ISSUE 01.

2014

!"#!"#$!%&'()""*
+,-#*!.*#$!%/0)#(!*
1/2"34"*"!56%$7*89
THE ARCHITECTURAL JOURNAL
OF THE ASSOCIATION OF
SIAMESE ARCHITECTS
UNDER ROYAL PATRONAGE
CONDOMINIUM

CONDOMINIUM
HAUS / PARK 24 / WAN VAYLA /
IDEO MORPH 38 / OCAS HUA HIN
/ ISSARA LADPRAO / SARI BY
SANSIRI / THE PINNACLE@
DUXTON / INTERVIEWS WITH
LPN, IAW AND SOMDOON / HOW
GREEN IS IT? WHO IS IT GREEN
FOR? HOW DOES IT BECOME
GREEN ? / FAR BONUS AND
CONDOMINIUMS

01
2014
ISSN 0857-3050

ASA COMMITTEE
ON
SOCIAL
ARCHITECTURE TEXT
Nattawut Usavagovitwong
amazon.com
!"#$% &'( )*+,-./0"102345673689/167:6##1;8<
=>0)"76?7@0@,A:B0"?"C"D-E 234:93)#<53F";8<6/$#G)
H?01H73 !"#$%&'(()*+,-. /01)IDJ" KLMNOPQ RSNTO'
UVNUWSVX Y3Z#/?16["\0Z]0A!C45CF">DE%+%0+I$E
=>0)"76+,-1,^/$=[EH1!"?E6?40E +/01680EH?015I40!:
I$E=[EH1+,-1,^/$?7@0@,A=>0)_^Z6##1?/05)`"?7@0@,A
5Aa-$^$%="$EYH#E=#40E=/?"%"I$E=[EH1;8<#<%%+9"
"7Z15+/0"["J C#a$;14;^/53?73 b0#c?Z, c +,5- )`"d0=^#0:0#Zc
@a-$3[E340"]G17d0=^#c1"9eZc KfWgPh iVMjSPkTlX 234
5HZ68/0?>DE]0?<60#5I40H#$%EB0AaJ"+,-+0E60Z]0AI$E
#<%%+9""7Z1?/0 mnMSg oMQQMpq kSMrU Pq pVQQ Pq
oWhNUOMhs1 +,-=<+4$"!C45CF"@93H?01=[1A["tcI$E#<%%
+9"+,-1,.8^/$60#6/$#G);8<5)8,-Z";)8E=]0A;?384$1
60Z]0A$Z/0E>DE#06 $Z/0E2#6F^01689/167:6##1;8<
=>0)"76:B0"?"C"D-E234IZ0Z!C45CF"]0A60#+B0E0"5)`"
.87^.8]0H68[%I$E#<%%",J 23&*45467-'"( (5"0+,8467-
'"(69"0"4'/:;<567-="32.'" >4'"(*=5"!?0:(@'"(6"0
!"#$%&'(() uD-E5)`"H"689/1!Cv/I$E=[EH1 ]0Z!^4
67:6##1+,-3B05"7"10#/?16[%=10H1=>0)"76=Z01w
C"/?ZE0"]0H#[x $EHc6#+[EJ ;=?EC0;8<21/;=?EC06B02#
w8w $0+7 60#="[%="9"H?01@/?Z5C8a$340"60#$$6;%%
01 %40"A[6.G)4 #<=%][Z!"6#y,A%7 ^[ ]7 Z[ =D"017 60#="[%="9"
zMS{qTMk 5Aa-$5)|3Y$60=!C4"[6dD6e0;8<Z9?=>0)"76
5CF"%+%0+;8<H?01=010#>I$E^"5$E!"60#:##Y8E
=[EH1 ^8$3:"60#="[%="9"5H#a$I/0Z67:6##15Aa$- @91@"
}MggWhOUl RNU ~VUpMS{ }R~X 5)`"^4"
92 ASA ASA COMMITTEE !"#!"$!%!
!"#<3[%=068"[J" H?01=B0H[vI$E=>0)"765Aa-$
=[EH1234#[%60#5.Z;A#/!"A7A7t][y€c }MMkVS'fVpOUU
uD-E5)`"A7A7t][y€c340"60#$$6;%% ]0Z!^4"7+##d60#
+,-1,@a-$?/0 VqOjh oMS UTV ‚UTVS ƒ„…2 !")* A†d†
‡ˆˆ( 5Aa-$^$6Z‰E0"$$6;%%+,-1,$ZG/Y3Z+[-?2)1,C"40+,-
#[%!@4H"5A,ZE Š„… !"Iy<+,-H" ƒ !" Š„ H" 5)`"
689/1H"+,-21/2345I40>DE%#760#340"60#$$6;%%+,-1,$ZG/
+[-?2)58Z "7+##d60#",J234;=3E.8E0"I$E=>0)"76
"[6$$6;%% !"340"^/0E‹ 67-69"*+,-.;<5)7("&A3545.&Y3Z
5"4"!C45CF"?/060#$$6;%%=010#>Z6#<3[%;64)_vC0
!C4689/1H"5C8/0",J234$Z/0E2#%40E
afasiaarq.blogspot.com
02
THE EMPHASIS HAS BEEN PLACED ON
CREATING A SPACE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE
WHO LACK AN OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS
ARCHITECTURE SERVICES, WHICH IS A LARGE
MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SOCIETY.
01 !"#$%&'()*+,-.*-/).'012' ;14?/0=>0)_^Z6##15Aa-$=[EH1"[J"5)`"+,->G668/0?>DE
3-45,0'678'901:)024';0:/),
!"=[EH12+Z1021/"0" ;^/)#[@v0AaJ"x0"I$E;"?H73
02'<=#>!?&#'@/)0A'B-/2,4'
CD,41E'F0)G'FA0HE50*.IJ' @93",J2346/$#G)!"=[EH12+Z10"0"6?/0 & +d?##e Y3Z
K)..1EL4)4 1,=?/ ")#<6$%$Z/0E"4$Z ‡ =/?" =/?"+,C- "DE- 234#%[ $7+t7A8
:06+Œe,=>0)_^Z6##15$E+,-AZ0Z01^[JEHB0>01>DE
1B") )/ +/4CD(EFBG"0 !"#$%&'(()'/: 0/ 1) $0+7
E0"5I,Z"58/1=B0H[vI$E ŽPhoSVM PoWSO 5#a-$E RSNTO'
UVNUWSV Ph ‘UMkOP& K]0A ŠX +,"- 0B 5="$+0E58a$6$a"- ‹
I$E%+%0+=>0)"76+,-Z[EH9y)#<YZ@"c^/$=[EH1106IDJ"
+,-!"#<3[%?7@0@,A=010#>5CF"234:06E0"I$E ’WSPQ
LUWOM K]0A ‡'(X“ ‘S”Ph TOh{ Ph{ K]0A ˆX“
•–~ K]0A+,- —X :">DE.8E0"I$E RhhP fVSOhjVS
;8< ˜O{V ’MqpPj +,-234#[%#0E?[8+0E=>0)_^Z6##1
:06 RjP ™TPh nMWhPUOMh K]0A š'›X w8w :">DE
%+%0+I$E=>0)"76^/$=[EH1;8<@91@"+,-2345)`"+,-
#G4:[6!"?E6?40E Y3Z }PgVSMh LOhNQPOS ;8< ™PUV
LUMTS ;C/E RSNTOUVNUWSV oMS fWgPhOUl( !"x0"<
+,-5)`"$EHc6#+,-=#40EAaJ"+,-!C4567360#+B0E0"340"",J106
IDJ" 5)`"^4" =>0)"76+,-234#[%$7+t7A8:06;"?H73!"689/1
