1

Charoenkrung Creative District:
A Creative District Model

A proposal to move the TCDC from a high-end mall to the historic Grand Postal Building sparked new interest in Charoenkrung neighborhood, one of the most culturally diverse areas in Bangkok on the east side of Chao Phraya River. Home to embassies and stately grand hotels along Bangkok's first road, the area is in the middle of a renaissance to reclaim its glory days as the center of Bangkok's modernization. Government and private collaboration efforts are developing this district into a model creative district (reference Question 40).

2

Town in Town:
An Agency Town

Bangkok's nucleus of the local advertising and film industry, Town in Town is a large complex built in 1989. After the 1997 financial crisis, the residential buildings were converted into modern home offices, which attracted agencies and studios due to affordable prices. The complex abuts a major expressway and is accessible to nearby popular business and entertainment districts.

3

Thonglor-Ekamai:
A Hub of Creative Lifestyle

Thonglor-Ekamai is a major lifestyle center where creative professionals gather, including architects, graphic designers, furniture designers, artists, photographers, make-up artists, hair stylists and more. They form a network to share resources, reduce costs and collaborate in proactive marketing strategies in various creative businesses such as design studios, architectural firms and design companies.

4

Siam Square:
A Debut Place for Thai Fashion Brands

Siam Square fosters a vibrant youth culture based on its proximity to Chulalongkorn University and several other prominent schools and tutoring businesses. Over the past several decades emerging fashion designers, many of them new graduates with daring tastes, launched their businesses here. Brands, including legendary Greyhound and Soda, or younger brands like ISSUE, Kloset, It's Happened to be a Closet, and Heidi's Secret, have thrived and become the pillar of the Thai fashion industry. The combination of new trends, entertainment, open spaces, and easy access has made Siam Square a lively and prosperous area.

5

Ari-Pradipat:
A Flourishing District

Ari-Pradipat is a popular neighborhood for creative minds, especially Pradipat 17 Alley, home to 33 Space, a "love motel"-turned-rental office for designers and software developers. The complex is designed to facilitate co-working, with a common canteen, a parking lot, cleaning services and 24-hour security. The lively Pradipat food street adds to the vibrant working life and its potential to thrive.

6

Nana-Hualumpong:
Young Architect's District

This old quarter has become a new creative district in town that attracts tourists, designers, architectural firms, and galleries. The unique Sino-Portuguese commercial buildings in Nana Alley are almost a hundred years old and were once residences of Thai, Chinese, and Indian folks, exemplifying Bangkok's charming multicultural environment. The major transportation node Hualumpong Station makes it easy to get around, and reasonably priced restaurants, coffee shops and bars make it an affordable neighborhood for working and living. It is home to the famous Thep Bar, where one can relax with native ingredient cocktails listening to live traditional Thai music.

1

Charoenrat:
All About Leather

Charoenrat street is lined with leatherware shops, including vegetable-tanned leatherware, special leather, fashion leatherware, synthetic leather, as well as accessories for leather craft. In addition, some shops offer PVC sheets and fabric for bags, shoes and furniture. Experts also offer leather craft classes. This is the largest leatherware center in Bangkok that creators, entrepreneurs, and DIV lovers appreciate.

2

Little India:
Thailand's Biggest Textile Market

This longstanding textile and sewing accessories market is a fashion designer's heaven. Most vendors are of Sikh-Indian descent, whose ancestors settled here over a hundred years ago. Nowadays, it is the largest Indian com- munity in Thailand and home to an important Sikh temple.

3

Sampheng:
The Largest Retail Market

Nestled between Little India and Chinatown, Sampheng is a historic Chinese trading area dating back to King Rama I period (1782-1809). Today it is Bangkok's largest retail market where a large variety of goods can be found, including gifts, accessories, sewing materials and craft materials.

4

Bangrak (Charoenkrung):
Thailand's Jewelry Trading Center

This old community on Charoenkrung Road was the city's first modern business district. Today, jewelry is the prima- ry industry here, ranging from natural stones to jewelry design to machines and instruments. There are over 192 shops in total. The district is also home to the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT), which consists of a jewelry museum, laboratories, material and quality inspection laboratories, and almost 10,000 items of industry-related information.

5

Bang Pho:
A Historic Wood Trading District

In the past, wood transported to Bangkok arrived at Bang Pho. The areawas then said to be the "path of wood" and later developed into Thailand's largest wood trading district. Today, Bang Pho is well-known among both Thai and international clients for wooden furniture production in a wide variety of styles, as well as wood- carved art and décor pieces.

6

Chatuchak Weekend Market:
A Creative Market that Completed the Economy

Also known as JJ Market, the immensely popular Chatuchak Weekend Market is one of the world's largest. The market covers an area of 70 rai (27 acres) and consists of more than 15,000 shops serving over 200,000 visitors per day, 30% of whom are foreign, generating revenue Or approximately 100-120 million baht (CADS 4.3-5.2M) per week. The market is known as "a place you can find just about anything" at a reasonable and negotiable price, including clothing and accessories, antique wood carvings, traditional Thai ceramics, artificial flowers, plants and pets. Additionally, wholesale and retail clothing merchants sell their wares in a weekly Friday night market.

7

Ban Bat:
A Buddhist Craftmen Community

Ban Bat is an old community with its roots in the former Siam capital of Ayutthaya. Today, it is a historic craftsmen community near the Golden Mount, one of the most important Buddhist landmarks of Bangkok. It is the only place in the world where alms bowls are made by hand in a traditional method following 21 steps and eight metal pieces. The technique of joining and sealing the interlocking pieces requires precision and expertise. Recently, Ban Bat has been establishedas an ecotourism attraction whose value is recognized by new designers. They incorporate modern design into the traditional craftsmanship, creating fascinating pieces that enhance the traditional craftsmanship and celebrate the local identity.