Little Stove & Little Stump: The perfect place to relax, explore, and create lasting memories
Little Stove & Little Stump, a thoughtfully designed coffee shop and playground by NITAPROW, offers a unique experience in the outskirts of Bangkok. Nestled on a 4,600 sqm plot beside a tranquil canal, the site is accessible via an alley historically known as ‘Soi Wat Yai Rom,’ with the word “Rom” symbolizing both an umbrella and a sheltered space. This dual meaning serves as the foundation for the design concept, seamlessly integrating protection and openness to nature.
The compound features a coffee shop and a playground, connected by a shared drop-off zone, a spacious 38-car parking area, and a standalone restroom cabin. Designed in parallel with the children’s book The Stump and Friends, published by Saanaksorn and illustrated by Littleblackoz Studio, the space fosters a blend of reality and imagination, allowing children to engage, explore, and learn through play.
The coffee shop, Little Stove, is a structural embodiment of an umbrella’s abstract form. Its sweeping curved roofline extends from the exterior canopy into the ceiling, creating a continuous design language. Floor-to-ceiling glass facades open the space to natural light and the serene outdoor setting.
The outdoor seating area wraps around the rear corner, shaded by a four-meter canopy, inviting guests to relax under the vast sky while overlooking the waterway and a majestic banyan tree. A distinctive elliptical skylight punctuates the curved ceiling, allowing soft daylight to cascade down the hand-drawn layered terrazzo wall, enhancing the warm and inviting interior. The central display counter is strategically aligned with three glass facades, ensuring an open view of both indoor and outdoor seating areas.
Little Stump, the playground, brings a storybook vision to life, drawing inspiration from a hollow tree stump—an organic refuge for woodland creatures. Its architectural concept mirrors the book’s narrative, emphasizing community and collaboration in building a shelter.
A central courtyard, anchored by a symbolic tree, unites three main spaces: a reception area, a workshop room, and a playroom. These interconnected spaces enable children to run freely while remaining within view of their parents. Playful design elements, such as tree trunk-shaped columns and hollowed-out window openings, reinforce the theme of natural exploration.
Child-sized furniture and details cater specifically to young visitors, encouraging hands-on learning and creativity. Through sensory engagement and boundless imagination, the playground becomes a nurturing environment where children can grow, discover, and connect with nature.
All images courtesy of Nitaprow, shared with permission
