PINNED PLACE: THAILAND 2025 | EP.1

TAKE A GLIMPSE AT art4d PINNED PLACE, AN EVENT FOR DESIGN ENTHUSIASTS WHICH RETURNS IN 2025. THIS TIME, WE’RE TAKING OUR GUESTS ON A JOURNEY OF THAI DESIGN, FROM ARCHITECTURE, LANDMARKS, AND COMMUNITY MALLS TO THE LATEST MIXED-USE PROJECTS

TEXT & PHOTO: NATHATAI TANGCHADAKORN

(For Thai, press here)

After journeys through Taiwan and a deep dive into Korea, it was time for art4d PINNED PLACE to circle back to Thailand. This time, an invitation was extended to a select group of international guests to experience the country on the first tour of 2025, held on September 8–9. art4d curated a rich itinerary, filling it with landmark sites, community malls, and the latest mixed-use developments.

In collaboration with CURRENT-NEWSWIRE, the first day began at Noble TERRA Rama 9–Ekkamai, a single-detached housing project designed by Anonym Studio. We were warmly welcomed by the venue manager and treated to an engaging lecture during a guided tour of the project’s homes and clubhouse, delivered by Panduangjai Rujjanawate, one of Anonym Studio’s founders and partners. Lunch followed at Pavilion Restaurant in the Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel, whose interiors were beautifully crafted by André Fu Studio, based in Hong Kong.

Naturally, a visit to Dusit Thani Bangkok would feel incomplete without a stop at One Bangkok. Here, the group was guided by the project’s curatorial team along an art and culture route, pausing to explore works by artists such as Anish Kapoor, Tony Cragg, and Elmgreen & Dragset, while also taking in the development’s expansive green spaces. A highlight of the tour included stepping inside the replica of the historic Sala Daeng telegraph station. The day continued  at Aman Nai Lert, where Ratiwat Suwannatrai of OPENBOX, who collaborated with Jean-Michel Gathy on the project, shared insights into the design process. The day concluded at Arva, the hotel’s signature Italian restaurant.

Day two began with a visit to Bensley Outsider Gallery, stunning both in its architecture and in the works housed within. Inside, vibrant pieces filled every inch, from floor to ceiling, with some even suspended mid-air along the catwalk. Typically, Bensley Outsider Gallery welcomes visitors by appointment with an admission fee of 5,000 THB, with proceeds directed toward donation. Those interested can schedule a visit to experience it firsthand.

After a thorough and inspiring tour, but with appetites still stirring, lunch took the group to the 76th floor of King Power Mahanakhon, at Ojo, winner of the Hotel category at the 2023 Restaurant & Bar Design Awards. Before dining, the team from THE STANDARD guided us through the hotel’s facilities, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the spaces that define its celebrated design.

The afternoon program remained art-focused, beginning with Alexander Lamont, a furniture brand near Warehouse 30 that celebrates the allure of handcraftsmanship at every stage under the vision of its British designer. From there, the group headed to River City Bangkok, just a short distance away, to hear a talk from the founder of White Wall Gallery and enjoy an afternoon snack. The journey then stretched out on the road toward the mega-development The Forestias, a visionary project surrounded by expansive green spaces for wildlife and a diverse mix of residences and amenities crafted with human experience in mind. Welcomed by The Forestias team, we hopped on golf carts for a sweeping tour of the project, taking in its sidewalks, jogging paths, and natural landscapes, before exploring the design of the residential zones.

Though brief, this journey offered a wealth of compelling perspectives. Stay tuned for art4d PINNED PLACE: Thailand, the second edition of 2025, coming soon.