City of Design

From outstanding architecture and artisan-made furniture to stunning interiors and headline-grabbing fashion, modern Bangkok has much to inspire the design minded. Whether you’re in town for a few hours or a few days, here are our one-stop fixes for the most devoted of design lovers.

TCDC

Housed in the utilitarian, 1940s-built Grand Postal Building on Charoenkrung Rd, the Thailand  Creative and Design Centre (TCDC) is a honeypot for local talent and for the aesthetically curious. The library and resource centre are open to members only, but TCDC is well worth a peek for its bold archi and envelope-pushing exhibits alone.

Warehouse 30

Younger sibling to The Jam Factory, Duangrit Bunnag’s industrial retail, events and co-working space sprawls across seven WWII-era warehouses. Main draw cards are the fabulous foodie pop-ups and new-trend labels (including Bunnag’s own streamlined Lonely Two Legged Creature), plus coffee bar, bookshop, screening room and rotating shows. Catnip for creatives.

P Tendercool

This Belgian-Thai-Italian ‘haute manufacture’ team designs and crafts one-off, heirloom-worthy tables – plus chairs and daybeds to match. Age-old techniques are used to rework reclaimed wood for table tops, which are then precision-perched on handmade bronze, brass and aluminium stands. While you’re visiting the showroom, ask for a workshop visit and see the magic happening first hand.

Alex Lamont

Suave Bangkok-based Brit Alexander has carved a niche for opulent, swanky Thai design spanning sideboards and screens, artwork and accessories. His showrooms are an homage to trad Siamese skills and early C.20th looks, via shagreen, silverware, straw marquetry, lacquer and bronze. Check out his stash of antiques too – wallet-busting but worthy investments.

Sangsin Trading

Give drab dwellings an instant lift with this covetable range of repro and vintage wallpaper, and do it all from the comfort of your own room. Have your measurements handy then ask for a hotel appointment and catalogue to save yourself the schlep. Now that’s clever design!