Step Inside Black Jade

Black Jade is a moody private bar tucked away inside Bangkok’s Opium Bar. Designer Kijtanes Kajornrattanadech of Taste Space shares more about the project

Design Anthology: What was the client’s brief for the project?

Kijtanes Kajornrattanadech: Due to its limited size (at only 17 square metres), the space couldn’t be used for dining and so the client decided to transform it into a private bar. The bar features an ultra-luxurious display of whiskey as well as a mini bar for private bar service. Customers can place orders to the main bar using a traditional phone, which adds to exclusivity of the experience. 

How did you approach the project — what design references or narrative did you try to incorporate into the space?

Black Jade sits within the Opium Bar, which is on the fourth and fifth floors of the famed POTONG restaurant building. We conducted research into the origins of the building and the owner’s business model, as well as the lifestyle patterns of customers. We then transformed those findings into a compelling story for an exclusive and intriguing concept for the bar.

We looked to Chinese decoration to harmonise with the old building and incorporated classic Chinese touches in the floor tiles and ceilings. There is a Chinese poem engraved on the timber wall, and we used dark green and black timber to represent the colour of black jade, with dark bronze accents. 

Images by Jinnawat Borihankijanan