",J:<!C4"!‰C"[66[%%#760#+0E=>0)_^Z6##1!"#G);%%
)#<@0=E5H#0<Cc KLMNOPQ zVQoPSVX +,-5"4"60#1,=/?"
#/?1!"60#..'H::(GB)'/:IJ)I4
!"#!"$!%! ASA COMMITTEE
Over the past 3-4 years, a number of activist
groups and architects have ignited interest in the
issues and ideas of Social architecture by projecting a
picture aimed at defining a better understanding of the
role an architect plays toward society and creating a
better understanding of society in relation to the pro-
fession of architecture, a vocation viewed previously
as serving the higher class of the social structure
and capitalism only. Even David Harvey, a renowned
professor of Human Geography, has mentioned the
domination of capitalism in terms of physical space
when he described that ‘form follows profit as well as
function.’ His statement reflects the relationship and
radical effects of capital investment on the formation
and development of the physical environment. How-
ever, a number of activists and architects have also
helped to explain and visualize this working process
describing how to achieve product from this system.
The emphasis has been placed on creating a space to
work with people who lack an opportunity to access
architecture services, which is a large majority of the
people in the society. Activists carried this out
together with the Association of Siamese Architects,
Government agencies and both profit and non-profit
organizations, etc. Their activities included helping to
support the design responsibilities of the construction
of homes for disaster victims of the tsunami, supporting
workshops to create opportunities for students and
young architects to explore their role and ability to
sustain society, as well as aid in supporting the Com-
munity Act Network: CAN and so on.
At an international level, the importance of social
architects has been broadcast at Cooper-Hewitt National
Design Museum under the exhibition entitled, ‘Design
for the other 90%’ in 2011, reinforcing the notion that,
in general, existing design works have been used by
only 10%, while 9 in 10 people fall into the category
of those who do not have access to current design
services. This exhibition shows the work of architects
and designers in different fields who create works for
the low-income bracket, emphasizing how design can
function to leverage / find solutions for these groups
of people.
Although social architecture seems to have only
recently gained attention and focus in Thailand, the
philosophical basis of this concept actually took root in
Thai society some three decades ago in the format of
at least two components. One section was influenced
by the architecture itself, a theory that attempts to
question the relationship between architecture and
society, such as the significant writing work of Manfredo
Tafuri - Architecture and Utopia (Fig. 1) which offered
other alternatives for the role of the architect that
could be more beneficial to the society. In terms of
professional work, this approach can be seen in the
design work of Rural Studio (Fig. 2-4), Urban Think
Tank (Fig. 5), TYIN (Fig. 6) and within the works of
Anna Heringer and Eike Roswag who received the
architectural award from the Aga Khan Foundation (Fig.
7-8), etc. Furthermore, the role of architects towards
ASA 93
 aia.org/practicing/AIAB085699
THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN REGARDS TO
=/?"+,-=$E234#[%$7+t7A8:06+Œe,+0E=[EH1d0=^#c $Z/0E2#6F^01^#0%:")_::9%[" =>0)"76:B0"?"21/ THESE IDEAS SPARKED INTEREST WITH SOME
;8<#[xd0=^#c +,-56,-Z?I4$E6[%60#1,=/?"#/?1;8<HB0>01 "4$ZZ[EHE5CF"?/0=>0)_^Z6##15Aa-$=[EH1"[J"21/2341,"[Z ARCHITECTS TO RE-ENVISION THEIR ROLE IN

