FIND OUT ABOUT THE CONCEPTION AND THE IDEA BEHIND THE DESIGN OF ‘DOC CLUB & PUB.’, A CINEMA/SPACE SPECIFICALLY CURATED FOR EVERYONE WHO LOVES FILM WITH SUPARP RIMTHEPARTHIP, ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF DOCUMENTARY CLUB AND RACHAPORN CHOOCHUEY, AN ARCHITECT FROM ALL(ZONE)
TEXT: PRATCHAYAPOL LERTWICHA
PHOTO: KETSIREE WONGWAN
(For Thai, press here)
Thai cinephiles are probably already familiar with Documentary Club through their distribution and screening of alternative, independent films from around the world. Their latest move, Doc Club & Pub., brings a great deal of excitement to a lot of the film buffs. Designed with the intention to be a cinema/space specifically curated for everyone who loves film, this new establishment is situated on the second floor of WOOF PACK building in Bangkok’s Saladaeng quarter.
Before the conception of Doc Club & Pub., Suparp Rimtheparthip, one of the founders of Documentary Club, told us that they actually opened a screening space at Warehouse 30, which also included activities such as talks and post-screening discussions. Nevertheless, Suparp said that the space at Warehouse 30 wasn’t exactly ideal for screenings due to many limitations and uncontrollable factors such as light and sound, which ended up affecting viewing experiences.
Even after the screening space at Warehouse 30 came to an end, their eagerness to open a screening and activity space remained. When the opportunity came, the team behind Documentary Club began scouting for a place where they could operate their new theater. The team was later contacted by BKKSR (Bangkok Screening Room) to take over their old space, which ceased its operation after the founders’ decision to close down. Documentary Club agreed without hesitation since the space is designed specifically for film screening, not to mention all the tools and equipment that came with the place that they could conveniently use. After pitching in many ideas for the project’s name, the team members finally agreed on Doc Club & Pub., a moniker that all(zone), the architecture office assigned for the renovation, helped to come up with.
In terms of space renovation, Rachaporn Choochuey, an architect from all(zone), shared the design brief with us, which basically revolved around how to, within the limited budget, achieve the revamp of BKKSR’s space and its rather serious mood designed mainly for night-time operation, into a friendlier space that is suitable for different types of activity such as talks, working or hanging out during the day, following the requirements from Doc Club & Pubs. team.
While the layout is fairly similar to the original, not to mention that most of the equipment are the same ones that BKKSR left behind, the architect transformed the space in front of the establishment into a hang out space that is open during the daytime. Expanded metal panels installed at the windows delicately filter the natural light to have a softer effect (the expanded metal is also the space where they hang posters). The area is decorated with metallic materials that tone down the grimness of the space. Additionally, few adjustments were made to the height of the furniture such as the marble table, which came with the place, turning the piece into a working table that visitors can use and share.
The most eye-catching element is the green column. The architect explains that it was Documentary Club’s specific request to her to include it in the space because it’s their good luck color. Not too far sits an arched bookshelf, which functions as the screening room’s entrance. The architect chooses blue for this particular shelf in order for the color to function as a neutral tone that links the marble table, the navy blue sofa, the wooden chairs and the green of the column together into one connected story. For the interiors of the screening room, the major renovation only involved the removal of one side of the faux columns to facilitate better access to the fire exit and keep the interior more spacious.
With consideration to the project’s limited budget, Rachaporn said that one of the reasons why all(zone) decided to keep the original furniture and space as much as possible comes from the intention to minimize the amount of construction waste the project would bring. “Dismantling creates a lot of waste so if there are objects we can still use, I want to use them. We don’t know where this massive amount of construction waste would end up, especially in Thailand where there really aren’t many strong law enforcements or regulations when it comes to waste management despite the fact that this kind of problem is destroying the world.”
After the government has begun to lift the coronavirus lockdown measures, and theaters are gradually opening, we hope to see more people stopping by this space. Not only to enjoy the films, the food and the drinks but to cherish the conversations that take place along the way.