UNTITLED THONGLOR | GODMOTHER STUDIO

YOLO GROUP is known for their strong character in design and is the team behind Soi Nana's cocktail bar, Teens of Thailand, Asia Today, Tax Bar, and Independence. The team is led by Gunn Leelhasuwan (the head of the design overview of the bars) and Niks Anuman-Rajadhon (the head of the bar operation team), and they contacted us about opening their fifth bar, "Untitled Thonglor," in the expensive Thonglor neighborhood of Bangkok. This will be the team's first bar outside of Chinatown in the city. The project involves renovating an old pub, both inside and out, of an area of about 300sq.m., to create an exotic bar that stands out in the neighborhood and adds a touch of sarcasm.
To make a statement and challenge traditional notions of class, so we designed the facade of the building to resemble a pawnshop from the 1960s-the 1970s, and we trick it by separating it into 3 pawnshops that actually can enter just one entrance. By doing this, we aim to create a sense of surprise and curiosity among our wealthier customers as they walk into what appears to be a pawnshop, a place where one might not want to be seen. We want to challenge their assumptions and make them think about class differences and inequality. However, we added a twist by including artwork on the signs that relate to the present time with a bit of political satire, and all of the artwork is designed and painted by an artist AKA named "SKETCHEDBUK" (Suchan Chaveewan) who is a designer and gold leaf artist interested in traditional hand-painted signs, lettering design, murals painting, and decorative glass art. The facade will pique the curiosity of passersby and make them wonder if this is really a pawnshop or a cocktail bar.
As customers enter the main entrance and walk through the small space designed to resemble a pawnshop's foyer, they will be surprised when they pass through a curtain and enter the main bar space. This space is designed to give the sense of being great and powerful when sitting at the gray 6.5 meters long marble top bar with amber light wrapping the bar in front of a wall of gigantic vertical frames that allow the existing steel beam to pierce through, and we also design a high armchair which a bit bigger than usual for the most comfortable while sitting at the bar. The wall conceals a service stair that was previously located at the front of the existing building, and the seating area, which is connected to the ornament of the "frame," is designed to float above the ground using 4-inch tubes painted in copper color and rolled into continuously looping frames that also snake around columns and walls behind the banquette seat.
The interior space features twisted classical design elements, such as a cornice turned into a wall of frames and Corinthian pillars transformed into copper snaky tube frames. Also, all of the tables use copper color with green marble tops to enhance the feeling of wealth and luxury. The VIP room also continues with a similar ornament, featuring a dark gray cornice frame that encircles the wall and ceiling and a very long classical-style sofa to make the customer feel grand.
To create a relaxed but elegant atmosphere and highlight the architectural elements, the bar's lighting is mixed with high ambient indirect light and dynamic transitions controlled by an intelligent lighting system. Accent lighting enhances the pipe structure, and the lighting slowly transitions over time through about three presets as the bar begins operation and two presets in the VIP room. This combination of indirect lighting and dynamic transitions enhances the overall atmosphere of the space."

Project credit
Client: YOLO GROUP
Architect and Interior designer: Godmother Studio (Kasidis Puaktes, Gunn Leelhasuwan)
Lighting designer: Leftover studio (Awattha Thanaphanit, Netchanok Sompong)
Graphic designer: SKETCHEDBUK (Suchan Chaveewan)
Contractor: AQP company limited (Tanoochai Pinnimitr, Piyavat Saphakkul)
Photographer: Jirayu Rattanawong

all images courtesy of Godmother studio

Sincerely, GODMOTHER STUDIO