Central: The Original Store
Bangkok, Thailand
2020
Nestled in the heart of Bangkok, Central: The Original Store draws from a family heritage honouring the history of Central Group. The design, as reimagined by Vincent Van Duysen, pays homage to the building’s origin and history, thrusting it forward into a cultural centre that embraces the contexts of Bangkok’s neighbourhoods, and the changing world around them.
The main monolith, whose façade is covered in traditional, hand-crafted terracotta tiles from Lampang province, is reminiscent of Central’s original frontage. The body is dotted with expansive floor-to-ceiling glass openings flooding the space with natural light and granting visitors views of the surrounding districts. A peculiar architectural element is the rooftop, treated as a detached volume, almost an insert, characterised by black metal sheet cladding.
Each level within Central: The Original Store has a unique function. The vast street-front glass panels recall Bangkok’s very first window display. The first floor sets the mood with the intimate vibe of an elegant entryway, encompassing terrazzo floors and high concrete ceilings punctuated by wooden beams. This is not a remake, but rather a tribute to the era’s unspoken language of aesthetic unity.
The bespoke iron vitrines echo traditional lanterns used by Tiang and Samrit to walk into the late hours, as the father-and-son pair worked to build Central’s businesses from this location. The vitrines magically embellish the space at night; a symbol of hard-work and dedication.
The first floor houses a bookshop that was one of the first to import English magazines and books into the country; the design preserves its original spirit to this day. The courtyard, lush and sunlit with plants and rich vegetation, is an architectural feature that connects old and new, transforming into a music bar, SIWILAI Sound Club, at night – a space designed by the Japanese design studio Tripsters featuring a custom-made OJAS sound system. A place to enjoy coffee by day and music as dusk falls.
The sculpted staircase, bathed by daylight, leads guests to the Retail Library, where the book collection underlines the building’s story and purpose. The third and fourth floors are hybrids between exhibition and event spaces, where a large movable display case acts as a divider reiterating Central’s innovative character and versatility.
For 360° views of the city, visitors can peruse the top floor and enjoy a meal at Aksorn; the Tripsters-designed restaurant by David Thompson, an eminent and dedicated chef who continues to be at the forefront of innovative Thai cuisine. Hungry or not, customers can always take in the Bangkok city skyline from a vantage point that is the panoramic roof terrace, gazing down onto the bustling Charoen Krung Road.
—
Photography: DOF Skyground
Central: The Original Store website
Publications:
Coconuts.co/Bangkok, 18 September 2020
Design-Anthology.com, October 2020
Af Asia Archzine, 12 December 2020
Archello.com, 10 December, 2020
Nikkei Asia, 12 February, 2021
Neighborhood Facility, Vol. 6, January 2022
