PN architects

It's been 1.5 months since I officially became a visiting-tutor (special thanks to Morana from N.Y.), not sure if I can really teach my students anything in 'Architecture' as I am no longer an 'Architect'.
But Architecture is about people, how they interact with each other is somehow influenced by our environment (imagine you are walking on a long-narrow corridor, a stranger is approaching from the other end, you can hardly avoid eye contact in this situation- because of this corridor), PN is about people- the place which is not designed by any professionals but a married couple (Rose & Oak) who understand 'people'. A good architect must understand people, A person who understand people can also be an architect- as he/she know what you need.

More about teaching

are you happy?

I always feel that PN has something special - the people. Not only our gangs but guests who stayed with us. Every individual is like a magnet, you attract people who share similar interest & quality.
Surely PN is not an ideal place for people who look for luxury or clinical comfort, but a place where you can find sincere people who truly want you to feel happy (Mandarin Oriental and Penisula certainly make guests very happy, but what about the staff? do they also feel very happy?).
'People' is everything we have, so we will try our best to keep everyone happy-from staff to guests.
So how to keep staff happy?
listen to them (encourage them to comment on things, give them time), support their passions (right people in the right place, help them to find their passions), make sure they have time for rest (decent amount of holidays), add value onto them (let them build up more skills), give them freedom (no lunch hour- eat whenever they want, no time card- but still need to be on time, anyway it's all about self-discipline), be fair (give what they deserve, not the standard set by the industry), eventually no hierarchy (we are each others teacher)

By the way if PN gangs think something is not as promising as mentioned above, please come to have a chat or drop your line in the suggestion box (on the kitchen wall) :)

P.N. sister from the north- "Pak Chiang Mai" by Donald

CafeDouble bedroom
Atrium, 2nd floor
Massage sala
Single room


Atrium, 2nd floor


Entrance to the en-suite
En-suite

Hand-painted wall
Room's balcony

Our little sister was born last week in Chiang Mai, called "Pak Chiang Mai". Before I typed this sentence I've been thinking for how to write this in an interesting way since I am very bad at writing. I choose not to polish the words and just tell you what I know ( I mean you have to cope with my awful writing).
Noon, our former staff who used to work in PN as a team leader and also a chef, some of you must remember her if you stayed here before last Oct 2007. In my eyes she is a person filled with enthusiasm & ambition. Last year she told us that her family would like to open a guest house either in Chiang Mai or Trat, everyone fully supported her to start her own business, including me & P Rose.
Last November they had made the decision and invite me to visit the site in Chiang Mai. At first glance the location looks a bit similar to PN in Bangkok, however it has some charm that is only available in Chiang Mai- a really slow pace atmosphere. Opposite to the site (where Pak Chiang Mai is located) is a pottery garden where you can see the process of making pottery sculptures, the garden itself is very refreshing & peaceful. The guest house is surrounded by private residents, a safe & quiet area ( the neighborhoods seem a bit wealthier than in Thewet).
I was honored to help them on the architectural planning & I went back to BKK to spare few days to finalize the plan.
The rest should be told by Noon & her family as they poured their heart into this project for more than six months, everything that you will see in Pak Chiang Mai is their own creation- decor style, breakfast, interior design, graphics & etc.... although you may be able to trace a bit of details from P.N.!
This 9 rooms guest house just opened its door last week, some of our P.N. gangs will also go there in the coming week to see their sister. If interested please contact Noon at noon_jaa@hotmail.com or visit our temporary web page

EVERGREEN by Ake, translated by Boom

I’ve grown up among the ever-greenness of several kind of trees; some can be eaten while some cannot be. But the only one thing that the trees in my home has is the freshness they gave to me in every time that I get close to them. Once I wake up, I usually stand still to welcome the morning sunshine at my vegetables garden which my family and I planted together. I cast a look at the raindrop which is lying itself on the top of them. It is very beautiful when it is lightened by the sunshine.

I lived with my family for 18 years, then had to leave home to earn a living in Bangkok. I worked in this chaotic city for 2 years. I’m very tired. I miss my home, my trees and also warming sunshine at my place but I can’t go back because I haven’t found what I look for yet. Until the day that I knew Phranakorn-Nornlen. This place teaches me to know more about myself, to think and to do. But the coolest thing that PN gave me is a chance to do what I want and that’s the beginning of the PN’s rooftop garden!

