Onion builds a huge material library and co-working space for designers in Bangkok
2020.04.11
Design studio, Onion, was commissioned by a Thai builders’ merchant to create a new material library and co-working space in Bangkok. Offering a free-of-charge place for young designers, suppliers and the general public, ‘workspace’ covers a huge area of 1100 m2 (11,840 ft2) over three storys.
The client, Boonthavorn, is one of Thailand’s most well-known building material retailers. The family-run business has expanded since its inception in 1977 and now boasts branches nationwide. The philosophy of the company focuses not just on high-quality materials and customer service, but also on showcasing products in a way which facilitates consumers to make the correct selection.
The brief for onion was to create a space that assists young designers who cannot access material libraries in an office. The program therefore provides a place where they can work and hold meetings with suppliers, all the while having the material samples close to hand. The brief also stipulated that the displayed materials should be both affordable and practical to Thailand, as opposed to innovative materials that are too expensive to import.
The scheme is divided into four material display systems categorized by zones. The main zone holds the co-working space, and is located next to a café and outdoor terrace with greenery and seating. Beginning from the ground floor level, the material library and working spaces are stacked upwards into mezzanines, which recess back to increase the visual connection throughout the entire volume.
The main zone holds architectural material samples in modular shelves, 0.60 cubic meter per unit, and the display system of inserting glass samples. Designers can see, touch and read the details concerning manufacturer of these materials. The modular shelving system starts from the main floor (2nd floor) onwards until it reaches the ceiling of 3-storey space (4.5th floor).
On the third floor, the co-working space becomes more private. The seating area is surrounded by hanging material samples such as carpets, curtains and wallpapers. It has two 6-seat-meeting room and one 12-seat-meeting room which can be booked for a more formal occasion such as design presentations.
On the fourth floor, behind the modular shelves is the laminate samples display room. It is large enough to showcase laminate samples, A5 size, in various colours that cover the entire walls, so all of them can be seen in one glance.
Overall, workspace is a public place for supporting customers’ information, helping young designers to finish design tasks in limited time and present their works to the clients properly. Possibilities of design, in practical sense, exist in parallel with the material samples on display.
*** Author: Siriyot
*** Source: https://bre.is/PBkMfDCF
*** Source of Pics: Onion
