JIM THOMPSON ART CENTER: AN ART GALLERY THAT CORDIALLY EMBRACES THE PEOPLE AND NARRATES THE STORY OF ITS PAST AND PRESENT
JIM THOMPSON ART CENTER
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WATSUK ARCHITECT STUDIO
PHOTO COURTESY OF WATSUK ARCHITECT STUDIO
(For Thai, press here)
WHO
Watsuk Architect Studio is an architectural practice with a focus on creating a design that exists in syn-chronization with its own context through an incorporation of nature, environment, people’s ways of life and needs, to enable a sustainable coexistence of all elements. That’s the concept behind Watsuk Architect Studio’s origin.
WHAT
Watsuk Architect Studio is an architectural practice with a focus on creating a design that exists in syn-chronization with its own context through an incorporation of nature, environment, people’s ways of life and needs, to enable a sustainable coexistence of all elements. That’s the concept behind Watsuk Architect Studio’s origin.
House Farm
WHEN
Founded in 2020 with the mindset to develop my own style of architecture, the actual beginning of the prac-tice dates back to my study at the Faculty of Architecture, Kasetsart University where the notion and prac-tice of sustainability has always been an integral part of my architectural education. All of the works I cre-ated during my school years were environmentally conscious and put a great deal of consideration on cre-ating usable and livable spaces for everyone. Then I had a chance to work in a design firm with a really well-organized and managed thought process, and gradually I garnered experiences and created works toward my own intended direction.
House Farm
WHERE
I’m currently based in Chonburi and I operate as a freelancer.
WHY
We’re living in the time when architecture is very diverse and people are offered greater alternatives to find a designer or architect that best suits their preferences. I believe that the typologies of residential buildings are different but there certain commonalities they all need to deliver, which include convenience and sus-tainability. Everyone should develop and learn together because it is both challenge and fun; experiencing something with the people who share the same interests as you.
Brick Cafe
Brick Cafe
How would you define creativity?
The future. I think creativity is a path leading us to the future. The development of small possibilities or even impossibilities that can benefit a society more or less; that can inspire myself and others to create even more and greater developments.
Junjao The Pool Villa Resort Diagram
Junjao The Pool Villa Resort Section & Diagram
Junjao The Pool Villa Resort Plan
Describe your practice in three words.
Emphatic I good environment I happiness.
Where do you go, or what do you do when you get stuck on a project?
Doing what I like is what I find to be a very good solution. I would draw, just about anything, and ideas would just come up. Sometimes, I would watch a movie on Netflix and some of the dialogues would catch my attention and became inspirations for me to think about my work. There was this one time where I worked on a project with my friend and our client said, “I got the inspiration behind the design of this resort from a song I was listening to. The album cover is this scene of a barbeque party in front of a house. I like how that image feels.” I think doing something else besides working really helps with how I find inspiration.
What project are you most proud of?
I’m proud of every work I did because each of them have their own context whether it’s the location, re-quirements, users or ecosystem. The Jan Jao Resort, for example, isn’t that visually striking in terms of design, but there is this quintessential Thai characteristic that makes it distinctive, as well as the experi-ences of being closer to nature it offers its users that are somehow healing.
If you could invite any creative out for coffee, who would you choose and why?
I really can’t choose. I want to invite designers from different fields so we can have a discussion about new ideas, issues and possible future directions of what we can do, and how our works can evolve. That would be interesting.
GOLEM 2022 – UNCANNY
IN GOLEM 2022 – UNCANNY EXHIBITION, RUANGSAK ANUWATWIMON CREATES A HUMAN-LIKE PERFECT CREATURE FROM OTHER LIVING SPECIES SPECIMENS, POINTING OUT THE PRICE OTHER LIVING SPECIES HAVE TO PAY FOR HUMAN ENDLESS DESIRES
PHOTO ESSAY : LIFEGUARD TOWERS MIAMI
TEXT & PHOTO: TOMMY KWAK
(For Thai, press here)
After the destruction of Hurricane Andrew on Miami Beach in 1992, the city of Miami commissioned a redesign of the lifeguard towers in vibrant fashion to uplift the spirits of the town. In the tradition of the Becher’s water tower series, this series of Tommy Kwak’s photographs methodically examines the 30+ iconic towers that have become symbols of South Florida’s revitalization. This award-winning series of photographs utilizes similar framing and long exposures to produce minimal sky and sea backdrops in order to highlight the traits of each tower, inviting the viewer to appreciate and compare the electric color palettes and eccentric forms. This body of work shows Tommy’s distinct approach recognizable by the composition of the pictures, sophisticated usage of the angles, and manipulation of light, shadow, and colors. Tommy’s style of photography celebrates a kind of ephemeral beauty, and at the same time transforms these entities into more graphic forms, bringing a fresh perspective on the lifeguard towers of Miami Beach.
Check out the entire project via
Kickstarter – Lifeguard Towers: Miami
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Tommy Kwak’s work explores the transience of landscapes and natural forms through ethereal large-format color photographs. His work has been exhibited internationally, most recently in commissions for Louis Vuitton at their locations in NYC, Seattle, and Cologne, Germany. He earned a BFA in Graphic Design from California College of the Arts in 2002 and completed photography courses at International Center of Photography from 2006 to 2008. In 2010 and 2016, Tommy participated in the SÍM Residency program in Reykjavík, Iceland, as well as the international arts festival, Villa Reykjavík. Tommy grew up outside of Chicago, lived and worked in Brooklyn, NY for 13 years, and now resides in Montclair, NJ. He has been a member of Fowler Arts Collective in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and SONYA (South of Navy Yard Artists).