When I first opened its gate, I was amazed with something. I saw greenness, heard the sound of water flows plus the music which was played like knowing what I long for. It brought me to life again! I walked around the house (the word I call PN) to greet all trees with happiness until I forgot that I was working. Later I had to take my eyes of them although I didn’t want to.

When time passed in the afternoon, I surveyed my home again with curiosity. My heart was in merry. I looked at the paintings on the wall as if I was hypnotized; they were full of power and the spirit of the painter. I enjoyed looking at them, and then I arrived at the rooftop by chance. My heart was sad when I saw something in front of my face. I sighed while I stared at cement floor which was burned up by the heat of the sunlight then I could see its ray which arose from the floor like the smoke that was launched from a stove! I looked at it for a while and talked to myself that I wouldn’t leave this place into dryness like my heart right now.

I began to think about what I have to do to make this place green like my home. I thought about this for a week. Until the second week, one day I was very hungry, so I bought papaya salad (Som-Tum) from the front of the street. The seller gave me some vegetables ; eggplants, white green and basil which made me very happy. So I brought all of them to eat at the rooftop. While I was about to pick them up, they slipped out of my hand. Soon they were scatted all over the floor. I saw the eggplant rolled with anger in my clumsy. Then I picked and heap them. Suddenly, when I saw the greenness of vegetables which was contrast with the white cement floor, my idea was popped up that I would grow vegetables!

I tried in many ways to present this to the house owner. Luckily, it’s like a will of God that inspired her to think the same as me. I smiled happily after hearing the approval. What is my rooftop garden like?

Yaa- the PN artist by Dream

When you walk into our Phranakorn Nornklen Hotel, the first thing which attractive you is the big Phranakorn district painting map on the wall in reception area. It reflect to meticulousness and attention of the painter. That make many guests wondering and can not to refrain to ask “Who is the painter?”
P’Ya, a 28 years old young man, the painter of Phranakorn Nornlen. He graduated in The Faculty of Painting Sculpture and Graphic Arts at Silpakorn University. He first started working at Phranakorn Nornlen 3 years ago, P’Ya know P’Rose’s friend (P’Rose is the hotel owner) and during that time P’Rose need someone to paint and decorate the hotel. So, P’Ya has attended to be the part of the hotel until nowadays.
P’Ya told me about his past with full of sorrow which I can feel how happy he is. He told me about the first time he walked into the hotel that “Oh! How depressed place it is.” “This place make me thinking of the horror movie.” But it’s just a covering. “I felt strange at first.” “But I’m happy to be here, no pressure, feel free and sprightly that’s why I love to be here and still be the part of the hotel”

As you know by your sight, The big Phranakorn district painting map (at the reception) is his master piece. He took a month to paint this wall especially The Grand Palace which took him 3 days to finish! The map was P’Rose and P’Oak's idea, but P’Ya had to figre out everthing by himself, from drawing style to color tone.
Moreover, every rooms of our hotel are also painted by P’Ya! Each of them has different mood & style, which make you feel refreshed & relaxed. All the rooms were designed by P’Rose. P’Ya told me about the working progress, after P’Rose told him what she what the room to look like, then he’ll find some reference from Internet or books in order to get a rough concept in mind, and then start drawing!
The color tone of each room is dependent on pattern and room’s character. Some of the rooms still maintain the original pattern from the previous 'hotel' , the combination between the old wallpaper and new painting make the room look more refreshing, rustic and full of suprise.
P’Ya is beloved by everyone in the hotel because of his easy-going character even being a solitude. He told me about the motivation which make him to become artist, Egon Schiele is his idol and Chalermchai Kositpipat, a thai artist who inspired P’Ya to study in Arts. Beside the artworks at P.N. , P’Ya also paint but only respond to his desire & not for sale. He said one day he would love to have his own gallery if possible.
His viewpoint of life: "Take it easy, if you want to do anything, keep going but don’t bring troubles to anyone."
Remark : P’ refer to someone older than you. Thai people have to say this word before the name to show the respect.

