Chang Chui

Because nothing is useless

By Morgan Thanarojpradit                        

FINALLY, the long-awaited brainchild project of Somchai Songwattana, CEO and art director of Flynow is opened to the public. Chang Chui, or ‘sloppy artisan’ in Thai, has been the most talked-about topic since the beginning of this year.
    
This 11-rai of new creative space is located on Sirindhorn Road, Thonburi District. Chang Chui was born from the aspiration to create the space where the new and the old generations can get together and exchange their knowledge and insights. It is also to support the young and budding artists to have an outlet to showcase their work without having to spend a lot of money or resources.

Chang Chui is full of all things reused creatively put together again for a new purpose. The buildings are made of recycled items such as old windows, disused posts, cabinets, and more. Visitors are greeted by the disused plane that is being fashioned into a restaurant and bar that will feature a large collection of stuffed animals under the Noah’s Ark theme. The restaurant and bar will be ready to take customers in August this year.
    
More than just put together by recycled items, every building everywhere has a creative purpose. It has a large cafeteria building where various famous Thai street food stalls are selling food inside. Outside offers a variety of restaurants, bars, barber shops, fashion shops, beverage stalls, creative shops, a theatre, art space, conference rooms, a co-creative space, the very first drone school,
and an old-school mom-and-pop shop.
    
One thing that might be certain is that Chang Chui is not built to be completed. There’re always room for improvement. It was meant to be a never-ending story. Couldn’t help but wonder how it will change next time we visit.

 How to get there

Since parking is scarce due to the location and a large number of people visiting, it is best to take the BTS to Bang Wah terminal station and take a taxi to Chang Chui.

Chang Chui. 460/8 Sirinthorn Road. 081 817 2888.
www.changchuibangkok.com