From waste materials to aesthetics, how Bangkok’s Early Yuyen Café turns the "circular economy" into everyday life

Early Yuyen is the second branch launched by Early BKK, two years after the opening of the original café in the Sammakorn community. It’s conveniently located in the peaceful Soi Yuyen in Bangkok, right next to My Paws Backyard dog park—and far from the city’s hustle and bustle.

 

 

 

It continues the brand’s consistent commitment to environmental sustainability, aiming to create a brand-new shared space for families and pet lovers. The project was inspired by a simple question: How far can circular design strategies go in a new café?

 

 

 

 

In terms of the design framework, Early BKK once again collaborates with Bangkok's Interior Architecture Design Studio: space+craft Collaborate by adopting a more comprehensive, holistic approach.

 

 

 

 

In the initial workshop, the team centered their approach on the circular economy, leveraging the "Butterfly Diagram" from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to guide their design. They adhered to the 4R principles—reduce, reuse, refurbish, and recycle—while placing particular emphasis on modular, disassemblable designs to ensure materials can be reused effectively over the long term.

 

 

 

 

At the "reduction" level, the design team made every effort to preserve the site's original structure and existing furniture, minimizing the consumption of new materials. The single-story building, originally used as a staff cafeteria, underwent renovation—during which some floor tiles were carefully saved for future use, while aluminum profiles were dismantled and recycled.

 

 

 

 

"Reuse" is reflected in the entrance and facade design. The café’s entrance seamlessly connects with the dog park gate, featuring recycled windows and door frames arranged in an interlocking pattern that creates a welcoming threshold for visitors.

 

 

 

 

The interior space leverages the shade provided by towering trees to create a semi-outdoor experience, while some of the windows were salvaged from a warehouse and seamlessly integrated into the design. Notably, one large, operable window has become a key architectural element of the facade—providing both natural ventilation and framing picturesque views of the surrounding landscape for those inside.

 

 

 

 

In terms of "recycling" and "modular design," the bar counter features a terrazzo countertop crafted from recycled glass bottles and fragments, seamlessly upholding the brand’s commitment to sustainability while delivering a distinctive tactile experience.

 

 

 

 

The walls and ceiling feature Reboard panels made from recycled milk cartons, creating partitions and a modular waffle-patterned suspended ceiling that can be easily dismantled for future use. Meanwhile, the exterior walls are clad with Ecobricks crafted from recycled plastic, highlighting the material’s circular value.

 

 

 

 

The "revitalization" strategy is reflected in the furniture. The design team collaborated with Athing, a studio specializing in recycled furniture, to give the existing dining chairs a fresh new look by reupholstering them with used clothing and canvas.

 

 

 

 

At the same time, movable benches made from recycled plastic bottle caps have been introduced to enhance the flexibility of the semi-outdoor space.

 

 

 

 

The entire space is dominated by earthy tones, with recycled roof tiles and floor tiles complemented by wooden window frames and furniture, creating a warm, natural ambiance.

 

 

 

 

Although Early Yuyen hasn’t yet achieved full circularity, this “early” exploration demonstrates how collaboration and systems thinking can pave the way for sustainable design.