“It’s our intention to build first a community, then a mall,” says Varatt. Thonglor’s communal space The Commons, co-founded by Varatt and his elder sister Vicharee, opened in 2016. Set in a brilliantly designed building, it has been featured in many local and international publications, and won many awards, with the latest one being the Jury and Popular Choice accolades at the Architizer A+ Awards 2017. The four-storey venue is divided into four areas, the market (kitchen), the village (open-air deck, retail), the play yard and top yard (a communal green space), which fulfills different needs. Varatt also founded boutique roaster Roots and cafe Roast. His most recent fine-dining venture, Ocken, serves fusion food. It is a haven for creatives and those seeking inspiration, with live DJs in the house and a broad range of workshops hosted every day, from painting, soapmaking to chocolate making. Additionally, The Commons has built a focus on community initiatives, with several projects aimed at enhancing the life of the surrounding neighbourhood. For example, they have partnered with Bankok Soap Opera to hold montly soapmaking worshops, where community members can help to transform the used cooking oil from vendors into liquid soap for the washrooms.