What we observed is that people are shy to express their curiosity in public areas. We think that this might have something to do with the interior environment itself – sometimes very large spaces such as exhibition halls and shopping malls can be intimidating.  So for Architectkidd’s design, we really wanted to create something that would encourage viewers to interact with our displays in more intimate ways.

Instead of hanging our displays on walls or panels, we had the idea of creating small “secret” architectural spaces within our exhibit. Information and displays would then be embedded inside these interior “rooms”.

When approaching the displays, people would initially see the outer sculpted surfaces with various openings.

People then had to come closer in order to look inside openings to see various information (such as our research on deforestation, infographics, and video).

Each opening was different and were positioned at different heights for different people.

So did we make an exhibition design, an architectural model, or a large-scale building mockup? We like to think that we tried to combine all three together.

Our exhibition design directly relates to our architectural approach for the Forest Urbanism project, which focuses on the idea of creating habitable spaces in between the forest “gaps”.

We were delighted to see how visitors, both young and older, reacted to our three exhibition columns. The physical material – machine sculpted EPS foam – provides a tactile first impression and invites people to “feel” the exhibition with their hands.

Have a look at some more photos on Architectkidd’s Facebook page…

Project Summary:
Name: 6 Water cities
Scope: Exhibition
Sponsor: ASA (Association of Siamese Architects)
Project Exhibition Team: Luke Yeung, Pailin Paijitsattaya, Marisa Charusilawong, Phuttipan Aswakool
Fabricator: Royal Intertrade
Overall Exhibit Designer: BUG Studio
Contractor: D-63
Project Area: 3m x 3m x 2.1m
Completion date: April 2012

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Being directly involved in the Architect Fair this time, we began to realize the enormity of this event, with all the logistics, coordination and organization required to run the show.  According to the Association of Siamese Architects, it is expected that more than 350,000 visitors will attend this event.

Here are some photos during the stage when we were working with the fabricator on our “Forest Urbanism” exhibition design.

After considering various materials, we decided to experiment with sculpting medium density EPS foam combined with CNC fabrication as our technique in create our exhibition display panels.

We really need to give thanks to Phanthep Larppiptmongkhon and the technicians at Royal Intertrade for their enthusiasm and for collaborating with us to work overtime to complete the machine cutting and assembly in time for the exhibition.

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What would happen if we were instead required to preserve all existing and future trees within new building sites, neighborhoods or urban areas?  To test this idea, we began our design research by attempting to analyze the variety of spaces that can exist in a forest.

We began by modeling the forest itself. Our reference was the “Dry Dipterocarp” Forests (DDFs), which are found in the Nakhon Ratchasima region.  To our untrained eyes, these forests seemed random and accidental at first, but we discovered that forest growth patterns are shaped by specific environmental and biological parameters. Field research by scientists helps to validate the average density of trees in a forest, its growth patterns and even distances between different generations of a tree type. This allowed us to create a 3-D model of our forest to a degree of certainty. For this project we based our model forest over a 15-year period of tree growth.

Once we developed the 3D model of a 1-hectare (100m x 100m) size of forest, we began to study its spatial potentials. At first, it seemed that it would be a difficult task to measure all the existing open spaces and land contained in a forest. As it turns out, forest researchers have developed techniques to measure forests with the aid of digital tools such as LIDAR and point cloud mapping. Inspired by these techniques, we started to think this approach is similar to a land survey, but with an additional vertical and volumetric dimension.

In addition to the digital surveying techniques, we began to explore new ways to analyze and visualize the space of the forests. We explored the spaces by digitally “draping” the volumes in between the tree canopies, trunks and bases as well as making Boolean functions to find the forest gaps. These studies not only helped us calculate the dimensions, but also allowed us to begin to see the potential spatial characteristics of architectural design.

