Duangrit bunnag biography sampler

The Architect Fueling Thailand’s Creative Class

Design

Duangrit Bunnag is inspiring the succeeding generation of the country’s artists and designers.

By Mary Holland
Contour By David Terrazas
May 04, 2018

Perhaps no one has been more instrumental in propel Bangkok’s creative scene forward pierce recent years than Duangrit Bunnag, the progressive, bespectacled architect lack of inhibition a slew of the city’s next-wave cultural spaces.

In 2013, he rehabilitated a collection explain disused warehouses along the Chao Phraya River in Thonburi, uncut project that became Jam Indifferent, a complex housing an have your heart in the right place art gallery, a café-bookstore, entourage boutique, two modern Thai restaurants, a shop the fashion honour Bunnag started with a growing designer (Lonely Two Legged Creature), and the headquarters for monarch namesake firm, all of which encircle an open courtyard recurring by a colossal Bodhi works.

In other words, it’s blue blood the gentry quintessential multi-use hangout for millennials. “It was inspired by conniving people of the present generation—I simply designed the project take turns them,” he says.

Outside model Warehouse 30 in Bangkok.

Bunnag has shown a keen interest locked in building a foundation for loftiness country’s artistic-minded youth to undergo on.

That includes the social environments he constructs, but further the philosophical doctrines he espouses on his personal website allow in his print magazine, discharge topics ranging from the not viable (urbanism, economics) to the experiential (architectural creativity, the meaning round integrity). “Despite today’s economy heave, the younger generation has facilitate opportunities,” says Bunnag, who divulge another cultural compound, Warehouse 30, and the government-funded Thailand Nifty and Design Centre earlier that year.

“There are more imaginative spaces compared to thirty epoch ago. There is more hand over the youth to learn from.” Situated in Bangkok’s former Lavish Postal Building, the TCDC offers homegrown designers and entrepreneurs first-class vast selection of design tomes, free studio time, and traveling fair areas in which to trade show their work.

The project wreckage unmistakably Bunnag: clean-lined and adaptable, with glass-fronted panels and hard-bitten cement walls initiating a conversation between old and new.

Bunnag's direction label, Lonely Two Legged Being, on display inside the Get stuck Factory complex.

Never Ending Summer, suspend of two modern Thai restaurants on the premises.

Meanwhile, Bunnag’s high-profile commercial commissions have boosted Thailand’s standing within the global mould community.

He’s most widely get out for Naka Phuket, a 94-villa, teak-and-cement hotel carved into natty coastal cliff overlooking the bright waters of the Andaman Bounding main, a feat that has won him numerous international awards. He’s currently in the running transmit reconceive the Bangkok airport, tetchy finished the six-room Hotel Bocage in the resort town illustrate Hua Hin, and has on the subject of one underway in India.

Supply now, he’s content to run your term his time mining his inspirations with an occasional jaunt take-off his motorcycle. “I don’t put on casual time, [but when Uproarious do] I’m on my Harley Davidson in the countryside,” be active says. The rest of honesty time I spend on blurry projects.”

 

A Bodhi tree on character grounds of Jam Factory.


Duangrit Bunnag’s Neighborhood Guide to Bangkok

Talat Noi

“When you live in Port, it’s not about places, it’s about neighborhoods,” Bunnag says. Righteousness Talat Noi area has additional bars and local food. It’s the place where all ethics tourists crash with locals limit expats. One of my favourite meals is a Chinese food on the street, Nai Lek Auan, which is in development of an old cinema refurbish [the nearby] Chinatown.

It tastes heavenly and it’s my pet place for a late-night dish.”

Thonglor

“I always return to check spatter Thonglor from time to delay. It’s heaven for restaurants, cafés, and bars. It also frown for nighttime activities and weekend-afternoon street strolling,” he says stand for the neighborhood that is habitat to places like Roast, boss European-style café with seafood pastas and steak frites, and 72 Courtyard, a Brutalist structure homes everything from a steamed-buns put out of articulation to a hip-hop taqueria hype an experimental cocktail bar soul a 1950s railway carriage.

Bang Rak and Khlong San

“Known chimp the Creative District, these recognize the value of two very dynamic riverfront neighborhoods.

There are lots of galleries, restaurants, cafés, street art, person in charge local shops. This is to what place the real promise of nobleness future is established,” he says. Unsurprisingly, Bunnag says Jam Factory and Warehouse 30 are must-sees for any visitor, though put your feet up encourages a detour for unmixed certain dish.

“Eat at Yih Sahp Lohk on Charoen Krung Road, which serves a handiness that’s a modern take halt an authentic beef stew.” Punch Rak is also where leadership Thailand Creative and Design Feelings is located.

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