Patom Shop & Sookjai Market

Phase 2 - Patom Shop, Sookjai Market, & Sookjai Academy The new master plan to relocate Sookjai market, Sookjai academy, and Patom shop into the existing warehouses while also removing all other unnecessary infrastructures has opened up this panoramic line to the new entrance. The new roadway, drop off, parking as well as the linear walkway delineating the cafe boundary were arranged to work in conjunction with this new panoramic front line.

Patom shop was strategically placed between Sookjai Market and Sookjai academy to embrace the intertwining relationship between the three entities. Multi-purpose covered outdoor area was placed in transition to encourage the circulation flow. The new glass enclosure was set within the existing concrete columns leaving enough room for the covered walkways to connect Sookjai academy with the rest of the compound. Newly painted fiber cement roof was installed over the existing concrete structure. Color cement was selected instead of paint on most of the exterior finishes for its handwork and raw expression, while the terra-cotta earth-tone relates to the Terra cotta roof tiles at Patom cafe.

Similar to the first Patom branch and the new Patom cafe, tree trunks are also used here to form the base of the display table. As there was also a need to display certain products above eye level, the use of old pine tree trunks that used to line up along the lakefront seems to be one of the better choices. These 4 meters tall trunks would become the main pillars for the requested tall shelving and hanging display, provide a desirable illumination position and height while bringing back a small part of what was once a notable landmark of Suan Sampran’s 50 years story.

Roof extension of the existing warehouse was required to accommodate 150 bamboo counter/stalls of the new market. The circulation isles were arranged in parallel to the existing roof trusses and columns to maximize the number of bamboo counter/stalls that could be evenly distributed across the existing structural grid. Communal seating areas are provided in the cafeteria section with a lake view as well as two additional seating areas sheltered between the front tree line. These communal areas are fundamental in a farmer’s market such as this one as it would encourage productive cultural and social exchanges between the visitors and the sellers, who essentially are enthusiastic farmers and growers with organic farming knowledge, first-hand experiences and endless stories to tell.

Having to work within a given budget, paint was the only modification we could apply to the existing roof structure. Twenty shades of green to beige color scheme was influenced by the bamboo, thatch and coconut leaves used as the construction material in this project. It is not very often that we get to see the freshly cut green color of the raw material during the assembly, and within a week or two, turn into a more permanent dry-leaf beige color. We find this short and often overlooked color transformation to be surprisingly delightful and in character with an organic farmer’s market.