We also realized that in a forest, the “ground floor” is of significant importance. This surface and the soil underneath are where some of the most vital biological activities takes place, as well as where the root systems of trees are located. We decided that man-made intervention should be minimized as much as possible on the ground level.  Without the support of typical foundations or pilings, we looked into the possibility of tree trunks to provide a support system for architecture.

The geometrical forms of the structural studies also led us to develop a system of networks that could be developed into pathways or roads in the forest.

Our studies on forests have made us realize that, far from being random, trees and plant growth in forests can be determined. Visualizing the spaces of the forest is an important first step to defining the architectural approach. Just like a typical building is shaped by the boundaries of the land property, the forest gaps help us shape the forms and spaces for a new architectural design.

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Nonetheless, recent findings have provided correlations between forest loss and increase in flooding. One significant research, titled “Global evidence that deforestation amplifies flood risk and severity in the developing world”, considered 10 years of data from 56 countries. Based on data on flood occurrences, duration and loss of forests, researchers were able to mathematically model and demonstrate the effects of deforestation.

The study concluded that a decrease in natural forest area of 10% resulted in increase of flood frequency from 4% to 28%. In addition, the same 10% decrease in forests in the surveyed countries resulted in a 4 to 8% increase in total flood duration. The full paper of this research can be found here.

These findings (first published in 2007 in the journal Global Change Biology and conducted by Australian, Singapore and UK universities) are controversial within the scientific community. But even though some have questioned the researchers’ methodology (see comment here), there is no doubt in the scientific community that destructive and man-made changes to natural land, urbanization and population growth are key factors that increase flooding.

In addition to these findings, Architectkidd have also been collecting information relating to what has been happening in Thailand and the province of Nakhon Ratchasima. It became clear that we needed to provide more ways to show the relationships between deforestation, population growth and urbanization in Thailand.  Based on the data that we collected, we designed a set of  “infographics” in order to communicate to the public as well as to support our development of the ASA Water Cities project.

Here are some of our infographics on forests, flooding and man-made development in Thailand. We will exhibit this along with our design in the 2012 Architect Fair:

FORESTS vs. TIME:  The above infographic shows dramatic forest loss in Thailand in a 20-year period (1970-1990). The data is adapted from Geographie universelle, Asie du Sud-Est, Hachette (1995).

FORESTS vs. PEOPLE:  This infographic considers the relationship between the increasing population of Thailand and loss of forests. It makes us wonder whether this decline will continue in the future.  Population figures from various sources including United Nations.

URBANIZATION consumes FORESTS:  In the past, forest loss was caused by logging and agriculture. Today, urbanization and industrialization are key factors. As cities and industrial areas expand, they consume land that is occupied by trees and natural vegetation. Looking at Bangkok region as an example, the city increased its urbanized area 16 times, from 580 hectares in 1850 to 133,515 hectares in 2002.  Sources: World Bank, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (2011).

FORESTS absorb WATER:  Yet forests can be beneficial for cities and urban areas. Land covered by trees absorb more surface water compared to paved and open areas.  Data from US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency, 1993).

FORESTS and BIODIVERSITY:  Trees not only support other vegetation and plants but also animal habitat. When the Thai government submitted the proposal to nominate the Khao Yai Park (Dong Phayayen – Khao Yai Forest Complex) to the UNESCO World Heritage committee, it conducted a survey of the number of animals in the region.  The results are compared to surveys on degraded or open areas.

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Forests are a natural mechanism for controlling and regulating the flow of water as it passes through the hydrological cycle.  Unfortunately, Thailand is known for having one of the largest rates of deforestation in the world.  In the past 50 years, what was once a largely forested region has been decimated, mainly for logging and agricultural purposes.  More recently however, industrialization and urban development are the main sources of forest removal, and even protected areas are now under threat.

The Thai Government has recognized the importance of increasing forest land. Regulations have been put into place, such as the target of preserving existing natural forests and growing new forests to a total of 40% of the entire land area for Thailand. Current estimates of forests range from 25% for the entire country, and as low as 14% for Nakhon Ratchasima.

