Thai architects win awards at international event
Thai architecture is going through a watershed moment. We have witnessed interesting designs, such as the ultra-modern MahaNakhon building, a number of conceptually designed community malls, and good public spaces. Some projects are designed by foreign architects and many by local talents. At the international level, good news concerns Thai architects winning awards at this year’s World Architecture Festival.
The World Architecture Festival — one of the largest international gatherings of architects — announced its 2016 winners last week, at an event in Berlin. Three projects from Thailand won the “highly commended award” (second place), for three categories.
1) For the school category, the Hong Rean Por Dee Por Dee Project by Vin Varavarn Architects.
2) For the commercial building category, the Commons from Department of Architecture.
3) For the future masterplaning, Co-Create Charoenkrung from Shma SoEn.
The Hong Rean Por Dee Por Dee Project Category: School Company: Vin Varavarn Architects
The stylish Baan Huay Sarn Yaw School on stilts in Chaing Rai province, would make students across the country feel envious, as it looks relaxing, fun and attractive. The school was designed by Vin Varavarn Architects. The project began in response to the 6.3 magnitude earthquake in 2014 that destroyed or damaged 73 schools in Chiang Rai province. The project, which rebuilt nine schools, was initiated by the non-profit research and design initiative Design for Disasters.
“The basic requirement is that it has to be earthquake resistant,” ML Varudh Varavarn of Vin Varavarn Architects told the media. “We picked steel for the main structure to increase stability while other materials are lightweight such as fibre cement board and transparent resin roofing.” Yet, the architect went a step ahead, by creating an enticing design to help motivate students to want to go to school. Local materials like bamboo have been utilised in many parts. Metal sheets were covered in order to reduce noise pollution and heat and the buildings were surrounded with flower pot shelves.
The Commons, Bangkok Category: Shopping — completed buildings Company: Department of Architecture
Among the highly competitive commercial area of Thong Lor, the community mall The Commons aims to be the neighbourhood’s backyard. Instead of packing it with franchise stores, The Commons presents local shops with passionate owners and allocates space for common ground where anyone can freely hang out and enjoy choice activities.
Unlike a mainstream shopping space, chief architect Amata Luphaiboon of the Department of Architecture created “the atrium” design in order to ease wind flow. On the skylight, roof fans were installed. Some absorb heat while others blow a cool breeze.
Apart from the common area, each shop is specifically designed to fit each shop owner’s requirements as the architects and the shop owners worked together in almost every phase of development.
Co-Create Charoenkrung, Bangkok Category: Masterplanning — future projects Company: Shma SoEn
Despite the design being in its blueprint stage, the project will attract public attention and life into the Charoen Krung area. The neighbourhood of Charoen Krung fuses modern lifestyle with its rich history, and the project’s design is part of its transformation.
Initiated by Thailand Creative & Design Centre (TCDC), Co-Create is a new space that will highlight the idea of Charoen Krung as a “creative hub”.
The common desire of all stakeholders was to improve the infrastructure and footpaths to provide easier access to public transportation, restore abandoned buildings into places for recreational activities and to add more green space to the area.
The World Architecture Festival is a respected and increasingly popular architectural awards ceremony, with gongs given in 12 categories.
National Museum in Szczecin, Poland, by Robert Konieczny-KWK Promes studio, was named World Building of the Year 2016.