DESIGNED BY TRIMODE STUDIO, A CANNABIS SHOP AND LIFESTYLE PRODUCT SHOP IN A CLOUD-LIKE ATMOSPHERE UTILISES THE EFFECT OF MIRROR, LIGHT AND CURVED WALL TO DEPICT PSYCHOACTIVE EFFECTS OF CANNABIS IN THE FORM OF PHYSICAL SPACE
TEXT: NATHANICH CHAIDEE
PHOTO: KETSIREE WONGWAN
(For Thai, press here)
In spite of the uncertainties surrounding the rules and regulations of cannabis use in Thailand, pro-weed advocates show no sign of deterring, as evidenced by the flourishing of shops selling weed-related products on major roads and in business districts in Bangkok and throughout the country. Among them is Happieland, a cannabis-focused brand founded by a team of designers and creatives led by Trimode Studio and Pongthep Anurat, an art director and jovial comedian. The brand seeks to bring the creative side and image of marijuana to the forefront in the form of a lifestyle brand and art space, as well as a destination for travelers who are interested in learning and having a better understanding of what marijuana is all about. As a brand, Happieland strives to shift people’s attitudes toward marijuana through its endeavor to present different and novel aspects of the plant. The space is part of the Creative Hub on Soi Chareonkrung 82, which is also home to the mystery cocktail bar VOIDBkk and the incense shop Copenn.
The design of Happieland is inspired by the psychoactive effects of cannabis, from profound introspection to experiencing a subliminal high. The transformation of abstract emotions reveals itself in the form of a physical space in the real world that can be enjoyed even without the influence of cannabis. As one enters the front door, appearing before the eyes are unending reflections of objects adorning the room. The soft white light diffuses the boundary between the ground floor and the space’s upper zone. The atmosphere is designed to make one feel as though they are floating in midair. After a little self-check that it’s actually solid ground underneath, the first sensation people will experience is the difficulty in pinpointing where things are or where they should be.
Trimode Studio designed the space to enhance every sensory experience. To accomplish this, they employed a variety of materials, techniques, approaches, and on-site experiences to create an environment that embraces one’s emotional sensations. The feeling of weightlessness, as well as the relaxing high induced by the chemicals released by human bodies while cannabis is in full effect, are transformed into a space that simulates human feelings and sensory experiences. The cylinder shape creates the feeling of being inside an endless space. The first challenge the design team came across was the beam that spans across the space. They handled that by designing a translucent ceiling with hidden illumination, transforming the beam into the focal point, providing infinite reflection when it comes into contact with the mirror.
The mirror that surrounds the space creates the feeling of being high above the ground. The designers got the idea to use mirrors in this particular way after seeing a bunch of mirror panels lined out at the construction site waiting to be installed. The impression they were striving for was the perspective created by the leaning angle. On the ground, the reflected image creates a reflection that causes the outer half of the space to appear lower, leading the inner section of the space to appear higher, giving individuals the illusion that they are above the ground they are standing on. The lighting mimics the natural light shed on clouds, while the upper portion of the area is illuminated by light passing through the translucent material. The facility is bordered by a curved wall, the perimeter of which includes an exhibition space, cashier counter, and product display area selling everything from cannabis extracts to lifestyle products. The mirror background unifies all of the elements into a single space.
Apart from creating an art space and destination for cannabis lovers, the design team’s intent to incorporate Thai characteristics into the project is also visible. It can be seen in the form of products from lifestyle brands whose gimmicks make people smile and the support of local enterprises, particularly the development of Thai cannabis species featured in the gallery space that tells the history of the plant and its special properties, as well as stories of local farmers.
Marijuana as defined by this art space is about attention to detail, creativity, and the space’s curated visceral and sensory experiences. Interesting, distinct characteristics of cannabis are reconciled into any imagined form, from design products to a lifestyle brand, without being bound to certain objects or descriptions. As proof of this belief, the space plans to come up with a new curatorial idea for each season in the future.