Actual implementation has not been as clear and it is questionable whether this target can ever be achieved. It seems even more implausible if we consider that Thailand is rapidly urbanizing, a process that consumes more and more land.  For example, the physical size of Bangkok Region has grown 16 times in the past 50 years and continues to expand at a rate of 4 percent each year.

Is urban and regional development compatible with forest regeneration?  The answer is NO – at least, not as it is currently practiced. The acts of building and infrastructure – from forcefully removing earth and trees, casting rigid structures barricading natural water flows, and laying impervious surfaces – have directly negative impacts on the surrounding nature and landscape.

Architectkidd asks the question – is it possible to transform construction from being a destructive force into something beneficial to the eco-system?  Based on this, we will present a new kind of urbanism, a vision that can accept the realities of land development, but to incorporate it with forest replanting and biodiversity preservation. For us, this is our vision of sustainable development. We call this approach “Forest Urbanism”.

This year the Architect Fair will be held from 24th to 29th April. Stay tuned for more news on this project soon!

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The Bridgestone Pavilion aims to communicate the company’s commitments in manufacturing, investment and knowledge. With emphasis on showcasing new technologies, Architectkidd had the opportunity to implement some unique design approaches for the building.

The design for the Bridgestone Pavilion has received interest from not only the automotive industry but also eco-design and building sectors as well. Please see here for an article in Inhabitat, as well as the Contemporist.

For more information about the design of the building structure, please see our description here.

Our collaboration with Bridgestone led to the use of polymers throughout the building.  For more information about the building envelope, please see here.

The BOI Fair is open to the public from January 5 to 20. For the Bridgestone Pavilion project summary and entire design team credits, please see here.

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Liquid Polyurethane:

Liquid PU was one of the materials that we were initially interested in. We were intrigued by the possibility of achieving a fully “sprayed-on” building, as well as rapid installation and unique finishing (with the liquid PU curing over the substrate such as metal, gypsum or fiber board).  We envisioned that this technique would be suitable for the ‘soft’ geometry and curved surfaces of our design. However, with raw materials needing to be imported to Thailand and installation requiring skilled technicians and specialized equipment, it was decided that this technique was not feasible for this project. So creating “sprayed-on” architecture remains for us an unrealized concept – for now…

Thermoplastic Membranes:

This led us to thermoplastic membranes. The material comes in rolls and is manufactured in continuous sheets using a process called “calendering” that allows for lamination into different layers and thicknesses.  Bridgestone happens to manufacture EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) and TPO (Thermoplastic Olefin) membranes for flat roof applications.  We also studied PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) membranes that could be joined by heat ‘welding’.

Our initial proposal was to use the membranes to clad the entire finish of the Bridgestone Pavilion. In order to test whether the membrane had the desired elasticity to be applied on top of the curved surfaces, we requested to construct full-scale mockups of the wall section.

Upon reviewing full-scale mockups of our wall sections, we realized that it would not be easy to achieve a smooth and continuous finish with this material.  This was primarily due to the rigidity of the membranes which were reinforced with a mesh underlay.  In the final construction, the TPO materials were used on the less curved surfaces such as the roof.

Elastomeric Coating:

After the membrane mockups, we studied high performance, architectural elastomeric coatings.  Like PU, elastomeric coatings come in liquid form.  Unlike regular coatings such as paint, this coating can stretch to about 500%.  We proposed to apply the coating over the substrate (curved flexboard) by spray method to achieve a smoother finish; in the end, hand rollers were used in the final construction.

PVC Sheeting:

PVC sheeting is also a type of thermoplastic membrane made using the calendering process.  We were looking for a high-quality finish for the entrance that visitors could experience before entering the exhibition.  Unlike TPO membrane, we used PVC sheets that were thinner and designed to be stretched and framed by a proprietary support system.

