Award-winning architect Nithi Sthapitanonda urges his Thai peers to promote their work.
By Kanana Katharangsiporn
``Thai architects' skills are second to none,'' says Mr Nithi. |
Nithi Sthapitanonda has achieved a special place in the ranks of the world's architects, and he says global recognition from their peers is not a distant dream for Thai architects to achieve if they try.
"Thai architects should show and promote their work. Their skills are second to none and should be disseminated. They just don't know how to take a first step forward to the world stage," says the 60-year-old 2002 National Artist in architecture (contemporary).
Mr Nithi recently became the second Thai architect, following Sumeth Jumsai Na Ayudhaya, to be included among 13 international professionals named Honorary Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) for 2008.
He first pursued the FAIA in 2004, encouraged by Mr Sumeth, a winner in 2001. At first, Mr Nithi declined as he felt he did not have enough qualifications to compete on a world stage.
However, the chairman of the architectural firm 49 Group decided to submit his architectural works as he felt he had a duty to promote the high quality of Thai architects in general.
"I submitted my large-scale works like high-rise office buildings in my first entry but I was not selected as high-rise buildings might not have been attractive or new for them," he recalled.
His second entry two years later was supported by professor W.H. Raymond Yeh, a former dean of Architecture at the University of Hawaii. Prof Yeh suggested that Mr Nithi submit a joint entry with his wife, Assoc Prof Lersom, dean of the Faculty of Architecture at Chulalongkorn University, as a few couples from Japan and Korea had received the award.
On his third attempt, Mr Nithi finally entered the charmed circle. His peers were impressed by his small-scale masterpieces in vernacular architecture - the Rimtai Saitarn housing resort in Chiang Mai and Wat Pa Sunantawanaram in Kanchanaburi in particular - and his many writings on architecture.
"Thai Lanna architecture was interesting for many participants as the works are quite strange and new to them," he said.
Currently, he is designing a new Thailand Cultural Centre, comprising a modern art museum and 1,500-seat theatre, on a 35-rai site near the current one. The project will be worth five billion baht. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Bangkok is another one of Mr Nithi's signature buildings.
Election to honorary fellowship in the 149-year-old AIA not only recognises the achievements of the foreign architect as an individual, but also as a model practitioner who has made a significant contribution to architecture and society on an international level.
"It considers what we've contributed to the architectural society including architectural designs, teachings and writings," Mr Nithi said. "It also considers how you spend your life. Some FAIA recipients have no architectural works but they have made a lot of contributions to the architecture world."
For more than three decades, Mr Nithi has worked to advance contemporary Thai architecture by incorporating environmental features that respect nature with detailed elements symbolic of Thai values.
This year he will launch two books: House Design by Thai Architects, with 11 designs from 11 architects; and Resort & Spa. In a few years he aims to retire, as client service requires a lot of time and energy.
"Thais in the past did not share their work when they created things, probably because they did not want their work to be copied. Many destroyed their designs when they completed the work," he says. "Don't forget, we also copy others' work. Copying is part of the development of the professional, I think, and builds competition. You should change your mind."
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Next
