisticated composition of timber elements, bamboo grid systems, and glass blocks that mirror the vertical rhythm of nearby trees. This facade design introduces filtered natural light into the interior spaces while maintaining visual connections to the surrounding landscape.
Environmental considerations played a crucial role in the foundation design, with Bamboosaurus Studio selecting galvanized helical piles instead of conventional concrete foundations. This lightweight foundation system proves particularly well-suited to the island's sandy soil conditions, enabling rapid installation without generating vibration or requiring extensive excavation that could damage nearby tree root systems. The foundation approach minimizes disruption to the existing ecosystem while preserving the health of surrounding vegetation.
The sustainable foundation system offers additional environmental benefits through its potential for disassembly and reuse, significantly reducing construction waste and extending the building's overall sustainability lifecycle. This approach reflects growing awareness of construction's environmental impact and demonstrates practical solutions for reducing building-related waste in sensitive ecological areas.
Through its carefully considered structural rhythm, thoughtful material composition, and adaptive foundation systems, Satimi.sook exemplifies how contemporary commercial architecture can successfully engage with both landscape and cultural traditions. The project effectively translates the distinctive character of Koh Phangan's coconut groves into a built environment that prioritizes ecological responsibility, structural clarity, and authentic local identity while serving modern commercial needs.
