Kloem Hostel Kloem Hostel Kloem Hostel Kloem Hostel Kloem Hostel Kloem Hostel
"KLOEM literally means to be in a dreamy or half-awake state, representing the feeling of enjoying a moment so much that you hardly know if it is real or just a dream.
Bangkok is one of the most popular tourist cities, and it has been changing rapidly in response to the growing number of visitors. Many developments have transformed small residential areas into dense commercial districts. Phayathai district has become one of those areas. With the presence of the Airport Rail Link station that brings visitors from Suvarnabhumi Airport directly into the city, this area has become one of the welcoming gates for all visitors and the urban facade that gives a rough image representing our city.
Despite this fast change, Phetchaburi Soi 5 (AKA Soi Kingpetch), located in Phayathai district, is one of the areas that still retains its original character. With the traces of life from the 1990s—small local shops, restaurants, laundry services, home stay places, and such—along with the very friendly neighborhood atmosphere, this place offers a certain vibe that reflects the true way of life in Bangkok.
Within this neighborhood, there are two ordinary small wooden houses that have become old, just like the others around them. With their history and location, these decades-old buildings possess an interesting quality to represent the character of local Bangkok through their own space and neighborhood, and they have finally become the place called “KLOEM HOSTEL.”
The main design approach for this project was to design the space based as much as possible on the existing structure and materials, focusing on ""repairing"" and ""adding."" First, the existing structure was kept as is. Then, all the wooden walls were removed to be repaired, polished, and repainted. Even in the details, such as the window frames, they were preserved as they were, but we added glass as a new layer to allow natural light in while still using the air-conditioning system. The space planning was rearranged to suit the new usage as a hostel.
For the space management, the larger building consists of a four-bedded and six-bedded women’s dormitory with shared toilets and shower space at the back on the ground floor, and two three-bedded, one four-bedded, and one six-bedded men’s dormitory on the upper level. The beds, with working tables, lockers, and shelves for self-decoration, are designed specifically for these rooms, with soft curtains as dividers for privacy. The smaller building consists of two private rooms and three bathrooms on the ground floor, with three more private rooms and a recreation deck on the upper level.
With limited space, IF proposed an additional double-height space defined by a black steel structure, which serves as a welcoming/recreation/dining area and also as a transitional space that leads guests to the upper level. On the upper level of this space, IF provides a large net floor for guests to sit back and relax. This double-height space is also connected to the inner court to provide a refreshing green space for guests while using this common space.
This integration of the new steel structure, representing the present time, with these two existing wooden buildings gives KLOEM HOSTEL the right atmosphere and introduces Bangkok to visiting guests, much like the ""good old folks"" of the neighborhood would."
Location
Bangkok, Thailand
ClientsVannakarn Kijkunasatien
Gross Floor Area355 Sq.m.
Outdoor Area355 Sq.m.
Design Date2016
Completion Date2018
ArchitectIF (Integrated Field)
Interior DesignerIF (Integrated Field)
Landscape ArchitectPailin Chumplang
Lighting DesignerKullakaln Gururatana
Environmental graphicPakaporn Penpayap
Ketkarn Damrongwattanapokin
Boonchu Sedchaicharn
MEP EngineerTeerawut Phuikhan
Main ContractorRATTANAPHON DEVELOPMENT
Signage ContractorPakaporn Penpayap, Ketkarn Damrongwattanapokin
PhotographerPanoramicStudio
Awards
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A+ Awards - Jury Winner (2019)Architecture + Renovation
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DEmark Awards - Winner (2019)Interior Design
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GOOD DESIGN AWARD - Winner (2019)Interior Design
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FRAME Awards - Nominee (2019)Hotel of the Year
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TIDA Awards - Winner (2019)Preservation Design
