2-Storey + 1 Mezzanine Learning Center with Library, Exhibition Space, Seminar Room and Office
Program : Learning Center / Library
Area : 1,500 sq.m.
Location : Songkhla, Thailand
Status : Competition-Finalist
Client : CEA (Creative Design Agency)
Project Team : Punpong Wiwatkul, Supachai Khiewngam, Narinrath Boonsawat, Narumol Charoencharatkun, Chutimon Bejrananda, Panthiwa Petchsimuang, Paweenrat Ranphon, Tanapon Limtawonsiripong, Suttahathai Niyomwas
Interior Design Team : Challika Vittayagul, Switt Akaramaneetrakul, Praeploy Klinmuanjun
Collaborator : Shma Co., Ltd., GEO Design & Engineering Consultant Co.,Ltd., SPC Design Co., Ltd.
“เรินเรา ลานเรา สร้างสรรค์ใต้"
มาลานเรา ดูหนัง ฟังเพลง และเทศกาล
มาชานเรา จิบน้ำชา และพูดคุยใต้ร่มไม้ชายคา
มาห้องนิทรรศเรา เยี่ยมชมงานสร้างสรรค์
มาห้องหนังสือเรา ค้นคว้าแลกเปลี่ยน เรียนรู้มากมาย
มาระเบียงเรา ทัศนาเมืองสวยงาม
มาเรินเรา สร้างสรรค์ปักษ์ใต้บ้านเรา
Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC) is a creative agency with a mission to inspire society with creativity throughout the process of learning and collaborating. With the site located in the old town area of Songkhla, TCDC Songkhla aims to provide a space for exchange, developing ideas, and increase community engagement.
The concept of TCDC Songkhla was to serve essential social experiences. Starting by creating a space that can tell the local history while also grow with the community, the architecture uses the design concept of “เรินเรา” (Rern-Rao). เรินเรา comes from a Southern Thai word means “Our home” – A home for all Southern people, a place that people can relate to and collecting the memories of people. A place that will be linking the Past to the Future through those memories.
The idea of creating a ‘home’ is distinctive not only to the memories and history of the city but also to create a familiar space using the idea of kopi-coffee culture. Kopi shop is a coffee shop full of conversation and discussion which can give the welcoming sense to the local people. It’s a real multicultural space that full with stories reflecting the diversity of Southern Thailand which express throughout the “ลานเรา” (Larn-Rao) or “Our gathering plaza”. Underneath the translucent roof with the sun rays passing through the trees, this gathering plaza also tells the story of being a multicultural area by using tiles from all Southern-Thai, Chinese, Muslim, and Western combine as one design.
As a response to the context of Songkhla city, the characteristic of the shophouse in Songkhla old town was purposed in the design. Developing from the mixture of culture, the design using the benefits of the deep-wide side of the shophouse, and planned as an activity space open up to Sai Buri road. Moreover, the façade facing the street side was created to bring out the local material in a creative way within the familiar space of the shophouse.
With all the creativity inspired by the richness of Southern Thailand culture, TCDC Songkhla will truly be the space of sharing, collaborating, and full of stories about the city. A place that people love, connect, and be the starting point of something new.