The first architectural exhibition at the IMPACT Arena Exhibition and Convention Center in 2024 will officially open on Tuesday, April 30th. "Collective Language - Asian Contemporary Architecture Exhibition" is the country's biggest and most important international architectural exhibition from The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage Exposition 2024 (ASA Architect Expo 2024), organized by The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage, in collaboration with TTF International Company Limited. The principal curator is Jenchieh Hung, who is the exhibition chairman of The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage, as well as an acclaimed architect from Hung And Songkittipakdee / HAS design and research. The executive curator is Nada Inthaphunt from The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage.
Jenchieh Hung and Nada Inthaphunt curated architectural firms from Bangladesh, China, China’s Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam to participate in the exhibition, in collaboration with the Architectural Society of China (ASC), Association of Lao Architects and Civil Engineers (ALACE), Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP), Japan Institute of Architects (JIA), Korea Institute of Registered Architects (KIRA), Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM), Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), Society of Nepalese Architects (SONA), The Association of Siamese Architects Under Royal Patronage (ASA), The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), and Vietnam Association of Architects (VAA), which are members of the Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA).
The participating firms include Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP, Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA, Nori Architects and Asanuma Corporation, Yamazaki Kentaro Design Workshop from Japan; Mass Studies, SAC International Ltd., Shin Architects, THE_SYSTEM LAB from South Korea; Arcplus Group PLC, BIAD Huyue Studio, China Architecture Design & Research Group, Studio Zhu Pei from China; Architectural Services Department, Index Architecture Limited, Nelson Chen Architects from Hong Kong - China; K2 Habitus, WOHA from Singapore; GDP Architects, smallprojects, VERITAS Architects from Malaysia; Plan Architect from Thailand; 1+1>2 Architects, AHL Architects, BHA Architects, Vo Trong Nghia Architects from Vietnam; Archineer Associates Co., Ltd, LAO+ Architects, Tomi Atelier from Laos; andramatin from Indonesia; Carlos Arnaiz Architects / CAZA, Garcia+Lee Architects, GWorks Architectural Services, Zubu Design Associates from Philippines; Domus Architects, Marina Tabassum Architects, VITTI Sthapati Brindo Ltd. from Bangladesh; Architecture RED, Juhi Mehta Architects, Malik Architecture, RMA Architects from India; Kalpasara Studio, Prabal Thapa Architects, Tattva: Consult Pvt. Ltd from Nepal; Caleco Studio Architects, Design Insight, Suhail & Fawad Architects from Pakistan; and Thisara Thanapathy Associates from Sri Lanka. Each firm represents different cultural backgrounds, climatic conditions, and social developments, indirectly or directly expressed in how the buildings respond to the language of architecture.
"Collective Language - Asian Contemporary Architecture Exhibition" employs language as a means to connect all elements of the world. Tens of thousands, or even millions, of years ago, language manifested in various forms among different creatures, including auditory whistle language, visual body language, tactile perception language, olfactory smell language, and more. However, the origin and development of language still spark different discussions. In 1809, French biologist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck published "Zoological Philosophy," proposing that as the environment changes, species adapt and develop their own organs. This adaptation leads to the growth of commonly used organs and the gradual degeneration of unused ones. The acquired changes in one generation are then passed on to the next. This discussion not only introduces new perspectives to linguists but also demonstrates how different creatures have used diverse methods to communicate through language over millions of years.
The exhibition delves into the diversity and distinctions that language brings to hearing, vision, touch, and smell, structured into three chapters: "Sound / Language of Humanity," "Silent / Language of Shading," and "Perceive / Language of Ritual." Through these chapters, nearly 50 architectural firms from 15 Asian countries showcase the contemporary architecture of Asia. The exhibition's theme, "Collective Language," reflects on the symbiotic relationship between people and architecture in various Asian regions, highlighting concepts like scale, volume, contrast, dynamic, thermal, resilience, legacy, harmony, and compression.
