WORLD ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL TAGGED TEAMS WITH GROHE, A LIXIL’S POWER BRAND, IN CREATING THE EVENT IN BANGKOK TO LET THAI DESIGNERS GET TO KNOW THE FESTIVAL BETTER
TEXT: PRATCHAYAPOL LERTWICHA
PHOTO: KETSIREE WONGWAN EXCEPT AS NOTED
(For Thai, press here)
The highly anticipated World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2023 is scheduled to take place from November 29th to December 1st, 2023 at Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay Sands, a fresh shift from the event’s typical European locations in previous years. WAF 2023 promises an array of engaging activities, including exhibitions, and the highly anticipated ‘Catalyst’ talk featuring legendary architect Peter Cook, the visionary behind Archigram, as the keynote speaker. Additionally, architects from around the globe are invited to participate in the WAF Awards competition, a platform to showcase their projects.
To the Thai public, WAF isn’t exactly a household name despite having been around for many years already. GROHE, LIXIL’s power brand, collaborates with WAF to present ‘World Architecture Festival 2023: An intimate evening with WAF’ at the LIXIL Experience Center in Bangkok. The event aims to familiarize a broader community of Thai designers with the upcoming festival.
Paul Finch, the Founder & Programme Director of WAF
Paul Finch, the Founder and Programme Director of WAF, flew into Bangkok and gave a proper introduction to the festival himself. What sets WAF apart is its core essence as a platform for global architectural and landscape design competitions. Held in conjunction with WAF is the interior design award organized by Inside World Festival of Interiors. The shortlisted participants will have the opportunity to showcase their projects to the judging panels, who will provide live feedback on each project. Such interactions are what make WAF one of a kind.
Audrey Yeo – Leader, LIXIL Water Technology, Thailand and Indochina along with Munggorn Chaijaroenmaitre, Korakoth Kunalungkarn, and Chana Sumpalung respectively
The event ‘World Architecture Festival 2023: An intimate evening with WAF’ saw the presence of notable figures from the Thai design and architecture industry, including Chana Sumpalung, President of the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage, Korakoth Kunalungkarn, President of Thailand Interior Designers’ Association, and Munggorn Chaijaroenmaitre, President of Thai Association of Landscape Architects.
The three presidents of the three professional associations have expressed their desire to see an increased participation of Thai architects and designers at the World Architecture Festival (WAF). They believe that WAF not only provides a platform for designers and architects to showcase their work on an international level, but also offers a valuable opportunity to expand their horizons by networking and connecting with fellow professionals from around the globe.
Thai architects have achieved notable success at the World Architecture Festival (WAF). Among them is Ekkachan Eiamananwattana from Creative Crews, who received the first prize in the Health & Education category for the ‘Classroom Makeover’ project designed specifically for the visually impaired. Additionally, Eiamananwattana’s work was recognized, selected as the Interior of the Year Highly Commended award from WAF/INSIDE in 2019. Ekkachan has also been invited to join the judging panel of WAF/INSIDE and WAF China since 2020, including the upcoming event in 2023.
This year, Pichai Wongwaisayawan, Deputy Managing Director of A49, and Niwat Aunprueng, Senior Partner of PIA Interior, have also been invited to join the judging panel. The two esteemed Thai architects and designers, will bring their expertise and experience to the WAF unique judging’s process.
Tickets for the World Architecture Festival 2023 are now available for purchase at worldarchitecturefestival.com. As for the people who want to submit your projects, just keep working for the time being and be sure to try again next year.
For more news and information about World Architecture Festival, visit worldarchitecturefestival.com. For updates about GROHE’s latest products and innovations, visit facebook.com/GrohePacific and instagram.com/grohe_thai