YA-SA-NAN HOUSE
PVWB STUDIO TURNS AN OLD WOODEN SHOPHOUSE OF ‘YA-SA-NAN DRUGSTORE’ INTO A WARM AND COZY ‘YA-SA-NAN HOUSE’ THAT STANDS IN HARMONY WITH THE NEIGHBORING MARKET AND FUNCTIONS AS A FAMILY HOUSE AND A SPACE FOR FAMILY BUSINESS
DUSIT RESIDENCES / PART2: ARCHITECTURE
IN CONTINUATION TO OUR PREVIOUS ARTICLE, DUSIT RESIDENCES / PART 1 WHERE THE TOPIC FOCUSES ON THE PROJECT’S INTERIOR DESIGN. LET’S CONTEMPLATE IT FURTHER TO AN ARCHITECTURAL APPEARANCE FROM A49 AND OMA COLLABORATIVELY DESIGNED WHICH SIMULTANEOUSLY HELD A UNIVERSALITY AND THAI IDENTITY, IN PURPOSE TO CONVEY THE IDENTITY OF ‘DUSIT THANI BANGKOK HOTEL’
WARUT WIMOLKUNARAK
ART4D SPEAKS TO WARUT WIMOLKUNARAK ABOUT HIS RECENT WORK, 2046: THE GREATER EXODUS – AN UNCONVENTIONAL SHOW THAT COMBINES PERFORMANCE ART AND FINE DINING, AND WARUT HIMSELF ABOUT HIS ROLE OF BEING AN ‘EXPERIENCE DESIGNER’
TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
PHOTO COURTESY OF TAKANAO TODO DESIGN EXCEPT AS NOTED
(For Thai, press here)
WHO
TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
WHAT
Architecture / Ceramic / Design Consultation
Bak Bodhi Pavilion l Photo: Chaiyaporn Sodabunlu Noted: Bak Bodhi Pavilion is a project in collaboration with the International Program in Design and Architecture, Chulalongkorn University (INDA) – The design team consists of Ann-pavinee Langenskioeld (Ann), Methawadee Pathomrattanapiban (Sincere), Napapa Soonjan (Luktarn), Natalie Pirarak (Tang), Natcha Thanachanan (Plern), Pheerapitch Phetchareon (Ode), Pitchaya Tangtanawirut (Pizza), Praewrung Chantumrongkul (Ping), Prima Rojanapiyawong (Pie), Slin Smakkamai (Kana), Tanon Theerasupwitaya (In), Thanapat Limpanaset (Than) and Yuhunny Baka (Hunny)
Bak Bodhi Pavilion l Photo: Chaiyaporn Sodabunlu
Bak Bodhi Pavilion l Photo: Chaiyaporn Sodabunlu
WHEN
Since 2017, I have won various scale international architectural competitions, leading to setting up my own design services. Ceramic production began in 2015. It started for sake utensils, and later specialized in tea utensils especially, after learning the Omote-Senke tea ceremony.
Koto Tea Space l Photo courtesy of TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
Koto Tea Space l Photo courtesy of TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
Koto Tea Space l Photo courtesy of TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
WHERE
I am based in Bangkok, but have projects in Chiangmai, Japan, for my architectural work. My ceramic works are displayed in both the Central Embassy, Open House, and the Central the original store, Kolophon also. Since I do not have my own kiln, I fire at various locations and methods from electric, and gas, to raku firing.
WHY
Thailand is a platform that allowing to collaboration with many talented people without much of barriers. Through the collaboration, it allows expanding the potential of design fields. Meanwhile, teaching and having projects from Chulalongkorn University, International Program in Design and Architecture (INDA) allows opportunities to experiment as well.
Lighthouse in Yokohama l Photo: Takeshi Noguchi
Lighthouse in Yokohama l Photo: Takeshi Noguchi
How would you define creativity?
Collision of various expertise, ability to find the latent connections, ability to interpret one’s personal experience, and knowledge of beauty in a classic masterpiece.
Describe your practice in three words.
Collaboration I Eternal Modernity I Joy
Where do you go, or what do you do when you get stuck on a project?
Have a Matcha, Sleep, take a random walk or meditation
What project are you most proud of?
Tea X Tech project. It is a project of collaboration between FabCafe, Midori-kai, and TAKANAO TODO Design, working from the Architectural design of a demountable tea house, digital fabrication for a tea house and tea utensils, reflecting Thai design inspirations, and tea events came together with a small grant from Japan Foundation.
Tea X Tech: Photo courtesy of TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
Tea X Tech: Photo courtesy of TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
Tea X Tech: Photo courtesy of TAKANAO TODO DESIGN
If you could invite any creative out for coffee, who would you choose and why?
I would like to meet Khun Somluk Pantiboon, the ceramicist.
He is an inspiration for a new generation of Thai ceramicists passionate about tea ceramic culture, and haven’t had a chance to meet him in person yet.
OFFICE BUILDING 01 | GUARDIAN GLASS
OFFICE BUILDING 01 | GUARDIAN GLASS
EXPLORE THE USE OF GUARDIAN GLASS IN LEADING OFFICE BUILDINGS AS A MATERIAL CATERS TO FUNCTIONALITY AND REFLECTS THE VISION OF ITS OWNER OR ORGANIZATION IT REPRESENTS
NENDO SEES KYOTO
SATO OKI, A JAPANESE DESIGNER FROM NENDO, ALONG WITH THE TRADITIONAL ARTISANS IN KYOTO REEXAMINE 9 OLD-BUT-GOLD KYOTO TRADITIONAL CRAFTS THROUGH THE LENS OF CONTEMPORARY DESIGN IN NENDO SEES TOKYO