BAAN KHUN MAE RESTAURANT
Category:
InteriorLOCATION:
MBK Center , Bangkok
YEAR:
2021
CONCEPT:
Originally established in Chiang Mai over 50 years ago before expanding to Siam Square, the restaurant carried with it a rich collection of historical furnishings and decorative objects carefully preserved by the owner over decades. During the relocation to the new branch within MBK Center, these original elements were carefully catalogued and reintroduced into the new interior as part of an upcycling strategy that reinforced the restaurant’s authenticity and emotional connection with long-time customers. The spatial design was divided into zones inspired by traditional Thai dining atmospheres, including an “Inner Court” concept enriched with tropical greenery to create freshness and comfort within the urban retail environment. ## Product and Service Baan Khun Mae Restaurant has served affordable traditional Thai cuisine for more than 30 years after relocating from Chiang Mai. The entrance features mural artwork depicting Thai and Lanna culinary traditions, complemented by live demonstrations of traditional Thai dessert making at the storefront, allowing the aroma of freshly prepared coconut sweets to naturally attract passersby. To enhance the multisensory dining experience, live *khim* (Thai dulcimer) performances were incorporated into the atmosphere. The overall spatial narrative reinterprets the spirit of “Baan Khun Mae” through the imagery of a traditional Thai veranda and courtyard, while antique lamps from the original restaurant were rehung throughout the space like glowing stars within a nighttime garden. ## Brand Imagery The project communicates warmth, friendliness, and the increasingly rare atmosphere of a truly traditional Thai family restaurant. Memories of the past are preserved through original decorative elements maintained from the old restaurant, including ceramic tableware, aged wooden panels bearing traces of long-term use, original timber tables and chairs, and carefully retained imperfections that embody authenticity and emotional value. The joyful sounds of customers dining together complete what may be described as a “sixth sense” of time and memory within the space. ## Brand Resonance For many people who grew up around the Siam and MBK districts, Baan Khun Mae remains part of their cultural memory — a place associated with warmth, familiarity, and comforting Thai flavors that continue to evoke a deep sense of nostalgia and belonging.