The Roles of CAFÉ in Promoting Creative District of S0i Ari, Bangkok

Abstract

The present mixed-method study aimed to 1) explore the role of coffee shops in promoting a creative area of Ari Alley, Bangkok, explained through economic, social, and physical aspects and 2) establish key insights into the development of creative areas by means of coffee shops in other parts of Bangkok. Four hundred visitors to 10 different coffee shops throughout Ari Alley responded to a questionnaire. Further data were collected through interviews, observation, and documentation review.

          The results indicated that the coffee shops in the present study all provided the visitors with their own unique ambience that was reflective of the visitors’ different personalities. In other words, the alley comprised traditional coffee shops, contemporary ones, old house-turned ones, and small ones. Concerning the role of those coffee shops in terms of the economic, social, and physical aspects, it was found that, from an economic perspective, none of the shops sourced ingredients locally. Additionally, there were no drinks or snacks that could represent the area. From a social point of view, all the shops actively encouraged visitors to interact with each other and created a space for conversation, activities, and fun, perfectly embodying the so-called ‘Third Place’. Through the physical lens, there were renovations of buildings being undertaken to increase their architectural value; however, neither pedestrian footways nor green spaces were found to be enough.