Little Shelter Hotel / Department Of Architecture

Architects: Department of Architecture
Area: 890 m²
Year: 2019
Photographs: W Workspace Company Limited
Manufacturers: Danpal, DVP
Lead Architects: Amata Luphaiboon, Twitee Vajrabhaya Teparkum
Lighting: Accent Studio
Landscape: Department of ARCHITECTURE Co.Ltd.
Interior: Department of ARCHITECTURE Co.Ltd.
Engineering: NEXT Engineering Design Co.Ltd
Consultants: NEXT Engineering Design Co.Ltd
Products used in this Project: Façade Systems Danpal® by Danpal
Design Team: Adhithep Leewananthawet, Pitchaya Poonsin, Tanadeth Mahapolsirikun, Supavit Junsompitsiri, Yada Pianpanit, Apisara Lertrattanakit
Clients: Little Shelter Co.Ltd
City: Chiang Mai
Country: Thailand

Little Shelter is a contemporary hotel designed by the Department of Architecture, located in Chiang Mai that harmoniously blends traditional local elements with modern design. Paying homage to the city’s historic wooden structures and shingle-roofed architecture, the hotel features an innovative reinterpretation of the traditional hip roof. This asymmetrical roof design integrates a deck on the west side, allowing guests to enjoy panoramic river views at sunset. The use of wood shingles on both the roof and side walls ties back to local building traditions, while polycarbonate sheets create a translucent facade on the riverside that sparkles in sunlight and transforms the building into a glowing lantern at night. Inside, the guest rooms’ reflective ceilings display iconic scenes of Chiang Mai, enhancing the thematic and visual connection to the city’s cultural heritage.

Little Shelter Hotel / Department of Architecture

The design preserves the local architectural character by using the traditional material of wood shingles. What makes this material particularly fascinating is the system that has been refined over hundreds of years. The small wood shingles are arranged like fish scales, creating a watertight architectural surface.

The design explores the possibility of integrating new materials into the traditional system to create a contemporary architectural surface while remaining deeply rooted in tradition. Wood shingles are used on the roof and side walls, while on the river facade, polycarbonate sheets are cut to the same size as the shingles and assembled to form a translucent architectural facade.

On the entrance façade, the upper section consists of solid wood shingles, which gradually transition into polycarbonate shingles on the lower part. Despite adhering to the traditional shingle system, the design achieves an uninterrupted translucent surface through the use of specially designed translucent studs and transparent screws.

The facade shimmers in the sunlight as the light interacts with the different material grains, from the solid wood shingles to the varying translucency of the polycarbonate shingles. As light passes through, it creates diverse interior atmospheres that shift with the changing sky. At night, illuminated from within, the building transforms into a glowing lantern on the riverbank, resembling a piece of craftwork more than a traditional structure.

The public area interior mirrors the exterior’s simplicity, offering a gallery-like atmosphere that showcases site-specific installations inspired by the famous Boh–Srang umbrella. These installations create delicate and dramatic silhouettes, providing a contemporary interpretation of local handicrafts.

The guest room interiors offer a chance to rediscover Chiang Mai from a completely new perspective—literally. The ceilings are adorned with images of significant Chiang Mai landmarks and events, such as the ancient city wall, the floating lantern festival, pine forests, and Pah-Chor Canyon.

The images are infinitely reflected on the two long walls clad in small mirror shingles, creating a surreal, borderless sensation. Each of the fourteen guest rooms features a different set of images, evoking a unique atmosphere—whether tranquil, playful, cultured, or mysterious—catering to the diverse preferences of the guests.