threads of place

Chat Architects questions the relationships between vernacular Thai craft and architecture in the Indigo Loom House, conceiving building as 'tool', and vice versa.

- Text by Luo Jingmei Photography by W Workspace

The Creative Crafts Center at Man Gardens is an inspiring place in Thailand's Sakon Nakhon district. Its owner is Prach ‘Mann’ Niyomkar, an indigo textile artist from Sakon Nakhon who works with local weaving ‘aunties’ to both produce indigo and the naturally coloured textiles. His brand, Mann Crafts, is one of the region's leading textile brands. Niyomkar’s nickname means ‘yes’ in the Issan language while Man Gardens’ name means ‘mankind’ or ‘humanity’ in the language, which he wanted Man Gardens to symbolise.

"It is a cultural hub for the Sakon Nakhon community, as well as out-of-towners, to come together to celebrate nature, craft, music and art. He wants it to be a public gathering space where Sakon Nakhon culture is learned, taught, disseminated and celebrated," explains Chatpong Chuenrudeemol, who elaborates that it is Niyomkar's "open-air forest laboratory" where the owner grows different species of rice, plants and fruits that go into producing the natural colours to dye his fabrics.

Chuenrudeemol is a Thai architect and founder of Bangkok-based Chat Architects who was engaged to design Indigo Loom House, a new facility within Man Gardens. "Khun Mann experiments with natural colours, dyeing not only textiles, but also wood, leather, paper and even stones. He wants to support the growing art culture in Sakon Nakhon, and invites artists and the general public to Mann Gardens to appreciate nature and art through workshops," Chuenrudeemol elaborates.