The Calm of Bangkok (#gingsite999)

CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW

The Calm of Bangkok

Designers : Mr. Tawatchai Sakdikul and Miss Ploytabtim Suksang
Contractor : AJ Watts Landscaping

กรุงเทพฯ เมืองหลวงของไทย ที่หากมองด้วยมุมมองของคนทั่วไปแล้วจะเห็นว่าเป็นเมืองที่มีกิจกรรมและความวุ่นวายอยู่ตลอดเวลา แต่ในความเป็นจริง ยังมีพื้นที่ที่มีความสงบ มีความเรียบง่าย และมีวัฒนธรรม ซ่อนตัวอยู่อย่างมากมาย เราจึงนำพื้นที่แห่งความสุขนั้นมานำเสนอ ผ่านการจัดวาง Garden elements ลงในพื้นที่แบบ Minimal modern เพื่อให้เกิดพื้นที่

สวนที่มีความเรียบง่าย และเต็มไปด้วยรายละเอียด เริ่มต้นจากทางเข้าสวน “Pipe sculpture”ติดตั้งต่างระดับอยู่ในแปลงหญ้า เปรียบกับความวุ่นวายที่เป็นเหมือนฉากหน้าของเมืองหลวง นำทางผ่านเข้าสู่สวนด้วยทางเดินที่ถูกนำสายตาด้วยเส้นนอนที่เกิดขึ้นบนพื้น เมื่อผ่านเข้ามาแล้วจะพบกับ ‘Shelter’ element หลักของสวน ที่เปรียบดังพื้นที่

แห่งความสุข ที่ซ่อนตัวอยู่ในกรุงเทพฯ เชือกถักที่นำมาเป็นผนังด้านต่างๆของ shelter เป็นตัวแทนของความมีชีวิตชีวาของเมือง ที่เต็มไปด้วยเรื่องราวและรายละเอียด พรรณไม้ที่เลือกใช้เน้นไม้ใบที่มีสีเขียวเข้มเป็นหลัก จัดวางผสมกันอย่างลงตัวทั้งในพื้นที่ของฉากหลังและพื้นที่โดยรอบ เพื่อให้สื่อถึงความอุดมสมบูรณ์ที่ยังหาได้ในซอกมุมของเมืองหลวง

Bangkok, a capital city of the Kingdom of Thailand, is well-known for being a colourful, sleepless and one of the busiest cities in the world. This “City of Angels” is, on a hidden side, culturally rich, peaceful, delicate and simply beautiful. Designers from Ging Gaan Bai, a landscape company in Bangkok, present the variety of spirit and energy of Bangkok through this minimal modern space. The inspiration for “the Calm of Bangkok” concept arose from seeing that most people’s first thought about Bangkok as a chaotic, hustle and arousing tourist destination. However, once visitors spend more time exploring this city and see beyond the curtain, they will find that this city has its peace and steady rhythm. Therefore, this Bangkok inspired garden represents the ‘true’ Bangkok through the selection and combination of garden elements and planting. The front part of the garden portrays the stimulating nature of the city through mixed plants in a hot colour scheme with “Pipe Sculpture” in random heights. This front border implies that Bangkok can be unpredictable sometimes. Straight lines on the ground lead the way into different feelings behind the first excitement. Grey granite on the pavement prompts visitors to feel calm and stable. “The Shelter”, the main garden structure in the farthest corner of the space surrounded by tropical inspired planting. Along with a relaxing sound from the water feature, the Shelter seems to be a sanctuary hidden space. A handwoven cotton screen and hammock made by a 95-year-old lady from Suphan Buri, a province up north of Bangkok using Thai arts&crafts skills that transfer from generation to generation wonderfully show that the Thainess can be blended harmoniously with modernization. With this minimal modern that focuses on the use of lines and space, this garden can be reallocated elsewhere and the planting list can be replaced. The structure, space and lines would keep this garden atmosphere remains the same as time goes by. The Calm of Bangkok is designed and build for Chelsea Flower Show 2021. However, after the Royal Hospital gate closes, the garden will be moved to a home a British-Thai family in South-East London. Home of a Thai lady who has been away from Thailand for more than a decade. A home where is a sanctuary for Thai students who gather and connected. The Calm of Bangkok at its new home after the show would surely make those feel closer to their hometown.

DESIGNER BIO

Tawatchai Sakdikul and Ploytabtim Suksang, founders and designers at Ging Gaan Bai, a landscape and garden design company in Bangkok, Thailand, specialized in minimal modern design, have been friends since high school. Since they were young, they shared the same interests in art and design. Tawatchai’s obsession with art and drawing motivated him to study architecture in college as he wanted to turn his drawing into something real. Ploytabtim grew up in a northern part of Thailand where there is a rich art and cultural environment. That is how she absorbs the fascination for art and culture. When she studied architecture, she wanted to combine local art and culture in her work. After finished university, they started working at different design agents where they learnt how to work in real life and started to see their drawings become real. They both had chances to collaborate for the garden competition here and there. Once they started winning some prizes and awards, they both saw that, apart from strong friendship, their common interest and expertise in putting together landscape work, garden, and minimal modern garden design could be more. As a consequence, in 2007, they agreed to found a company called ‘Ging Gaan Bai’ which means branches and leaves. At their own company, it is where they can fully express their strong fascination in minimal modern. The ideal is to create more than just a garden but also an outdoor living space that reflects the personality and lifestyle. GingGaanBai determines to alter and provide a better quality of outdoor living time for their clients, and to help their clients reach the ultimate outdoor living. In the first few years, little in Thailand was known about the minimal modern garden. As the first few minimal modern garden designers in Thailand, Tawatchai and Ploypailin have gone through one of those difficult times trying to prove that a well-planned minimal garden can be a living space for everyone. As time has gone by, from word-to-mount, press and media, awards and pride, the minimal modern garden has eventually become Tawatchai and Ploypailin’s distinguish signature. The more Tawatchai and Ploypailin see that their design can bring happiness and quality time for their clients, the stronger their desire to provide best practices for their clients is. And that is what motivates Ging Gaan Bai by Tawatchai and Ploypailin to improve their work each day.