Bangkok's un-Bangkok retail behemoth, the Crystal Design Center

When it comes to shopping in Bangkok, city residents have grown accustomed to crowded and cramped cookie cutter retail spaces, all filled with the same shops and franchise restaurants. Which is why the Crystal Design Center feels so 'un-Bangkok.'

The developers have taken a 73-rai plot of land and filled it with various contemporary retail buildings. The scale feels American and the shopping experience is as about as far from the Jatujak Weekend Market as you could imagine. Mothers, have no fear! Bring your baby strollers. In fact, you could drive your car down the connecting walkways here. 

Within the tens of thousands of square meters of retail space are 2,000 product lines aimed at regular shoppers, professional interior designers, architects, builders, decorators and international customers. Computer terminals in each building allow you to search the directory of stores. Given the vast space, it’s a welcome service. 

Not all the retail outlets are doing business yet but by mid-year the developer K.E. Land expects almost all shops to be open. Among them are upscale lighting and accessory stores such as Design Source, custom-designed furniture shops like Century Foundation, Italian kitchen specialist Artison, American Standard and Shower King. Crystal Design Center also features a branch of the successful SB Design Square, featuring model room designs. 

Thai retailers and designers aren’t being overlooked either. CDC Forum offers space for local merchandisers to display their goods, in order to attract both domestic and international customers, and the concept seems set to attract new global brands interested in penetrating the Thai market.

But the concept of Crystal Design Center moves well beyond retail. Marketing itself as a one-stop destination for consumers, designers, suppliers and contractors alike, the location will ultimately feature product showrooms, exhibition and conference facilities, a design library, office space and restaurants (including café NYCC that features, of all things, Bangkok’s best pastrami sandwich). 

Part of the inspiration behind Crystal Design Center is that its location, Praditmanutham Road (Ekamai-Ram Intra Road), is home to many wealthy residents. Indeed, on my first visit here, members of the Porsche Club had lined up their rides in one of several parking lots before heading in for some beers at Est. 33, Singha’s new upscale microbrewery which is located at the center. 
 
Crystal Design Center is a positive sign for the city’s future. Here is a retail space for the upwardly mobile, inspiring visions of a brighter, more spacious Bangkok. 

getting there

Crystal Design Center
1420/1 Praditmanutham Road.
Between Lat Prao Soi 77 and Soi Yothin Pattana. Tel: +66 (0)2 101 5900 Open 10am-8pm on weekdays, 10:30am-9pm on weekends.
www.crystaldesigncenter.com