Noodles story by Tukta, translated by Boom

Since Somdej Phranarai period, Thailand traded with many foreign countries. And one of those is China! Chinese people sailed their junks to trade with Thai people. Not only the goods, they also brought noodles (in Thai we called it “Guai Tiew”), too! It was normally cooked while they were on a journey. To cook noodles, they boiled it in pork soup filled with some kind of vegetables. For Thai people, it was exceptional menu. Apart from that, Chinese people began to make their own noodles in Thailand by using paddy rice.
After Ayuthaya period, later we were in Thonburi period. There were many Chinese people came to Thailand to trade and earn for their livings. So, producing noodles was so popular because it could be bought easily. The sellers would serve the buyers by carrying their stuffs at both end of a pole by placing on their shoulders. They also sold by paddling. And they would serve you both with soup (we called it Nam) and no soup (we called it Hang).
So, noodles was one of the fast food menu during that period.
In this issue, I visited a noodle shop which is situated along Padung Krung Kasem Canal or The Wet intersection (not far from our hotel) for more than 79 years! And I want to recommend you this place. There are Sen-Lek (thin noodles) , Sen-Yai (broad rice noodles), Sen-Mee (thin rice noodles) , Ba-Mee (egg noodles) and Woonsen (glass noodles) available here. Each will give you different taste. All of these you can order both noodle soup (Guai Tiew Nam) or the noodle with no soup (Guai Tiew Hang) which will be served with a little bowl of soup (filled with pepper) to make it more tasty. I suggest you to fill a little amount of mashed and roasted beans, sugar, fish sauce.
If you love spicy food, you shouldn’t miss noodles in spicy soup (Tom Yum). It’s really delicious!
In every bowl, you will see the meatballs which are designed in different shape like flat and round ones both in deep fry and hard-boiled. And you can pick some crispy fried fishskin to fulfil your yummy noodles! About the price, it’s not expensive – only 30 Baht.
Note : When you order noodles, you have to tell the size of the noodles. Then follow with Nam (noodle soup) and Hang (no soup) like Sen-Lek Nam (thin noodles soup) and Ba-Mee Hang (egg noodles with no soup) etc.

Tar story by Tar, translated by Boom

Good morning. Let me introduce myself first ka! My name is Tar. Some of you may recognize me, but it’s fine for those who may not. I’m a barrista at Phranakorn-Nornlen. Before now, I worked as a front house staff at the reception desk. I worked for almost 2 years and wanted to try something new in another position. So I was assigned to a new one, that is taking care of food and baverage and also stocks in the kitchen. Some days, I cook food (mostly light meals) for our guests especially in my friend’s day off! Soon, I will be a professional chef (I have a dream and have to reach the goal). One reason that I was changed to a new task is I like to eat tasty food, so I want others to try my cuisine! The other one is I think sometimes we should do brand new things to make our lives interesting (P’Rose told us that anyone who has many dimensions in oneself is an interesting person and being such a person, we have to be eager in learning new things!) And we can find out what we like and dislike. I don’t mean that you to quit your job. I do mean that just doing anything that you are happy like I’m doing right now.

But I don’t discard the front house desk! I still help front house stuff by giving our guests’ information (they usually ask for information when they see me at the cafe’)
So I feel that I work both at front house desk and the cafe’ at the same time! And that’s a lot of fun. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask me. I’m glad to find the information for you J

Oh, I almost forget to tell you that our hotel will grow our own vegetables ; non chemical. You will have a question like why we do that. The answer is we are organic hotel! We want our guests to get something fresh, clean, delicious and be healthy. That’s why we grow our own. Because normally, there are not much free chemical vegetables sold in marketplace to make it looks fresh.

Want to know where is our vegetables will be grown? All of them are at rooftop ka. We just began this project recently (while our hotel was closed on March) and placed some of its structure. You can take a look at the picture na ka. And one more thing that make our rooftop garden unique from the others is the gardeners. They are not someone who normally be a gardener but also our staffs. They have a passion in taking care of the vegetables so our owner let they do it. I think they incredibly go along with it!

I would like you guys to encourage us to run this project and soon you will taste our organic vegetables. And I will let you know about its progress later. And maybe the seasonal vegetables added!

Have a nice day kaa!