With digital workplace is being developed alongside the births of newer and more advanced technologies, in Thailand, the method has been and is still being debated in the past four to five years, mainly because several organizations and a good number of people are not convinced by the possibility and practicality of remote working that allows people to work from anywhere. It isn't until the entire world is disrupted by the pandemic. Organizations are forced to change the way they operate, and workspaces are viewed from different perspectives. The Third Place concept is proposed for employees to have an option of working closer to home but are still provided with the needed facilities and a workspace that is more suitable for work-related activities than their own homes. This CO-working space is an ideal choice for the people who do not have a full time job or a small company that looks for a small-scale space to accommodate any possible changes that may happen to their business in the future.
The architecture team designs SOCO: Co-Working Space from an interpretation of the variety, fun and characters of Thai people. If one were to compare the design to a dish, it’s a mixture of flavors, from sourness, sweetness to saltiness and spiciness, cooked into a delectable recipe. The furniture design takes inspiration from a Thai condiment set, symbolizing SOCO’s identity. The color tone chosen for the walls illustrates endless fusions of tastes, reflecting how every part of the workspace is filled with different savors of life.
The colors of ‘Bangkok,’ the sleepless, restless capital city with wonderful variety are conveyed through decorative elements. They are ordinary things commonly found in Thai people’s everyday life such as wrought iron installed at shophouses ‘ windows, rows of utility poles on both sides of a road, paver blocks or sharp silhouettes of power lines, all reflecting the life of the city that is home to discernible diversity and incredible energy.
The design makes the best use out of the extra height of the space by elevating the seating level of the common area to create a more personal space for users. Additionally, the spatial manipulation that ends up creating varying seating levels makes the co-working space more spacious and open, enabling users to have a wider view of the floor thanks to the descending seating levels that prevent the seats from obstructing each other’s view.
The vertical storage space inside the dedicate office, which is a small office space, results in the maximized spatial utilization. The steps with their own hidden compartments are designed to hide at the base of the cabinets.
Moreover, The signage contains gimmicks inspired by advertising flyers and brochures with quintessentially Thai design found in the streets of Bangkok, adding the charm and fun of Thai Street Life to the space in the tangible form of unique decoration items.
