BAANPAT, a cafe and gathering space, sits beside a shrimp farm, carefully inserted beneath the existing tropical almond tree in the city of Rayong, Thailand.

The brief was simple: give life to an abandoned badminton court and its surroundings, turn it into a place where players and locals could gather, sit, and do nothing in particular.

The budget allowed for almost nothing. Walls are unpainted plastered brick, zigzagged in plan to prevent cracking and to catch the sun. The light creates a repeating shadow pattern, giving depth to the otherwise bare facade, an effect that can be achieved cheaply. The zigzagged pattern continues to the walls and ceiling inside, wrapping the space. A 10-meter-long gathering table of reclaimed wood and chicken-basket pendant lights furnish the interior.

At 75 square meters, the building is intentionally long and horizontal, hiding the unpleasant area behind from public view while forming a semi-enclosed space.

The old badminton court is given a new skin of reclaimed wood louvres, angled slightly open. During the day, light filters through. At night, light from the court glows out. Behind the louvres, a polycarbonate layer keeps wind and rain out while letting light pass.

The old structure and the new are in dialogue, same zigzag pattern, different material. Together they form the walls of the courtyard, completing the tree-shaded space.