Sound / Language of Humanity
In the first chapter, "Sound / Language of Humanity," the works not only utilize scale, volume, and contrast to establish a clear spatial vocabulary for visitors or residents but also underscore how architecture can act as a catalyst to stimulate interaction between people and their surroundings. Sejima and Nishizawa and Associates - SANAA's Tsuruoka Cultural Hall (2017) epitomizes the unique Japanese sense of space with its charming architectural proportions. The functional layout, featuring a corridor enveloping the performance hall and a floating roof, fosters a sense of freedom and lightness, encouraging unique communication and experiences among visitors. Mass Studies' Space K Seoul (2020) interprets Seoul's distinctive humanistic urban characteristics through streamlined shapes and dynamic spaces. The design seamlessly integrates natural elements like mountains and the Han River, embodying an alternative approach to social care in densely populated urban environments. The Machine Room (2019) by smallprojects is tailored to the specific scale of living spaces. Through a combination of materials and movement lines, it creates a new ambiance that enhances the living experience. Santani Wellness Resort and Spa (2016) by Thisara Thanapathy Associates features a meandering circulation that reduces the building's volume. By incorporating local materials and blending with the mountain topography, the design establishes a rich-scale building complex that demonstrates the contrast and integration between people and their environment.
In the second chapter, "Silent / Language of Shading," architects use environmental conditions such as resilience, dynamics, and thermal qualities as design elements. They combine materials, craftsmanship, and construction to create a multidimensional, silent space. For example, WOHA's Kampung Admiralty (2017) strengthens the relationship between space and the natural environment, acting as a mediator for participants to experience natural elements in different settings. Similarly, Plan Architect's Nurse Dormitory at Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (2021) utilizes varying facade angles to create balconies and open spaces, providing ample gray space. This design allows patients and doctors to appreciate the integration of silent language and space during intense treatment processes. Vo Trong Nghia Architects' Urban Farming Office (2022) and RMA Architects' Lilavati Lalbhai Library (2017) incorporate special craftsmanship and construction techniques on their facades to mediate the transition between external and internal environments. Additionally, the internal atrium in both projects enhances the flow of each space, enabling visitors to experience the evolving relationship between architecture and nature.
Silent / Language of Shading
In the third chapter, "Perceive / Language of Ritual," four projects from China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Bangladesh exemplify how architecture can embody concepts like legacy, harmony, and compression. For instance, the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum (2020) by Studio Zhu Pei employs innovative design to rekindle the site's unique cultural background through architectural forms and spatial materials, crafting a narrative with light and space. Similarly, andramatin's Masjid As-Sobur & Sessat Agung (2017) transcends formal religious constraints, offering visitors profound sensory experiences through spatial proportions and material choices. The 100 Walls Church (2013) by Carlos Arnaiz Architects - CAZA and the Bait Ur Rouf Mosque (2012) by Marina Tabassum Architects both use precise spatial forms and lightweight structures to evoke a distinct spiritual ambiance, integrating the religious buildings into their community environments and providing unique, non-daily life experiences.
Perceive / Language of Ritual
Jenchieh Hung, the exhibition chairman and principal curator of The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage in Thailand, explained that the exhibition illustrates how sound, silence, and perception are integrated into architectural space, embodying the languages of humanity, shading, and ritual. They represent not only a collective language but also offer Asian contemporary architecture a means to reconsider the possibilities of future trends.
Principal Curator
Jenchieh Hung
HAS design and research
Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee founded HAS design and research and they are recognized as leading architects in the new generation, renowned for their innovative architectural designs in the "World Architects Directory" by Wallpaper* magazine in the United Kingdom. Hung And Songkittipakdee (HAS) has built an international reputation through winning competition entries, with their work standing out for its synthesis of form, pattern, material, and technology into singular, irreducible constructions. Their projects have received widespread recognition on international platforms and have been featured in publications such as The Best Architects in Bangkok 2023, Six Asian Design Firms You Need to Know, and The Projects Reshaping Chinese Architecture Today. HAS design and research's innovative work has been celebrated with numerous awards and honors, including the Australia INDE. Award, Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory, Thailand Prestige Award, and the Designer of the Year Award.
In 2023, Jenchieh Hung was appointed as the Exhibition Chairman and Principal Curator of The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage, curating the Infinity Ground Architecture Exhibition at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), as well as the Collective Language - Asian Contemporary Architecture Exhibition for The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage Exposition 2024 (ASA Architect Expo 2024) at the IMPACT Arena Exhibition and Convention Center. Alongside his design practice, he also serves as a Visiting Professor and Design Critics in Architecture at Tongji University, Chulalongkorn University, and King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi.
