A couple weeks ago, a friend invited me to Kalm Village for a coffee. He knows I’m an architect and said I would really love the space and the design of the place.
I, however, remained skeptical.
The words “coffee shop” and “Chiang Mai” are used so ubiquitously in this city.
It feels like every week a new “the-most-instragrammable-coffee-shop” opens with predictable elements:
A modernist building made of concrete.
Set it into lush gardens.
Add some ferns, some orchids, lots of palms…maybe a water feature with some koi fish….
And there we have it! The formula to opening a Chiang Mai coffee shop.
To my surprise, the coffee shop at Kalm Village is not that.
Actually, to quote an online article from Conde Nast Traveller, Kalm Village is “a craft-focused concept store, gallery, and community space in the moated Old City.”
For newbies to Chiang Mai, this city’s suburbs sprawls along the Ping River between mountain ranges; however, the Old City itself is only 1.5 square kilometers, and used to be fortified. It is still surrounded by a moat, and remnants of an ancient 13th century wall and gates.
Kalm Village rests sympathetically within this ancient urban fabric.
The coffee shop on the ground floor has an open relaxed feel. I met my friend inside, and after ordering a hot latte, we decided to explore.
Above the coffee shop is a co-working space, with wooden shelves filled with books, magazines, and artwork. Warm tapestries hang on walls. Plush area rugs over hardwood floors soften the muffled sounds of pages turning and key boards tapping.
A wall of glass lets in natural light and provides amazing views of the Old City.
I felt like I was walking into someone’s special private library.
The best part was that I could order a coffee downstairs, take my shoes off (which is mandatory), and walk upstairs to my cozy inviting workspace.
A perfect home away from home.
Moving out from the library are a number of galleries.
One of these showcases Kalm’s permanent collection of archived textiles and jewelry from Asia, and in particular, northern Thailand.
Richly woven textiles hanging from the rafters gallery cocoon the space and create a sense of intimacy with the objects on display in antiqued cases.
We strolled along the upper walkways into the other galleries which, at the time of my visit, were hosting ceramic exhibitions by local Thai artists.
Personally, one of the highlights of Kalm Village has to be the glass pavilion It’s an outdoor space with a soaring gabled roof constructed from glazed roof panels instead of the customary ceramic tiles. I love the use of glass; not only does it connect the user with the sky but also, the clever use of this modern material in a Thai vernacular design perfectly connects the past to the present.
Luckily for us, we were there on a Sunday, and a few people were starting to enter the pavilion. Tucked under each of their arms was a yoga mat. Later, we found out that every Sunday, Kalm Village hosts a yoga class, open for anyone who wants to drop in and join.
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Kalm Village. The art and the architecture inspired me. Who would have thought that a simple coffee catch up would reveal such a hidden gem? I have made an appointment with myself to return, to settle in for an afternoon of remote work, coffee, a little lunch, and lots more exploring.
Who knows, I may even bring my yoga mat next time.
by Andy Moy
Andy graduated with a Bachelor of Environmental Design and a Masters in Architecture from Dalhousie University after receiving his Bachelor of Arts from University of British Columbia. Andy has worked internationally as an architect and designer in places such as London, Chicago, Vancouver, and Thailand.