Inspiration is sometimes sought from the most unexpected and unconventional of places. For Thai architect Chatpong Chuenrudeemol, his muse is an overlooked sight of Bangkok city. A shelter for construction workers, a row of houses in Klong Toey’s palette market and even a discreet love motel were part of this man’s fascination. He said it’s the purity in architecture that drew him to such a sight.
Chatpong Chuenrudeemol, director of Chat Architects.
“These places were built for the sake of functionality, because the people wanted to solve problems — all without putting beauty into consideration. They aimed for function and that’s how beauty grew from it. That’s purity,” said Chatpong, 43, director of Chat Architects — a company based in Bangkok which recently became the only Thai firm to be featured in The Monocle Guide To Cosy Homes.
Chatpong was also the first Thai architect invited to showcase his works at Tokyo’s renowned Toto Gallery Ma for its 30th anniversary exhibition last October. The same place once housed design works of his heroes in the field of architecture: Frank Gehry, Tadao Ando, Alvaro Siza and Glenn Murcutt.
After a small introduction, Chatpong sat on a high barstool within Kenkoon’s furniture showroom — a place he designed in Thong Lor Soi 10 — where he then proceeded to explain his work. His presentation came emblazoned with cool, minimalist graphic animation and an upbeat molam tune. He refers to his collection of research and designs as “Bangkok Bastards” — local architecture that everyone forsakes and even looks down upon. A hub of lower-class Bangkokians.
Bangkok is crazy, Chatpong said. It’s bursting with surprising and, at times, dangerous elements that make up the “cute” charm of our country, and he tries to integrate such elements into his design. But how did the grey, rundown shelter and maan rood (curtain sex motel) transpire into his design for luxurious homes and boutique hotels? The resemblance is never explicit. Chatpong has never intended for it to be.
“We need to leave a space for imagination and interpretation.”
His design works — aside from Kenkoon’s showroom — include his own residence in Ekamai, a lakeside residence in Surin province and Nanda Heritage Hotel near Rama VIII Bridge (he co-designed it with his ex-partner).
“Everyone wants to make a name for themselves by aiming for uniqueness these days. They only design for that one single moment. Once they’ve walked down that path, they’d be creating just picture-worthy spaces and falling to the dark side unknowingly.
“I look at everything in a big picture. A house is not just for three people. It’s rather a part of the city that affects the neighbours, streets, footpaths and the entire surrounding. Context matters. And architecture should be able to make our country a better place.”
Chatpong still has a great sense of Thainess in him, even though he spent a good part of his life out of the country. His family moved to the US when he was six and he graduated with degrees in architecture from UC Berkeley and Harvard University.
Returning to Thailand after graduating in 2000 has proven to be a challenging experience. To Chatpong, his problems were not reduced to the “Western and Eastern thing” many usually talk about. The real world was just a different image from what education had painted it to be.
“I graduated from top universities in the world. I thought I was ready for it,” said Chatpong. “It turned out that certain things they taught us just didn’t apply to real life. I had to relearn a lot.”
Chatpong has never really worked in any big firms. He was previously in a business partnership with another architect before setting up Chat Architects on his own in 2013.
Setting up one’s own company does involve the general mistakes and mishaps. Daunting? Yes, but Chatpong still opted for it nevertheless.
“I want to have time to process my own belief without being affected by others’,” he said. He also likes being involved in every single step of each project.
Despite saying he wouldn’t want to be affected by another person’s belief, Chatpong is fond of a collaborative work environment. Whenever a new project comes in, he gets everyone to sit down together and brainstorm. Interns and experienced architects sit equally at his conference table. Everyone gets five minutes to present their ideas, just like in school.
“Working alone is never fun. And five brains are better than one — always — no matter how smart you are,” he said, adding that ego has no place in his office.
Aside from his own practice, Chatpong is also a part-time lecturer at different universities around Bangkok. He believes that, to benefit students fully, teachers need to continue their own practice in order to stay updated with their trade.
From his career, many would regard him as a well-established man. Chatpong himself, however, has quite a different definition when it comes to the word “success”.
“Everyone has to make money,” he said, “but the more you do, you start to realise that there’s not really any money in it. It takes years for an architectural project to finish. The money is long gone. If I have to put in so much time for a return of fees that are so small, the project has to be special. I have to be able to create something that will benefit our surrounding environment. Now, that makes me feel successful.”
Reaching this point in life, Chatpong said there’s just one key: “You need to understand yourself.”
His company doesn’t own a website, only a Facebook page. Instead of promoting himself, Chatpong said he preferred to spend his time otherwise.
“Teaching, spreading knowledge and researching to better understand our city. That’s what’s important to me.”
Chatpong’s own residence in Ekamai.
Nanda Heritage Hotel, which Chatpong designed with his previous business partner.