Executive Curator
Nada Inthaphunt
Nada Inthaphunt, an architect and interior architect based in Bangkok, has transformed herself into a content creator and branding professional, channeling her interest in design development processes, the connectivity born from intentional and unintentional intentions, and the complexity within simplicity into architectural or product design outcomes. Nada graduated with a bachelor’s degree from King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, where she was awarded the TIDA Thesis Award as the first runner-up in 2012. After six years with DUCTSTORE the design guru, she pursued a master’s degree in Luxury Management and Guest Experience at the Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland. Currently, she serves as the Project Manager for Content Creation at Subper and Melayu Living in Songkhla and Pattani provinces.
Some Participants and Works
Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA
Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA is an architecture and design firm based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa in 1995. Comprised of international architects and staff working on projects ranging in scale from residential and interior design to large complex buildings and urban planning schemes, as well as product and furniture design, SANAA approaches each project with a fresh perspective, believing that each design arises from conditions particular to the site and program. Each project is special and is closely followed by the two founding principles, as well as partners Yoshitaka Tanase, Yumiko Yamada, Rikiya Yamamoto, Lucy Styles and Francesca Singer.
Sejima and Nishizawa were jointly awarded the Golden Lion at the 9th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2004. They both were awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2010 and the Praemium Imperiale awards in honor of prince Takamatsu in 2022. SANAA works internationally and major works include 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa in Japan, New Museum of Contemporary Art in USA, Rolex Learning Center, EPFL in Switzerland, the Louvre-Lens and La Samaritaine in France, Bocconi University New Urban Campus in Italy, and Sydney Modern Project in Australia.
Tsuruoka Cultural Hall, Japan ©SANAA
Minsuk Cho / Mass Studie
Zhu Pei / Studio Zhu Pei
Richard Hassell, Wong Mun Summ / WOHA
Kevin Mark Low / smallprojects
Sinn Phonghanyudh, Phisarn Ratanawanakul, Nitisak Chobdamrongtham / Plan Architect
Vo Trong Nghia / Vo Trong Nghia Architects (VTN)
Andra Matin / andramatin
Carlos Arnaiz / Carlos Arnaiz Architects l CAZA
Marina Tabassum / Marina Tabassum Architects (MTA)
Rahul Mehrotra / RMA Architects
Thisara Thanapathy / Thisara Thanapathy Associates
Exhibition Data
Exhibition Name : Collective Language - Asian Contemporary Architecture Exhibition
Participants
1+1>2 Architects, AHL Architects, andramatin, Archineer Associates Co., Ltd, Architectural Services Department, Architecture RED, Arcplus Group PLC, Asanuma Corporation, BHA Architects, BIAD Huyue Studio, Caleco Studio Architects, Carlos Arnaiz Architects / CAZA, China Architecture Design & Research Group, Design Insight, Domus Architects, Garcia+Lee Architects, GDP Architects, GWorks Architectural Services, Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP, Index Architecture Limited, Juhi Mehta Architects, K2 Habitus, Kalpasara Studio, Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa / SANAA, LAO+ Architects, Malik Architecture, Marina Tabassum Architects, Mass Studies, Nelson Chen Architects, Nori Architects, Plan Architect, Prabal Thapa Architects, RMA Architects, SAC International Ltd, Shin Architects, smallprojects, Studio Zhu Pei, Suhail & Fawad Architects, Tattva: Consult Pvt. Ltd, THE_SYSTEM LAB, Thisara Thanapathy Associates, Tomi Atelier, VERITAS Architects, VITTI Sthapati Brindo Ltd, Vo Trong Nghia Architects, WOHA, Yamazaki Kentaro Design Workshop, Zubu Design Associates
Association
Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA), Architectural Society of China (ASC), Association of Lao Architects and Civil Engineers (ALACE), Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP), Japan Institute of Architects (JIA), Korea Institute of Registered Architects (KIRA), Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM), Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), Society of Nepalese Architects (SONA), The Association of Siamese Architects Under Royal Patronage (ASA), The Hong Kong Institute of Architects (HKIA), The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA), United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), Vietnam Association of Architects (VAA)
Host
The Association of Siamese Architects Under Royal Patronage (ASA), ASA President - Chana Sumpalung, ASA Architect Expo Chairman - Chutayaves Sinthuphan, Kulthida Songkittipakdee, Prompt Udomdech, Rattapong Angkasith
Organizer
TTF International Company Limited
Duration
2024 April 30 - May 5
Venue
IMPACT Arena Exhibition and Convention Center, Bangkok