villanoailles-hyeres.com
^/$YH#E=#40E=[EH1 ^8$3:"%+%0+I$E)#<@0=[EH1 =B0H[v!"+0E+Œe,C#a$H?015)`";I"EI$Ed0=^#c5\A0< ENGAGING AND DRIVING SOCIAL CHANGE.
!"60#A[œ"0 @93H?01H73",J:93)#<60Z=>0)"76%0E 340"$["!3+,-:<>G6:[3)#<5]+$$610:06=>0)_^Z6##1'
6891/ !C45CF":6:"6=.0%4*.0>4'"()7 BG 4(GB);K/'3/4 d0=^#cY3Z+[-?2) 5A,ZE;^/5)`"60#"B0=>0)_^Z6##1
'"(*#K7&- 4H#K0 0/ 1) =>0)_^Z6##15Aa$- =[EH15)`"+,- 5Aa-$#[%!@45)¤0C10Z%0E$Z/0E ;^/6F1,$,6=/?"68[%5CF"?/0
68/0?>DE!"+0E?7@060#$,6H#[JE5 ]0Z!^46#$%+Œe,!Cv/ 6#<%?"60#)¢7%[^7?7@0@,A!"=0I0I$E=>0)_^Z6##1
?/034?Z5#a$- E =7+t7+:,- <$ZG!/ "51a$E KTV ’OjTU UM UTV }OUlX 5Aa$- =[EH11,H?01;^6^/0E$Z/0E1,"Z[ =B0H[v:06=>0)_^Z'
$["5)`";"?H73+,#- 57 #71- Y3Z fVhSO VoV”žSV "[6=[EH1?7+Z0 6##1d0=^#cY3Z+[-?2)!"340"6#<%?"60#$$6;%%;8<
51a$E=0Z ŽPSŸOqU uD-E5)`";"?H73+,-H#$%H891C8[660# 23410uDE- .88[Atc+0E=>0)_^Z6##1 21/5A,ZE;^/?E?7@060#
?/034?Z5#a-$E60#5I40>DE+#[AZ06#51a$E!"x0"<+,-%#7%+ ;8<?7@0@,AI$E2+Z5+/0"[J" !"Y86?7@060#^<?["^6"[J"
=0t0y<— )#<6$%34?ZH?01H73C8[6$ZG/$Z/0E"4$Z ( 03
234>65>,ZE6["$Z/0E6?40EI?0E56,-Z?6[%=>0)_^Z6##1
340"234;6/ H?01Z[-EZa" KLWqUPOhP”OQOUlX )#<@0t7)2^Z 5Aa-$=[EH1?/0C10Z>DE$<2# 1,H?01C10Z;8<>G6:B0;"6
KVgMNSPNlX H?015+/05+,Z1 K˜ WOUlX ;8<H?015)`" !"=[EH12+Z5$E @93H?01H738[6ey<",J234>G6"B010 $$6:06=>0)_^Z6##1Y3Z+[-?2)$Z/0E2# C"D-E!""7Z01 05

t##1!"=[EH1 KLMNOPQ ¡WqUONVXš uD-E@93H?01H735C8/0 !@45#7-1;#6!")¢7%[^760#60#;64)_vC0=8[15)`"C8[6!" +,-"/0="!:234;6/"7Z01I$E RhUTMhl zPS +,-23468/0?