The choice of the red color was simply in reference to the Bridgestone corporate brand (along with white and black), although we hoped a broader range of color tones would be seen from the reflection of curved surfaces and lighting. Since a very precise fitting was needed, the fabrication of the PVC sheets was directly derived from ‘unfolding’ our 3D digital model.

EVA Film:

Another polymer that Bridgestone was interested in showcasing was EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate), which is used as a heat-reflecting layer for glass. Since EVA is a newer laminate material technology compared to PVB (Polyvinyl Butyral), our design presented some challenges during the local production process (a more vacuum environment was required for the lamination).  As a result, the BOI Fair is known as one of the first glass installations using EVA film in Thailand.

Here is the image gallery of our construction process below.

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Our starting point were the required interior spaces, building heights and site boundaries. Another issue was managing the continuous flow of visitors from entrance, exhibitions, to exit. Based on these conditions, we merged the various volumes to form the overall building. The exterior form was then simply a result of optimizing the interior volumes while minimizing any superfluous or extraneous elements such as additional edges, corners, or leftover spaces.

The resulting smooth form may seem simple at first glance, but it was definitely not simple to build compared to conventional structures. The biggest challenge during the construction was to reconcile our approach with available construction materials, structure and techniques for this project.

Fortunately, the steel fabrication team from JST Industry was up to the challenge, as well as structural designer Montree Sayabovorn. In particular, the team engineered 66 steel profiles – each of a distinctly different shape and curvature.  All the steel elements were fabricated at the warehouse to minimize on-site installation. Bridgestone provided additional support in the form of flexible polymer building products that were installed as finishing materials.

Here are some more photos of the construction process below.

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Architectkidd has been involved in the design of the pavilion in collaboration with the exhibition, event management and construction teams. One of the interesting aspects of the Bridgestone Pavilion is the need to communicate a clear and integrated identity and image across all aspects of the pavilion. “Future Seed” refers not only to the pavilion design itself, but also Bridgestone’s desire to express sustainability and environmental commitments for its products, technologies and company vision.

The “Future Seed” concept provided the opportunity to implement some sustainable features that may not have been otherwise feasible. Working with Bridgestone allowed us to access their polymers expertise in many different shapes and forms. As leaders in EVA technologies, one feature of the pavilion is the use of heat-insulating film laminated on all glass windows and doors.  Bridgestone also supplies materials for Panasonic/Sanyo solar panels that will be installed on the roof of the pavilion. The illustration below summarizes some of the proposed green features of the building.

Other aspects of the Bridgestone Pavilion that relate to the “Future Seed” concept include new technologies and products displays that show how Bridgestone products originate and are inspired by nature. The exhibition design is by DesignLAB and construction coordinated by Pico.

Stay tuned for more updates on this project from us very soon.  For more information about the BOI Fair please visit their website here. Information about the pavilion from the Bridgestone Group can also be found here.

Project Summary:
Name: Bridgestone Pavilion
Scope: Architecture
Owner: Bridgestone Group Thailand
Client Representative: Dentsu (Thailand)
Architectkidd Project Team: Luke Yeung, Phuttipan Aswakool, Pailin Paijitsattaya, Vichayuth Meenaphant
Exhibition Design: DesignLAB
Structural Design: Montree Sayabovorn
MEP Design: Parkpoom Rodwarna, Suthee Saengthubthim, Chatchaval Chandung
Building Contractors: Pico Thailand
Project Area: 500 sqm
Completion date: January 2012

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Architectkidd’s design for Kirimaya Residence K01 has been selected as one of the featured projects to look out for in 2012.  The house is currently under construction and is scheduled to be complete in the middle of the year.

The December 2011 issue of Wallpaper is now available in new stands in Bangkok.

Have a look at other projects in the Wallpaper Thailand list, including our friends Anon Pairot Studio and Idin Architects (Fellow ASA Young Generation Architects 2011), as well as some of the most anticipated design and fashion projects from Canada, USA, Sweden, Argentina, Netherlands and other countries around the world.

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