Photo courtesy of Trimode Studio SELECTED FROM THE POOLS OF GROUNDBREAKING INTERIOR DESIGN PROJECTS OF HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, CAFÉS, RETAILS, AND CO-WORKING SPACES FROM THAILAND’S TOP DESIGN STUDIOS, THE FOUR WINNERS OF THE 2022’S DEMARK INTERIOR DESIGN CATEGORY ARE FINALLY ANNOUNCED. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WINNERS IN THE ARTICLE
TEXT: PRATARN TEERATADA
PHOTO CREDIT AS NOTED
(For Thai, press here)
As it turns out, the four winners of 2022’s DEmark Interior Design category, selected from hotels, restaurants, cafés, retail projects, and co-working spaces, are all works by Thailand’s top design studios.
Starting with Bangna’s NANA Coffee Roasters, the café chain known for its exceptional quality specialty coffee and their beautifully stunningly designed cafés where each branch never fails to become the buzz of the neighborhood. IDIN Architects is the design team behind the design of the brand’s most recent branch in Bangna. The interpretation of the anti-architecture concept reveals itself in the form of a one-story, white structure nestled in a verdant garden, with a design that weaves together the three tales of architecture, landscape, and a coffee space into a beautiful narrative. The project presents itself as both a cafe and a museum, telling the history of coffee as one of the most lucrative businesses in existence today.
Photo: Ketsiree Wongwan
Trimode Studio operates and designed the café, Tangible, another winning project this year. The renovation of the ground floor of the studio’s office building on Tok Road creates a multifunctional space rich in experimental material application, spatial manipulation, and atmosphere. Possibly due to their role as owners of their own project, the design team is not bound by any restrictions, making all ideas possible during the design and construction processes. The highlight of Tangible is the bar, which the design team describes as “a definition of an existing object and the possibilities of what that object can become.”
Photo courtesy of Trimode Studio
The third project by Korakot International is the restaurant “Kaomai Plamun,” a large-scale bamboo sculpture that encapsulates Korakot Aromdee’s design signature. The project brought together artisans and professionals, including the seine makers, boat builders, chefs, wait staff, the owner, and the design team, in productive collaboration. The process as a whole inspires everyone to appreciate the values of their hometown and local culture. Korakot utilizes the physical properties of bamboo in the design and construction, resulting in a building with curved lines and a silhouette resembling a bow, as well as a reception area that serves multiple purposes. One of the greatest merits of the project is how the designer pays special attention to the environmental impacts the establishment may have on the surrounding area, resulting in a wastewater treatment system that treats wastewater before releasing it into public waterways.
Photo courtesy of Korakot International
Photo courtesy of Korakot International
Last but not least, is pbm’s SOCO WORK. This office space for rent and co-working space facility is distinguished by its unique personality. The design takes inspiration from the condiment set commonly found in local noodle shops, which reflects Thai people’s habit of seasoning their own individual dishes. The concept gives birth to a co-working space with five themed office spaces, each representing a different personality. The project is relatively small in comparison to pbm’s other well-known works, but it is filled with high quality and incredible spirit, not to mention the design, which is stylishly contemporary. Props to pbm who deserve credit for coming up with the themes and executing them flawlessly, resulting in work that no doubt satisfies both the owner and the users.
Photo: W Workspace
Despite the fact that there are only four winning projects in the 2022 Interior Design Category of DEmark, they are all of the highest quality. A huge congratulations is in order for the four design teams and their respective owners. It’s apparent now that the key to the continued success of the design industry is a mutual understanding between all parties involved. In the future, we’re confident that there will be more investors who are willing to take risks on unconventional and exciting ideas, as more designers demonstrate that creative ideas can bring tremendous value to a business.