Thailand Creative and Design Center (TCDC)

Thailand Creative and Design Center (TCDC) is a government agency with a mission to inspire creative thinking in the society and to propel the country’s creative economy. The new space aimed to become a ‘creative ecosystem’ which is a space for design thinking, learning, experimentation, and networking. TCDC provides a broad range of creative and design resources such as a design library, a material library, a co-working space, a makerspace as well as organizes various events, activities, and services including exhibitions, lectures, workshops, business consultation, etc. The project is an adaptive re-use of part of the historical Grand Postal Building at the left wing and the back wing. The design is to integrate the forward-looking mission of the design center with the historical architecture. The design of the space is intended for the new intervention to have a dialogue with the old building and at the same time to answer to TCDC’s mission to be the country’s creative incubator. A creative space is not ‘creative’ because of how it looks but it is a place that inspires. The free flow open work space is planned to spread throughout the building mixing with other programs so actions can happen everywhere and to cultivate exchange of ideas and conversations. Inspiration resources – books, material samples, products, digital media, brainstorm boards, and exhibition nodes that are always fresh and new – are held in the new translucent architectural wall and shelving system. They are inserted throughout the building, wrapping around spaces in a way that fresh ideas are always presented within reach and always surround us with inspiration. The main circulation surgically cuts through the section of the building bringing people to flow pass different facilities to be inspired by what others are doing. Most spaces are designed to be flexible with movable furniture and adjustable systems to allow for flexible situation and various creative activities to happen. An addition on the rooftop is created to become the main work space that people can meet and also act as a key connection joining the previously disconnected spaces. Within the historical building, the new is inserted as an object, placing within and offsetting from the existing envelope, clearly revealing architectural features from the 30’s. The present-day material in its light, translucent, blurring, and glowing quality is having a dialogue with the massive character of the historical shell. The new and the old are interestingly contrasting, enhancing and complementing one another.