In celebration of the 90th anniversary of The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (ASA), HAS design and research has conceived and realised a place for all to gather, learn and rest. The Aluminium Grotto and Public Ground was initiated by Thailand’s aluminium company, S-ONE Group and KIN, with Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee principals of HAS design and research creating a public meeting space that is impressive and dynamic.
The premise of the structure was to not only to reflect Thailand’s status as the most significant metal exporter to South-East Asia but also to provide a public resting place at the ASA 90th Anniversary Architect Expo. Hung And Songkittipakdee (HAS) and their team, envisaged a design that would be more than simply a place to sit, but one that would further public learning, art exchange and educational lectures. The client embraced this concept and Ground became a centre for free public access with no commercial operations or promotions.
HAS design and research’s innovative design re-creates the idea of a valley-like grotto within the busy surrounds of the exposition. The project reflects a past scene of a natural landscape that resonates with Thai people, where their dwellings have been situated and how they have lived. It also showcases the current living situation in Bangkok where the average green open space per capita is only 6.99-square-metres, which is lower than the nine-square-metres recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The design of Aluminium Grotto and Public Ground is both majestic and inventive, traits that we have come to expect from the visionary architects Hung and Songkittipakdee at HAS design and research. Aluminium Grotto and Public Ground is constructed from hundreds of thousands of aluminium rods with a design that integrates the skin into the space, the space with the structure and the structure with diverse functions, known as Total-ness Design. No aluminium rod is the same length, and each rod has been cut and has been meticulously assembled by craftsmen reflecting the heritage of workmanship seen in Thai temples. The design fuses a contemporary idea of the old and celebrates it in a new incarnation that is inspirational in its realisation.
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In providing an open and elevated space under the roof canopy, Hung and Songkittipakdee have generated “grey space” to attract the public to experience the space and what it has to offer. At special moments when natural light illuminates the space, there is the opportunity for discourse, education, learning and forums all within a ceremonious and sensory environment.
The architecture and design of HAS design and research continues to make its presence felt, not only in the region but across the globe. With a vision that sets them apart from their peers, Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee are constantly pushing the envelope of architecture and what is possible to achieve. They and their team create outstanding and significant projects that test spatial boundaries and materiality.
HAS design and research was shortlisted in the 2022 INDE.Awards in The Prodigy category and was named winner of The Retail Space in the 2023 INDE.Awards with Casa de Zanotta. Its work is always intriguing, experiential and conceived with great thought for process and outcome and Aluminium Grotto and Public Ground is yet another example of fine design from this remarkable practice.
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