Do you have work that needs to get done, a book to finish, some free time to spend, or a hankering to do something creative? If you answer “yes” to one or all these questions, then you may want to consider a visit to GalileOasis, an art and community space in Rachathewi housed in a compound of old converted shophouses.
Noppamas “Mam” Pattanakul, one of the co-founders of this new hotspot, describes GalileOasis as a creative hub inspired by Two Eight Theater Collective, the artist group headed by Professor Rassami Paoluengtong, on whose land the venue sits on.
As Mam explains, “Galileo” comes from the title of the first play the theater collective produced, while “oasis” is meant to evoke a feeling of peace and serenity amidst lush greenery.
GalileOasis is made up of old shophouses (over 40 years old), which Professor Rassami’s family used to rent out to Chinese migrants. After years of being operated as accommodations and stores, the structures became worn out and were eventually abandoned. A few years ago, the professor and his former students, Mam included, decided to reconstruct the buildings for an entirely different purpose.
“The professor always said that she wanted to own a theater and produce some plays,” says Mam. “Unfortunately, it seemed impossible to do that because it’s quite hard to find a space for rehearsals.” The birth of GalileOasis has turned the impossible into a possibility. It also brought about a reunion for Mam and the rest of the other members of Two Eight Theater Collective, who all still share the same passion for the performing arts. This time, though, their goal was to go beyond their theater aspirations.
“If you go find some of these old and cheap buildings around Bangkok, you usually see them with a rectangle-shaped appearance, a single bathroom under stairs, and a deck on the third floor for us to hang our clothes after washing. All of them are the same.”
So they all came together to turn the decades-old buildings into a place where creativity can flourish. "We tried to renovate [the buildings] as simply as possible. We consulted architects and decided to use “new and old’ as a concept.” New functional features were added to the buildings but many elements of the original structure, including decor left by former tenants, were retained.
(Re)construction began in 2019. Each three-floor building was rebuilt as four separate blocks—A, B, C and D—divided by a footpath and a green common area. A 60-seat theater occupies the entire third floor of block B. It also serves as a space for rehearsals and events. Parts of each building can accommodate shops, as long as they complement GalileOasis’ concept.
During the first phase of the GalileOasis’s refurbishment, COVID-19 didn’t even exist. Bangkok was an attractive destination that saw a large number of tourists. It was the perfect time to open a 19-key hotel in blocks A, C, and D.
Sadly, the pandemic came, and the lack of tourists left the hotel rooms empty. GalileOasis was quick to turn the situation around by launching Piccolo Vicolo, a café that helped attract locals. "On the very first days of opening, we couldn't believe that there were actually people who craved a communal space to hang out in. Some of them are neighborhood residents who live just three minutes away,” Mam recounts.
GalileOasis didn’t wait long to unveil their next endeavor: a gallery where any artist can exhibit their work, and where people can come to find inspiration in art. Pretty soon, retailers were opening shops at the compound—hit record store Recoroom relocated to GalileOasis from Ekkamai.
The creative hub also began hosting events such as book fairs, mini music festivals, and arts and crafts markets, which helped generate hype.
"In my opinion, each of our partners has a different objective. For me, however, I wanted to create this center for everyone who loves the arts, even if you aren’t a writer, artist, actor or actress," Mam says. "We didn’t have a perfect plan for this renovation. We just love the arts and wish to pass on [our passion] to the next generation."