Since 1981, Taiwan's Golden Pin Design Award (GPDA) has become the most influential design award in the global Huaren market. The GPDA is run by the Taiwan Design Research Institute and organised by the Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Held recently in Taipei, this year's award ceremony announced 27 winners, including two Thai entries, which received the Best Design and Special Annual Award for Circular Design.
Located in Chiang Mai, Little Shelter boutique hotel was awarded the Best Design prize for its striking spatial design created by Department of Architecture, a firm founded in 2004 by Amata Luphaiboon and Twitee Vajrabhaya Teparkum.
The company has also designed other award-winning properties such as The Commons in Thong Lor, Bangkok, Sala Phuket Resort & Spa and The Mist Hot Spring Hotel in China.
Its team of architects and interior designers fused traditional northern Thai elements with modern styling to represent a dialogue between old and new while creating the Little Shelter. The ceiling of each guest room features mesmerising images that portray different aspects of Chiang Mai.
The Si Racha-based Green Dot Blue firm, led by creative director Siriwan Chiwarak also celebrated another win as its ARTWORK TOMii recyclable backpack received the Special Annual Award for Circular Design.
The eco-conscious Thai brand believes in reducing, reusing, recycling and going vegan. Recycling PET bottles, in particular, will help reduce plastic pollution and its environmental impact.
Also, the winning backpack is made from recyclable felt derived from used plastic bottles with a special production technique rendering the bag its 15kg load capacity.
The GPDA awards ceremony, themed "2020", also highlighted how designers should explore a future trajectory that embraces sustainable development. This year's theme also symbolised abrupt impacts and challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which allowed people to take a step back and reflect on the meaning of life.
Little Shelter's modern architecture, landscape and interiors were designed by Thai architect firm Department of Architecture.
ARTWORK TOMii backpack made from discarded plastic bottles. (Photo courtesy of ARTWORK)
