GET TO KNOW THE STUDIO OF THE ‘ SON OF THE SOUTH ’ STORYTELLER WHO LOVES TO EXPLORE NEW CONCEPTS
TEXT: SOUTHSON DESIGN
PHOTO CREDIT AS NOTED
(For Thai, press here)
WHO
Southson Designs, an architecture firm.
WHAT
As a design studio, we aspire to tell stories and present them through architecture. As a design studio, we aspire to tell stories and present them through architecture.
WHEN
Kan Trichan (me) established the studio. In 2019, I returned to my hometown of Hat Yai, Songklha, and witnessed how the community where I grew up was losing its soul. I had this idea that, with my knowledge of interior architecture, I might be able to act a mechanism that might contribute to new creative developments through architecture. Southson basically refers to me, a southern kid, son of the south.
SWENSEN’S Hatyai Village | Photo: Wittaya Panitkun
WHERE
We are based in Hat Yai, Songkhla (but we work on projects from everywhere).
WHY
Personally, I’ve always liked storytelling, whether in the form of films, television shows, or novels. By definition, architecture has the power to communicate stories through its physical, three-dimensional elements that everyone can see and experience.
Each project has a different brief, which allows me to think about and develop solutions or design methodologies to help a work tell a story in its own unique way. That, to me, is what makes design interesting and challenging.
SWENSEN’S Hatyai Village | Photo: Wittaya Panitkun
A storyteller through architecture, unconstrained by style or genre.
What is your inspiration and guiding principle for each creation?
Inspiration comes from the ability to try something new and different. Each project is like a blank slate, with everything starting from scratch—new concepts, new challenges. It’s like watching a movie where you don’t know how it will end. My role is to observe and try to figure out everything as I go.
GOM Café | Photo: Wittaya Panitkun
I’m proud of all the projects I’ve completed because they are my works. As I learn about the nature of the work and my own profession, I consider the sense of pride a profit I made.
GOM Café | Photo: Wittaya Panitkun
Which of your projects is your favorite in terms of color use?
If we’re talking about colors, I guess Project: Cattago at The Commons Thonglor comes to mind. It’s the smallest project I’ve worked on so far, but it features a wonderful colorful palette with color blocking of orange and blue as well as a gradual progression of shades.
CATTAGO The Commons Thonglor | Photo: Southson design
What is your favorite part of the whole process?
When the brief is given and I am required to explore the concept. It’s because I never know what the ultimate result will be like. Simply put, I don’t have a definitive image of what the final product will be, but I’d rather let the brief guide me to the outcome.
CATTAGO The Commons Thonglor | Photo: Southson design
CATTAGO The Commons Thonglor | Photo: Southson design
If you could invite a ‘creative’ to coffee, who would you invite and why?
The late Ricado Bofill. Maybe it’ll be more of a fantasy coffee date. I’ve always liked his work and have bought many of his books. I’m curious about the ideas that went into his art and how he came up with them. His creations have incredible strength and unique ways of communicating with people.
GOM Café | Photo: Wittaya Panitkun