studio thinking
8 min read
Shop Drawings vs Construction Drawings: Who Draws What in a Restaurant Fit-Out
Shop drawings show how a contractor will build what the design drawings ask for. Who makes them, who checks them, and what a restaurant fit-out needs.
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8 min read
Paving Design for Pedestrian Lanes and Restaurant Terraces in Thailand: Slip Resistance, Monsoon Rain and Heat
Paving design for tropical lanes and restaurant terraces: slip resistance when wet, drainage falls for monsoon rain, rigid vs sand laying and surface heat.
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9 min read
Thatched Roof in Hospitality Design: Natural vs Synthetic Thatch for Resorts and Beach Clubs in Thailand
A thatched roof sets the mood of a resort or beach club. Natural vs synthetic thatch in Thailand: lifespan, roof pitch, fire claims and when to choose each.
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9 min read
Restaurant Seating Layout: Why Every Guest Wants the Same Table, and How to Design More of Them
Restaurant seating layout decides which tables guests ask for. Why the wall and the view win, what Cornell research found, and how to plan more good seats.
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9 min read
Punch List Before Opening: How a Café Fit-Out Is Snagged in the Final Stretch
A punch list is the list of what still has to be fixed before a fit-out is handed over. What goes on it, how Thai law treats it, with SATI Ao Nang as the case.
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8 min read
Ice Cream Shop Design: Planning a Small Gelato Café Around the Display Case and One Strong Object
Ice cream shop design starts at the display case: where it sits, how cold it runs, what it needs in Bangkok heat. The 90 sqm La Dolce Vita café as case study.
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8 min read
Design-Build vs Design-Bid-Build: Where “Not in My Scope” Costs a Restaurant or Hotel Owner
Design-build puts design and construction under one team; design-bid-build splits them. Where scope gaps open in a hospitality fit-out, and who owns them.
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7 min read
Restaurant Layout Design: Draw the Guest Route Before You Choose a Single Finish
Restaurant layout design starts with the route a guest walks: entrance, first stop, seat, next room. What each stop must do, and why it comes before finishes.
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7 min read
Restaurant and Hotel Refurbishment: Designing on Day One for the Refit in Year Five
A restaurant or hotel refurbishment costs less when day one plans for it. Which layers last, which get replaced, and three tests every brief should pass.
Read ArticleRestaurant Interior Design in Bangkok: Plaster, Brick and Reclaimed Timber That Age on Purpose
Restaurant interior design in Bangkok and Phuket works best with materials that age well: distressed plaster, reclaimed brick, old timber and exposed concrete. Three UNFORMALDESIGN examples.
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