SALA
ก
, tam chokevikraikij
The sala. An open air pavilion for Thais to relax and conversate. Generations of heritage and present everywhere in the country.
And therefore I wanted to pay homage to the overlooked, and the original.
To pay homage, to what is home.
I think back about the original third spaces, ones which need no financial or consumptive experience.
I’ve always felt like Thai architecture and design has often been overlooked, unreferenced in academia,
To the light breeze, the humid air, and the shade that hugs,
The Sala.
To reimagine a Thai icon with modern materiality, Sala was crafted with Red Oak, Steel, and Full-Grain Leather. Recreating the letter
ศ
through physical form, the chair honors the comfort and relaxation of the Thai pavilion in a different context.
References
1.
Ubiquitous in Thai life, the Sala is a traditional pavilion. A third space in its truest form, the structure has been adapted for both public and private usage, and its design allows crosswinds to flow through on a hot day. A place of rest and relaxation for Thais, I wanted to pay homage to the forms and decorative elements present in this structure through a modernist context. Through this lens, the chair possesses the sharp lines and sinuous forms present in traditional Thai designs like the Sala, but with different materiality and a more private use case.
2.
ก, as a project, heavily references Thai and Sanskrit-based typography, redefining the aforementioned in a physical form. Through this, the Sala references its namesake letter, Sor Sala, which is the 38th letter of the Thai alphabet. I did this quite literally, designing the backrest to embody the tail and the negative space within the wooden supports to reference the circle in the middle. As an ode to typography, the Sala further celebrates the beauty of non-Western typefaces and repackages the meanings in a way that is attainable and enjoyable for many.
3.
The MR10 is one of my favorite chairs, as its minimalism does not stop it from being iconic. Taking inspiration from its sling seat, I designed the Sala with a similar sling for its main seat, which embraces and envelops rather than sits idly. Furthermore, the dimensions and combination of steel, leather, and wood were loosely referenced from the Eames Lounge Chair.
Furthermore, traditional Thai seating inspired the use case of the Sala. The backrest aims to mimic the angle of traditional floor pillows, present in eating halls and formal restaurants in days past. Apart from this, I aimed to create a chair that held cultural permanence. To create something that references Thai culture, to me, is to create something that is timeless and well-made, so that it would surpass you even in age. These customs and traditions never changed or went away, and I intend to pay homage to that within this project.