PEOPLE / Living ASEAN - Inspiring Tropical Lifestyle

Vin Varavarn Architects / Adapting Ordinary Materials to Achieve Architectural Excellence

By livingasean
September 13, 2017
CULTURE,DESIGN,HAPPENING,PEOPLE,SPECIAL SCOOP

This September the second Room x Living ASEAN Design Talk will be held under the title “ASEAN Architecture Design,” featuring a Thai architect and recipient of world-class awards from many institutions, M.L. Varudh Varavarn, founder of the firm Vin Varavarn Architects (VVA).

/// Myanmar ///
Story: Nawapat D. /// Photography: Spaceshift Studio, Courtesy of Vin Varavarn Architects

M.L. Varudh will take the stage to share his knowledge and inspirational design concepts under the heading “ASEAN Architecture Design.” Also featured will be Jeremiah Pitakwong, managing editor of the Baan Lae Suan magazine group, come to give his insights and impressions from many years of architectural photojournalism around the ASEAN region, with the topic “10 ASEAN Houses.”

VVA is a small firm, but its design works are widely recognized both in Thailand and abroad. M.L. Varudh’s philosophy is the company’s driving force, and stresses functional utility for building occupants and careful selection of construction materials with a view to their potential. Another point is that a designer should avoid making his ego central to the work simply to create a personal signature that people will remember. All this allows VVA’s design work to be versatile and adaptable to various challenges and environmental contexts while at the same time creating works of outstanding function and beauty.

Vin Varavarn Architects — Bann Huay San Yaw- Post Disaster School, Chiang Rai, Thailand (Photographs: Spaceshift Studio)

One project helping both to build a name for the architect himself and add to Thailand’s prominence in the architectural world is Bann Huay San Yaw Witthaya School, one of 9 “por dee por dee (appropriate)” classroom structures built through the Design for Disasters (D4D) relief program for schools damaged in the 6.3 Chiang Rai earthquake of May 5, 2014.

This gabled school building’s primary design requirement was to keep it safe from future earthquake damage. Additionally, the architects focused on using easily obtainable and local materials and facilitating full use of space both inside and outside the building, which holds three classrooms arranged lengthwise at the same level. To save structural costs and also to fit the slope on which it’s built, the building has a multipurpose tai thun open area below.

Walls and roof of the primary structure are constructed of single pieces of steel, which helps protect against sun and rain. Its outstanding adaptation of ordinary materials resulted in this design winning Italy’s International Biennial Barbara Cappochin Architecture 2017 Grand Prize and a High Commendation at Berlin’s 2016 World Architecture Festival Awards, while in the United Kingdom it was shortlisted for the 2016 Architectural Review School Awards.

VVA’s outstanding architectural design work is not by any means limited to Bann Huay San Yaw Witthaya School. Interested in getting a deep look at architectural design? Come listen to M.L. Varudh discuss his design concepts at “Room x Living ASEAN Design Talk vol.2 (Myanmar): ASEAN Architecture Design,” at Myanmar Build & Decor in Myanmar Event Park (MEP), Yangon, Myanmar on September 29, 2017, from 09.45 until 10.30 AM, with no admission charge. You’ll soon be able to get more details at livingasean.com and www.baanlaesuan.com/designtalk.

Link : https://web.facebook.com/VinVaravarnArchitectsLimited/

Quotes Of The Day

By livingasean
August 1, 2017
CULTURE,PEOPLE,SPECIAL SCOOP,SPOTLIGHT

Here are some quotes worth reading that were spoken by ten ASEAN designers during last week’s “room x Living ASEAN: Design Talk 2017” symposium.

/// Thailand ///
Story: Nawapat Dusdul /// Photography: Nantiya Busabong

ASEAN Designers / Modern Craft Movement

By livingasean
April 8, 2017
CULTURE,DESIGN,PEOPLE

World design is increasingly trending toward handicrafts and elegant craftsmanship, things practically written into the DNA of Southeast Asian designers. Here we give you 20 contemporary regional leaders who are reinforcing this wave, bringing traditional design into mainstream design.

/// ASEAN ///

– Alvin Tjitrowirjo / Indonesia –

The dynamic Indonesian designer known as Alvin worked with prominent Dutch designer Marcel Wanders before setting up his own product design and interior decoration studio,collaborating with domestic producers of furniture and “alvin-T” decorative items that take a Western approach to Oriental craftsmanship.

– Thinkk Studio / Thailand –

The couple Decha Archjananan and Ployphan Theerachai’s Thinkk Studio is one of the most interesting sources of contemporary design. Their production processes unravel the secrets of traditional crafts, bringing them to utility in modern formats that always bear the marks of artistry and innovation.

– Korakot Aromdee / Thailand –

Korakot became well-known through his developing the local art of bamboo work, adapting techniques such as net sewing of Phetchaburi fishermen and ancient Chinese kite construction to produce inventive handicrafts under his own name. “Korakot” products are on display in residences and hotels all over the world, showing off endless variations of their characteristic elegance.

– Abie Abdillah / Indonesia –

Keep an eye on this designer, for sure! He specializes in rattan work, taking advantage of the worldwide importance of this material for Indonesia. The “Lukis” armchair is part of the 2016 collection for the famous Cappellini brand. Designer scout Giulio Cappellini previously has helped Tom Dixon and many other well-known designers debut on the world stage.

– Ito Kish / The Philippines –

“Gregoria Lounge”brought Filipino design work onto the world stage and gave world recognition to Ito Kish. As a child, Ito was fascinated by designs on the gift wrapping paper he used to repair family house walls in their tiny village outside of Manila. His business in decorative items has now morphed into a leading furniture store – with products bearing his name – which provides interior decorating services for his fans.

– Apiwat Chitapanya / Thailand –

A beauty of light and shadow born of intricate welded lines stands out in both structure and detail as an impressive representation from this modern craftsman and expert metal worker.

– Jitrin Jintaprecha / Thailand –

Jitrin’s works are continually in demand, most notably from his own rattan furniture brand “Corner 43,” whose trademark gentle curves are naturally suited to contemporary forms and which has evolved steadily over the fourteen years of its existence.

– Lim Masulin / Indonesia –

From his infatuation with the weaving work produced by Indonesian artists, highly valued in the West, Lim Masulin and his BYO Living Company collaborated with famous domestic architects to scale up the concept to an architectural level and produce fascinating “woven” coverings for buildings.

– Rush Pleansuk / Thailand –

This former designer for the teak wood furniture brand “Plato” became ever more interested in handicrafts, especially traditional Thai techniques of lacquer-coating and setting gold inlay on lacquer ware. He now has his own design studio under the name “Sumphat Gallery.”

– Hans Tan / Singapore –

In the colorful piece entitled “Spotted Nyonya,”Hans Tan presents a uniquely Singapore narrative. “Nyonya” refers to the Singapore heritage mixture off oreign and Malay Peninsula cultures, evident here in a contemporary design context.

– Budiman Ong / Indonesia –

“Ong Cen Kuang” is a brand of lamps from Bali founded by Budiman Ong, whose stellar career was founded on sewn forms of cloth and origami-style folded paper fashioned into contemporary articles that display warmth, gentility, and a delicate openness.

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