A BOOK BY JENCHIEH HUNG AND KULTHIDA SONGKITTIPAKDEE FROM HAS DESIGN AND RESEARCH EXHIBITED IN FRONT 100 EXHIBITION AT MILAN DESIGN WEEK
Since 2023, versatile architects Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee, founders of HAS Design and Research, have made significant contributions to architecture publishing. In collaboration with the renowned Thai publishing company art4d, they have authored several books, including Infinity Ground – Thailand and Taiwan Contemporary Architecture, Collective Language – Asian Contemporary Architecture, and From MANufAcTURE to Architecture – Museum of Modern Aluminum.
Throughout their careers, Hung And Songkittipakdee (HAS) have explored the architectural language of Asia, seamlessly blending innovative design with rigorous research. Their work is renowned for its focus on the relationship between nature and man-made structures. Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee are dedicated to creating architecture that integrates harmoniously with urban environments, a concept they describe as “The Improvised, MANufAcTURE, and Chameleon Architecture.”
From MANufAcTURE to Architecture – Museum of Modern Aluminum, authored by Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee in collaboration with art4d, is part of Thailand’s soft power initiative and is currently being showcased at the prestigious Milan Design Week in Italy.
This book provides a comprehensive exploration of their design philosophy. Through a blend of narrative essays, drawings, diagrams, and architectural photography, From MANufAcTURE to Architecture effectively conveys the ideas of Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee. It offers readers insight into the dynamic interplay between ambition and reality, as well as the challenges and successes encountered throughout the development of this captivating architectural project.
The art4d book by Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee, exhibited at Milan Design Week, is part of The Slow Hand Design exhibition, presented by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) in collaboration with Thailand’s Creative Culture Agency (THACCA). This exhibition introduces the FRONT 100 initiative at Milan Design Week 2025, showcasing 100 up-and-coming architects, designers, and creative entrepreneurs from Thailand. The initiative represents a new wave of Thai creativity, where innovation seamlessly blends with cultural heritage. Curated by a panel of industry experts, FRONT 100 reflects the evolving narrative of Thai design. In their work, form and function intersect with cultural storytelling, while architecture and interior design act as vehicles for social and environmental transformation. By exploring new materials, sustainable practices, and innovative methods, the talents featured in the 2025 edition are redefining how design interacts with the world around us. Through sustainable architecture and culturally rooted aesthetics, these creators offer a vision of the future that merges tradition with forward-thinking solutions.
About Jenchieh Hung + Kulthida Songkittipakdee / HAS Design and Research: With a diverse portfolio of completed projects in Thailand and China, the studio has become one of the most significant and innovative players among Thai and Asian architects. Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee are widely regarded for their influential contributions to the architectural world. Known not only for their cutting-edge designs but also for their role in shaping the future of architectural thought, they have made significant impacts through both teaching and curatorial work. Both were invited as guest editors for the Journal of the Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA), promoting the works of Thai architects on a global stage. Furthermore, they have authored three notable publications: THE Improvised – Phetkasem Artist Studio (2021), which explores new identities through uniqueness; From MANufAcTURE to Architecture – Museum of Modern Aluminum (2024), which expresses how architecture serves as a bridge between nature and humanity; and their upcoming publication, Chameleon Architecture – Shifting, Adapting, and Evolving (2025) with art4d, which focuses on new research and practices in architecture.
Exhibition name: FRONT 100
Organizers: Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP); Thailand Creative Culture Agency (THACCA); Design Excellent Award (DEmark); Thai Trade Center Milan
Location: Milan Design Week; Superstudio Più, Milan, Italy
Dates: April 7-13, 2025