Sam Nathapong

Seeds of Change: The new parks brightening up Bangkok

From a huge new park by the Crown Property Bureau opening in August to small-scale independent initiatives, there are new green spaces dotted all over the city. Here are the people behind them.

9 years ago

city living

By Monruedee Jansuttipan | Jul 08, 2015

Made by Legacy founder on learning history through the stuff we buy

Vudi Somboonkulavudi, 32, is a partner at Sugar Ray cocktail bar and one of the founding members behind Made by Legacy, the Brooklyn-inspired flea market that arguably kick-started the weekend market trend in Bangkok. Twice a year since 2012, the now-iconic event has taken place at historic locations around the city. This Jul 11-12, however, marks the first time the market has moved to a shopping mall, when it takes over the unopened sixth floor of Central Embassy. Here, he talks about why we should care about the history behind the things we buy.

9 years ago

city living

By Sam Nathapong | Jul 07, 2015

Emporium

Neighborhood Guide: Phrom Phong

Luxury malls and worldclass restaurants abound in Bangkok’s most exclusive district. But what’s it like to live there?

9 years ago

city living

By Sam Nathapong | Jul 06, 2015

The star architect building up Bangkok's slums

Pioneering Thai architect Patama Roonrakwit, 47, has made it her life’s work to improve the situation of people living in Bangkok’s slums. In 1997, she founded Community Architects for Shelter and Environment (CASE), an architectural firm working with communities across Thailand to develop impoverished urban settlements. In 2010, the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, Ministry of Culture of Thailand, awarded her the Silpathorn Award. We caught up with Patama on her return from this year’s arcVision Prize in Milan, where she received an honorable mention in the Women and Architecture category, to discuss her lifelong obsession with houses, and why you should never call her a community architect.

9 years ago

city living

By Sam Nathapong | Jul 03, 2015

Waraluck Hiransrettawat

Still from Y/Our Music

From SXSW to Siam: Thai music documentary's long road to Bangkok's big screen

On Jun 9, documentary-maker Waraluck Hiransrettawat, 45, presents the Bangkok debut of Y/Our Music, her co-directorial project with British director David Reeve which first screened in Austin, Texas, as part of March’s South by Southwest (SXSW) film and music festival. The film explores the diversity in Thailand’s musical landscape by visiting various locations and communities across the country, from rural labor songs to urban pop music. Here, Waraluck dicusses what it takes to kickstart an innovative film-making project in Bangkok.

9 years ago

city living

By Sam Nathapong | Jul 03, 2015

Pearypie on why beauty is more than skin-deep

Thai beauty-blogging sensation Amata ‘Pear’ Chittasenee, 26, better known as Pearypie, has amassed more than 186,000 subscribers to her YouTube channel (youtube.com/pearypie) where she posts make-up tutorials and reviews. Having just returned from New York, where she drew a crowd of fans at the Sephora Times Square Shop, Pear talks to us about the experiences that shaped her.

9 years ago

city living

By Arisa Wiwatsomwong | Jun 25, 2015

Suthep Thaugsuban: 'Why I'm not returning to politics'

Shortly after the military coup of May 22, 2014, Suthep Thaugsuban, 65, leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), entered the Buddhist monkhood. An outspoken right-wing politician and former deputy prime minister under Abhisit Vejjajiva’s Democrat Party government (2008-2011), Suthep led an anti-corruption protest that gathered an estimated 10 million followers despite having previously been embroiled in a corruption scandal himself. BK visited the conservative firebrand in Surat Thani province to discuss his opinions on military intervention, and why he considers himself a born politician.

9 years ago

city living

By Sam Nathapong | Jun 19, 2015

Riverside promenade to move ahead without environmental impact study

The 7km-long project spanning both sides of the Chao Phraya River poses no risk to locals or the environment, the BMA says.

9 years ago

city living

By Sam Nathapong | Jun 11, 2015

Tiny Gardens: Bangkokians turning their homes into urban green spaces

Meet the green-fingered locals blending urban style and nature.

9 years ago

city living

By Sam Nathapong | Jun 10, 2015

The human rights lawyer banned from speaking in public on why she fears for Thailand

As a lawyer specializing in human rights for over 22 years, Yaowalak Anupan, 48, was one of the scheduled speakers for last Thursday’s (Jun 4) disbanded briefing at the Foreign Correspondent Club of Thailand on the country’s current human rights situation under the junta. Her work as the co-founder of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, which provides support to Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNCHR), was awarded in December 2014 by the French Embassy in Bangkok with its inaugural Human Rights Award. Here, she talks about the challenges currently facing human rights work in Thailand.

9 years ago

city living

By Sam Nathapong | Jun 10, 2015