2505588 THESIS 2565
PROJECT: KAN VELA CRAFT CHOCOLATE COMMUNITY HUB
STUDENT : THANANYA POOVANICH
LOCATION: BANGKOK, THAILAND
AREA: 2,255 sq.m.

          Craft chocolate, unlike mass-produced chocolate, refer to chocolate that made with high-quality ingredients and traditional methods with commitment to prioritize flavor, quality, and sustainability over quantity. Craft chocolate offers consumers a truly unique and delicious experience along with ethical sourcing by working directly with farmers and paying fair prices for their beans, support local communities and promote ethical farming practices.
          While the craft chocolate industry in Thailand is growing and gaining recognition both locally and internationally for its unique flavors and high-quality products, it is still not as well-known or popular compared to some other chocolate-producing countries because of several reasons such as consumers’ lacking of awareness and limited access to quality ingredients and knowledge.
           One of the key ways in which to support the industry is through consortium, which is a collaboration between the government, private sector, and academia to support the production and promotion of Thai chocolate.
          KAN VELA craft chocolate community hub, runs by collaborative brand like KAN VELA and government’s creative industries supporter like CEA , is an academic hub offering a range of support and services to craft chocolate makers, chocolatier and chocolate consumers in various ways such as retail, café, restaurant, exhibition area, museum as well as training programs and workshops to help entrepreneur improve their production techniques and quality standards . Located in the middle of Bang Rak neighborhood, the first designated hub for creativity and innovation in Thailand, aiming for the hub to be conveniently accessible for visitors and clients from everywhere.
          In order to achieve the community hub’s goals, apart from conveniently accessible, the location itself is required to be a place that foster a sense of community and provide a supportive environment. For Charoenkrung Creative District, repurposing historic buildings in the area is one of the main ways to support creative businesses and provide community area for the public. O.P. Garden, the location of the proposal, is currently used as a shopping mall with office complex and event space, which might not meet the full potential possibility and the development plan of the neighborhood for the historic buildings in the area. There are a few problem statements that needs to be addressed.
          First, limitation from building orientation and inefficient layout. With two sides of the site located right next to Charoenkrung street leads to limited entry way and lack of privacy for buildings in the front. While there are many trees all around the site, most of the outdoor area can’t be used during the day because of the lack shades from high building surrounding the site. According to the former used as commercial space and office, rezoning and replanning would be needed to ensure that the space is functional and inviting while still preserving the historic character of the building.
          Secondly, disconnected architectural design and historic preservation, all five buildings contain variety of characters and charm from different times and eras which can be encouraging to incorporate elements of the building's history and cultural significance into designs, creating a unique and authentic atmosphere that reflects the character of the neighborhood but also adhere to local historic preservation guidelines.
          To achieve these criteria, some of the exterior façade that impactfully iconic is kept the same and the others are changed into other shapes and materials that yet still relate to the former elements, to both harmonize the whole place and also divide the old and the new.
          Existingwise, in order to solve the issue of differences in architectural styles, Fluid landscape planning similar to chocolate melting is the main method to connect all the building. Blurring boundaries of functionally different spaces to connect each activity and make the using sequent more inviting.
 
          Finally, brand identity translation, Kan Vela has a unique brand identity that reflects its values and mission, Authenticity of sourcing ingredients and playful charismatic of its Thai origin to allure customers. In spite of many stylish products and strong characteristic packaging design, the visual identity of the interior space is still unclear and leave room for further interpretation, which leads to the concept of the project, “Unbounded Thai origin”, combining local Thai elements with modern design principles, creating a fusion of styles that reflects the uniqueness of culture and history of Thai craft chocolate.
           “Unbounded Thai origin” was meant to represent two significant natures of Kan Vela’s products, craft chocolate, that they’re globalized food known by people around the world and at the same time also offer the unique finishing touch of its Thai origin.
          For color scheme, in universal aspect, using earth tones such as beige, terracotta, or deep, dark colors help create a natural and organic feel that aligns with the sustainability and eco-friendliness values, at the same time conveys richness and luxury. In Thai origin aspect, vibrant and pastel colors such as orange, violet, green or turquoise help convey a sense of playfulness and creative local Thai flavors.
          For materials and textures roasting to crunching and molding, using textured walls, plaster or concrete create a sense of urban chic that aligns with the creativity and modernity and at the same time, exhibit the sense of precision and attention to detail that aligns with the craftsmanship and artistry of craft chocolate. Lastly, using marble or polished stone with silky-smooth texture convey a sense of elegance and luxury that aligns with the high-quality image of Kan Vela.
          Over and above that, using biomaterial from cacao pods as parts of interior elements such as furniture, partition and façade adds a natural and organic aesthetic while also highlighting the origin of chocolate, enhance the sensory experience and also showcase the sustainable aspect of the craft chocolate industry.
          Combining all elements and space design, along with color and material selections, Kan Vela craft chocolate community hub aims to establish a memorable and immersive experience for customers or guests, immersing them in the world of Thai craft chocolate.
 
Kan Vela craft chocolate Retail

Cafe

Restaurant & Bar

Museum

Workshop

Co-working space

Cacao ceremony workshop

Lecture class

Community garden