(Scroll down to the end for Free Online Live links)

BACKGROUND
To promote contemporary architectural development in Asia, and to improve the international influence of Asian architects, from 2023, Architecture Asia will publish a series of issues focusing on contemporary architecture in Asian countries or regions where the ARCASIA member institutes located in. To expand a broader discussion and international publicity, Architecture Asia Forum Series is going to be held on the topic related to the issues. The first issue and forum are themed as “Thailand Contemporary Architecture”. Thailand architects Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee are invited as the guest editors and forum convenors. The issue and forum aim to express the new tendency of Thailand contemporary architecture.

INTRODUCTION

Local Progressive

Thailand embarked on rapid industrialization and commercialization soon after the Cold War in Southeast Asia ended in the 1980s. The nation was open to overseas investment and diverse commitment. Changes in policy led to a boom in real estate of residence and office buildings. As pioneers, large architectural firms, such as Architects 49 and Plan Architect, committed to redefining the architectural discourses of Thailand between modernity and tradition. During that time, Bangkok, the capital metropolis, expanded in “vertical growth” and “horizontal transplant”

Whether “vertical” or “horizontal”, Thailand contemporary architecture shows a uniqueness from those in other countries and regions under western dominance. A constant exploration is conducted in spatial languages, material utilization, craftsmanship in details, etc. Practices by architecture studios, such as Department of ARCHITECTURE, IDIN Architects, Stu/D/O Architects, and HAS design and research, reveal a combination of local culture and modern technology beyond duplication of colonial culture. Moreover, against the homogenization of Asian cities, studios, including Vin Varavarn Architects, EKAR Architects, Patchara + Ornnicha Architecture, and Sher Maker, contribute to promoting architectural design in rural areas far away from the capital city. They erect inspiring projects in Udon Thani, Phetchabun, Suphanburi, Chiang Mai, and other areas by exploring the integration of vernacular culture, conventional aesthetics, and sustainable materials.

ADDRESS BY HONORED GUESTS

Abu Sayeed M. Ahmed
President, Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA)
Dean, Faculty of Environmental Science and Design, University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka

Chana Sumpalung
President, The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (ASA) 
Managing Director of Architect 49 (Phuket)
Deputy Managing Director of Architects 49 House Design

WU Jiang
Editor-in-Chief, Architecture Asia
Past Vice President, Zone C, ARCASIA
Professor, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University
Standing Council Member of the Architectural Society of China

SPEECHES BY 10 THAILAND ARCHITECTS
CLICK the portraits for more information about the architects

Jenchieh Hung & Kulthida Songkittipakdee 
HAS design and research
Architectural Identity and Cultural Derivative

 
Nithi Sthapitanonda & Narongwit Areemit
Architects 49
Data Driven Architecture

 
Varudh Varavarn
Vin Varavarn Architects
The Possibilities of Transformation

 
Apichart Srirojanapinyo & Chanasit Cholasuek 
Stu/D/O Architects
Change and Continuity

 
Patchara Wongboonsin & Ornnicha Duriyaprapan
Patchara + Ornnicha Architecture
The Dialogues around Architecture

 
Amata Luphaiboon & Twitee Vajrabhaya
Department of ARCHITECTURE
Department of ARCHITECTURE

 
Patcharada Inplang & Thongchai Chansamak
Sher Maker
Architecture as Literally Life

 
Jeravej Hongsakul
IDIN Architects
Contextual Interpretation

 
Ekaphap Duangkaew
EKAR Architects
Not Only Human Architecture

 
Sinn Phonghanyudh & Jittinun Jithpratugs
Plan Architect
New Challenge in Architectural Design

PANEL DISCCUSION

WU Jiang
Editor-in-Chief, Architecture Asia
Past Vice President, Zone C, ARCASIA
Professor, College of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tongji University
Standing Council Member of the Architectural Society of China

ZHU Xiaofeng
Founding principal of Scenic Architecture Office

Veronica Ng
Associate Professor, Head, School of Architecture, Building & Design, Taylor's University, Malaysia

Nuno Soares
Head of the Department of Architecture and Design, University of Saint Joseph Macau

Nilda Valentin
Professor, Faculty of Architecture, Sapienza University of Rome

FREE ONLINE LIVE
CLICK the links or SCAN the QR Code

YouTube@archipelago: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiySM6MZV51suhTuHlxGYBg

Bilibili@群岛archipelago: https://space.bilibili.com/521255250/

Wechat@群岛 | Archipelago

HOST
Architecture Asia
The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage, ASA

SUPERVISOR
Architects Regional Council Asia, ARCASIA
Architectural Society of China, ASC