PTT SARAPHI

When the renovation of a gas station is the way to glorify skill of the craftsman in Chiang Mai, Thailand. 
 

PTT saraphi station is a pilot project of this design program by PTTOR, an organization in charge of PTT's affiliated gas stations in Thailand that want their station to become public space for passers and people in the local area.
Sher maker keeps the existing structure of the main sale building and encased the facade by questioning the possibility of participation of local people by using the skills of a local craftsmanship studio.

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Ceramic works were used as building materials because of two main points. The first reason came from the application of construction's material of Lanna architecture style such as clay roof tiles can turn to be facade material, meanwhile ceramic also a material that has the potential to be an external building material by itself. And the second part is to glorify the craftsmanship of the local people. Chiang Mai is considered a province that has many interesting craft movements in any kind of skill. And is an area that attracts craftsmen in many fields come to set up a studio in Chiang Mai and always try to emerge the quality of their crafts.
 

The ceramic facade is designed to be linked to the color of the sky during the changing times in a day. With the different reflect angles the surface is designed to be curve tile. Old style luster pearl glaze is used for this tile for plays with the reflection of light. The charm of ceramic work after glazing will cause each tile to have a slightly different color, resulting in a rhythm that reflects the environment of the architecture at different times.

Sher maker has co-developed ceramic tiles with 3 ceramic studios in Chaingmai. Making mock-up and burn first biscuits with the Chatchaiwat studio and design consult with Maerim ceramic, which is a tile expert in Chiang Mai. Final producing real materials with a pearl coating at Saraphi ceramic art and design, which located in the same area as the gas station.

Pearl coating technique is a technique that they that expertise and able to develop a production system that supports the building materials which fully demonstrated the potential of the technicians in the factory.
 

We hope this may be a pilot project that discusses the full use of local resources in the non-capital cities. Including local human resources, Craftsmanship skills, Knowledge and real income distribution to real local entrepreneurs.