Palette of Possibilities HANDCRAFTED TILES BY THE CLIENT PROJECT COMBINE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN WITH TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE STORYTELLING SURFACES
TEXT: NATHATAI TANGCHADAKORN
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CLIENT PROJECT
(For Thai, press here)
Architects and designers typically select tiles based on practical considerations. Most architects tend to favor plain, neutral-colored tiles, while interior designers take into account a range of factors that influence their choices. The approach to using tiles, therefore, varies from project to project, and the real expertise often lies in the hands of the craftsmen rather than the designers themselves. Yet in Thailand, there are only a few who specialize in working with tiles in a deeply intentional way.
The Client Project is one such studio exploring the creative possibilities of the material. Led by Praewrung Chantumrongkul, Pimchanok Wangveeramit, and Pree Thirakul, the team integrates technology with the art of finely handcrafted tiles. They see surfaces not merely as an architectural element but as a medium that conveys the story of a place and the intentions of its owner.
Water Lily Reverie
For the three designers, the arrangement of tiles is not determined by decorative patterns but by the emotional atmosphere they wish to evoke for the building. Each shade of color is carefully chosen from individually handcrafted tiles, then composed through a computer-generated script. This digital process also determines the numbering and installation sequence on-site, ensuring that while the final outcome is shaped by human hands, it achieves a high degree of precision.
Water Lily Reverie
The wall tiles in The Client Project’s series are newly conceived pieces, each created to respond to the specific needs of individual commissions, as the name suggests. Their defining character lies in the idea of ‘Dissonance in Harmony,’ a deliberate play between contrast and cohesion. Colors that appear strikingly distinct up close are intentionally placed side by side, yet from a distance, they blend into a seamless, harmonious composition. Each project features its own set of tiles, unique in hue and form, introducing a new approach to installation every time. After extensive research and on-site testing of prototypes, the team proceeds to full-scale production, ensuring that the color tones remain true even under constantly shifting light conditions.
Water Lily Reverie
In a previous project titled Water Lily Reverie, the team drew inspiration from the scenery of a nearby pond, transforming its tranquil landscape into a series of softly toned tiles. Lotus flowers, lily pads, rippling reflections, and drifting clouds were reinterpreted as curved tiles whose surfaces bear delicate, brushstroke-like textures from the firing process. The project comprised more than 15,000 tiles, each one distinct from the next.
Palette of Possibilities
A completely different approach was taken in Palette of Possibilities. Designed for ORC Friends, a co-working space surrounded by books and Post-it notes, this project embraced a livelier and more vibrant palette. The colorful tiles stood in sharp contrast to the surrounding raw concrete surfaces. Up close, each tile appears boldly individual, yet when viewed from afar, they merge into a cohesive whole.
Palette of Possibilities
It becomes clear that combining handcrafted, individually made tiles with technology that refines overall precision yields a distinct kind of beauty, one born from the meticulous alignment of countless small details. This interplay between craftsmanship and computation creates a quietly spectacular harmony and opens up new creative possibilities. Looking ahead, The Client Project plans to turn its focus toward recycled materials, working with industry partners to integrate material engineering expertise. Their aim is to reveal and celebrate the inherent hues and natural textures embedded within these reclaimed resources.
Palette of Possibilities
