Techo Vayo Restaurant & Rooftop Bar by Sixseven Studio: A Dialogue of Fire and Wind in Ao Nang, Thailand

Located in the heart of Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand, Techo Vayo Restaurant by Sixseven Studio is a masterful exploration of culinary experience, architectural storytelling, and sensory engagement. Spanning 300 m², the 2023 project merges two distinct yet interconnected venues: Techo, a casual Thai restaurant, and Vayo, a rooftop bar, creating a seamless dialogue between dining, ambiance, and environment.

Concept: Fire Meets Wind

The name “Techo Vayo” derives from Sanskrit, translating to Fire and Wind, a concept that inspired the spatial and material narrative. The owner and chef’s brief emphasized authenticity in Thai cuisine, particularly highlighting a charcoal grill as a centerpiece. The design transforms this culinary process into a theatrical experience, allowing diners to witness grilling techniques up close.

Restaurant, Techo

Positioned on Ao Nang’s bustling main street, Techo is conceived as a culinary theater. The layout strategically places the grill station adjacent to the sidewalk, recessed within the building facade, which forms an inviting patio that interacts dynamically with the street life. This creates a visual and social connection between the diners and the neighborhood, encouraging curiosity and engagement.

Natural, cost-efficient materials such as stone, terrazzo, wood, and terracotta brick dominate the interior. A monochromatic rust terracotta tile floor extends through the first floor, setting the stage for the restaurant’s warm and earthy ambiance. Varied tile sizes and textured colored cement walls define seating areas, providing both comfort and visual richness.

Lighting is a critical design element: pendant fixtures, inspired by skewered grilled dishes, enhance the gradation of textures and highlight the warmth of the terracotta tones, creating a harmonious interplay of light, fire, and materiality.

Rooftop Bar, Vayo

The Vayo rooftop bar offers a contrasting yet complementary experience, overlooking the street leading to Ao Nang’s iconic beach. Designed as an unwind space, it serves signature cocktails in an airy, open setting. Despite its separate entrance, the overhanging balcony visually connects both restaurant and bar, reinforcing the cohesive narrative of fire and wind.

A standout feature is the undulating fabric roof, which captures the sea breeze and diffuses evening sunlight, casting soft, dynamic shadows across the space. The gradual transition of color from rust orange on the ground floor to lighter sunset tones on the rooftop evokes the shifting sky at sunset, symbolizing the conversation between fire and wind.

Material Palette and Sustainability

Sixseven Studio emphasizes simplicity, cost efficiency, and natural materials throughout the project. Stone, terrazzo, wood, and terracotta form the core palette, while glazed tiles and colored cement walls introduce texture and depth. The design approach respects both aesthetic and environmental considerations, creating a sustainable yet visually striking hospitality environment.

Experiential Journey

From the sidewalk-facing Techo restaurant to the breezy Vayo rooftop bar, the project narrates a visual and sensory journey. The gradation of color, texture, and light guides visitors through a cohesive experience, reflecting the owner’s passion for authentic Thai cuisine and Sixseven Studio’s meticulous attention to materiality and spatial storytelling.

All photographs are works of  Thanapol Jongsiripipat