PHKA Studio: Transforming an Industrial Warehouse into a Contemporary Creative Hub

PHKA Studio by STA represents a masterful fusion of industrial heritage and contemporary office design in the heart of Bangkok’s commercial district. Located on Nak Niwat Street, the site is surrounded by historic warehouses and traditional shophouses, positioned close to the street edge, offering unique design challenges that STA transformed into architectural opportunities.

Architecture Within Architecture

The project is essentially “architecture within architecture.” A new building was meticulously constructed inside an existing warehouse at one end of the property. The remaining sections of the warehouse retained the client’s original office, workshop, storage, and loading facilities. One of the primary design goals was to reimagine the street-facing facade, balancing the scale of the urban environment with the more intimate interior space created by the new intervention.

Industrial Facade, Refined Details

The street facade reinterprets a common industrial material—corrugated metal sheets—through a sophisticated lens. At ground level, the metal folds to create functional seating and table elements, while at the rooftop, it curves elegantly, casting delicate shadows that animate the building throughout the day.

The facade is divided into three compositional and functional sections:

1. The new building on the left, featuring a transparent display facade.
2. The main entrance, a generous opening designed to accommodate truck deliveries.
3. The metal sheet-covered section on the right, concealing existing warehouse functions.

STA unified these sections using overlapping horizontal elements, including a large sliding door, creating continuity across the entire facade.

Playful and Dynamic Interior Facade

Inside, the facade takes on a softer, more playful character. Large windows are paired with outdoor translucent curtains, allowing for adjustable privacy while providing an ideal backdrop for PHKA Studio’s photography and creative projects. Behind the curtains, dual-layered glass and opaque partitions generate varying degrees of transparency. A strategic tilt in the facade’s floor plan enhances depth and spatial complexity, making the interior visually dynamic.

Functional and Flexible Interior Spaces

The interior layout separates functions across two levels:

• Ground Floor: Workshop and meeting areas designed for collaboration and flower arrangement demonstrations. The space features floating sculptural elements including a large oval table, a stainless steel sink, a reflective twin column, and a stone-and-mirror wall. Smaller service and meeting rooms are hidden behind curtains, preserving spatial openness.
• Upper Floor: Office spaces accessible via a small curved metal staircase that preserves the existing skylight, flooding the workspace with natural light. A raised platform doubles as an amphitheater for gatherings and events, while also serving as a display area for flower installations.

Materiality and Design Details

STA employed a restrained palette of materials—MDF, plywood, plasterboard, hand-painted metal, and fabric—adding richness and visual complexity through geometric forms and meticulous detailing. Custom furniture, lighting, and an acid-yellow cabinet concealing the director’s office underscore the studio’s commitment to bespoke design.

All photographs are works of Napat Pattrayanond