TEXT & PHOTO: JUTI KLIPBUA

(For Thai, press here) 

In Thai architecture and that of neighboring countries, the addition of intricate details might seem like mere decoration intended to display opulent beauty. However, personally, I find these details not only serve to beautify but also play a functional role in reducing the bulkiness of buildings and softening the stark interactions between various architectural elements. I began to capture these architectural nuances whenever opportunities arose. During my architectural studies, modern architecture of that era utterly captivated us students. But the traditional Thai architecture I grew up seeing in temples did not catch my interest as much. Over time, through work experience and travel, my appreciation for the craftsmanship and aesthetics involved has grown significantly. Undeniably, my camera is now filled with images of architectural details from Thailand and neighboring countries, from close-ups of window ledges to colored glass installations.

I enjoy capturing these details in a single frame, typically not showing the larger view of the building. Often, these details themselves become the architectural forms. For instance, the edges of temple rows merge together, offering a view that resembles fabric patterns or graphic designs typical of specific eras. These observations have influenced my own design work at JUTI architects, from directly using patterns and scales to subtly incorporating specific edges or lines in architecture, interior design, and furniture design. The details that were once considered merely decorative now hold value for their proportional rhythm and contemporary artistic merit.

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Juti Klipbua, founder and design director of JUTI architects, extends his interests beyond his professional architecture career to include product design, automotive design, and photography. His primary hobby currently involves experimenting with abstract photography, capturing familiar everyday scenes such as construction sites, city traffic, and natural surroundings at construction sites in rural areas.

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