SCG D’COR COLLABORATED WITH A YOUNG GENERATION DESIGNER IN THE ‘SCG D’COR: UNIQUE THE SPACE’ PROJECT TO TRANSFORM A DETERIORATED URBAN SPACE IN CHODUK COMMUNITY INTO ‘CHODUK PLAYGROUND’ WHICH IS CONCEIVED FROM FIELDWORK AND SURVEYS, AND DESIGNED TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS
TEXT: PRATCHAYAPOL LERTWICHA
PHOTO: KETSIREE WONGWAN
(For Thai, press here)
It’s true that Bangkok has been at the top of many world’s best travel destination lists created by several news outlets. But Bangkok is also a city filled with many problems, all waiting to be solved. Among the issues is the city’s lack of public spaces for people to use for free.
In 2020, art4d, together with SCG D’COR, put together art4d x SCG D’COR: UNIQUE THE SPACE, the project that invited young generation designers to transform a deteriorated urban space in Choduk Community into a public space that welcomes everyone, from local residents to outsiders. Fieldwork and surveys were conducted, allowing members of the design teams to talk with the locals and use the obtained data for the development of their designs. The young designers were divided into two teams, each received guidance and participated in workshops facilitated by veteran architects, Vasu Virajsilp and Nattapol Panjasakunwong of VaSLab ARCHITECTURE, Manatspong Sanguanwuthirojana and Polsit Saeheng of Hypothesis, including the project’s allies, the Punmuang Group and we!park.
After the intensive workshop process and many brainstorming sessions, four design works were conceived, before the construction kicked off in 2021. The first one is the Choduk Playground designed for the pupils in the area. The design uses a number of SCG D’COR’s products from SCG D’COR Line to SCG D’COR Rustic Board, which were chosen for their physical attributes that are ideal for outdoor usage with its ability to withstand sunlight and rain. The design’s curved lines creates a friendly, welcoming feel that invites both kids and grown-ups to use the space.
‘X-OVER (CROSSOVER)’ is the title of the next project. The winding ramps correspond with the playground’s landscape, encouraging users to use their imagination to interact with the space. The design links different activities occurring inside the space together with the structure that is built from SCG D’COR Line and SCG D’COR Modeena – M1. It’s a multi-functional decorative material that is primed and coated with wood dye product that ends up rendering highly realistic wooden surface that naturally blends the work’s presence to the surrounding green elements of trees and plants.
An activity ground should always be accompanied by a resting area. The design teams materializes the ‘SEATING’ located by Phaduing Krung Kasem Canal using SCG D’COR Modeena – M4, manifesting the material’s diverse applications that are adaptable to different types of functional space.
Last but not least is ‘BARRIER AND SEATING,’ a multi-functional set of furniture that works as tree planters, seating and a multipurpose table that can be used to accommodate various activities. The work uses SCG D’COR Modeena – M3 as the principal material for its simplistic yet dimensional attributes, which allow designers to experiment on many functional possibilities it offers.
Those who are planning to visit Bangkok Design Week 2022, stop by SCG D’COR: UNIQUE THE SPACE at Choduk Community in Talat Noi Sub district of Bangkok’s Sampantawong district for some photo op and be sure to check-in. Don’t forget to play around with the playground and have some fun with the local kids while you’re at it.
List of participants:
Team VaSLab
- Wongsakorn Jantawises
- Phennapa Tintamona
- Prapawit Intun
- Piyakorn Khemkheang
- Phattharaphon chantharabut
- Suradet Nutham
- Rachayapan Akkarabanchaleot
- Kevin Vibhavisanthat
- Atip Chumchuen
- Pongpol Puangniyom
Team Hypothesis
- Yolapath Ruchithamkul
- Tritip Chayasombat
- Phat Suwannasa
- Nathasuang Sangchan
- Aunyatorn Atinantananon
- Pattarasuda Chueakaew
- Pattamaphon Chombunmuang
- Thanyaporn Laohavejvanich
- Noppachai Kongto
- Tiwat Vanachayangkul
- Supreeya Pongsai
- Jarasravee Naracol
- Piyabut Wannarut
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Pongphak Sanguandeekul