",J5)`"5Ea-$"2I=B0H[vI$E]0?<H?015)`"=1[Z!C1/3[E"[J" @/?E+d?##e+,- ›„qs ]0Z!^46#<;=60#5673ID"J I$E ~i‚ 2?4?/0 !"#$%&'())*+,-./!012*2-/(#)$3450&4647#78,
=>0)_^Z6##15Aa-$=[EH1:DE17!@/60#;Z6^[?!"8[6ey< +,-I[%5H8a-$"340"=7+t71"9eZ@";8<+,-$ZG/$0d[Z $0+7 !"#$%&'())*98.*/1!"#$%&'())*:;<#;=+2)-./1*-/ 03'<=#>!?&#'@/)0A'B-/2,4' society and community has been widely explored by
)¢7]0HI$E#<%%=[EH1=1[Z!C1/$Z/0E+,-"7Z15I40!:6[" YH#E60#)#[%)#9E@91@"%40"1"[EHd780 60#)#[%)#9E !)>#126#*+$?8.';@$?19#1!012*ABC'D#((?E#6"F1 CM01*.H'N+05.AI Cameron Sinclair and Kate Stohr of Architecture for
04 <=#>!?&#'@/)0A'B-/2,4' Humanity, an organization that creates more spaces
H%G)0GJ F)"&*+,.- >I5 !"#$%&'(()69"0"4'/:%/B'K"0>4 @91@"5u/E6,- :"234680Z5)`"%54H::=.0'"(H'5#$\F" 98.!GC@?>6(!"#$%!"&$'()*+&,(-./012--!34564'37*89:4* CD,41E'F0)G'FA0HE50*.IJ' and opportunities for these types of works. The archi-
(E::LM?0- 'N1., )4JO&DLPQRSTULVWXUYZ[ +,-5@a-$?/0>DE 67-.&<G."]/&HKE1B") 9"1/\=.0]" %(DHFG0'"(^/3'"( 8%;'<7=:9 *0;2-/$345&0 (4 #)9#1!012*:;/0;98!. ;05!;G; K)..1EL4)4' tects who are influenced by the ideas of this group
;141"9eZc:<>G66B06[%AŒ^76##1;8<5:^:B0"E%0E$Z/0E +,48 67L- uDE- =<+4$"!C45CF"%+%0+I$E=>0)"76!"60# @?=@9)(&06+H>#I$:;?J#C0570K;9#1!012*:;)=C05(?I( 05'<=#>!?&#';MOP';.Q1.E-/.'' could potentially give weight to architectural services
./0"6#<%?"60#C8/$C8$1:06YH#E=#40E=[EH1 :[360#H8,-H80Z)_vC05@7E60Z]0A234:#7E $Z/0E2#6F^01 H/1(#)(C905@?=2)/51J#98C. #J )1/'LAE C01;0;K !"#$%&'())* CB4.'R.)';,.'S4/E.IJ'T"# U"7 in the form of social welfare focused on engaging with
V>W the community in terms of design.
KLMNOPQO£PUOMhX ;^/6#<"["J 1"9eZc61F $, =7 #<;8<d[6Z]0A )¢7%[^760#+,-:<CZ7%Za-"%#760#?7@0@,A=>0)_^Z6##1=G/ +,-./!012**8D;>#98.9>#9#'B2)1!)>#198.2)/51J#+D?E#;8KA 06 <=#>!?&#'3)L01';+,1G' The second component was influenced by the
A$=1H?# ;8<1,$7=#<!"60#58a$65)8,-Z";)8E1["234 =[EH1 Z[EHE:B06[3$ZG/5\A0<689/158F6‹ :?%:"#0?C"D-E @?=)6*"F19G;;4'*98.@*>@&E!"#$%&'())*+,-./!012*(M ;01G'CX.)-,*0A'KHY10E,/Y' theories of social science and political science, in
uD-E$0:"B02)=G/#G);%%=[EH1@"73!C1/!"+40Z+,-=93› uD-E +d?##e+,-.0/ "10%+%0+I$E=>0)"76!"60#+B0E0"5Aa-$ /'LE:;)=55;8KNAO;)8Y3Z.G45I,Z"Xƒ ZA'[4)024IJ'\U\!]^\&=_> relation to the participation in and questioning of the
=>0)"76+,-234#[%$7+t7A8:06;"?H73!"689/1",J:<1$E @91@";8<=[EH15#7-11,106IDJ"5"a-$E10:06"YZ%0Z;642I social structure. The role of civil society in regards to
=>0)_^Z6##15)`"5H#a-$E1a$+,-6#<^94"!C4567360#5)8,-Z" )_vC0+,-$ZG/$0d[ZI$E#[x;8<H?01^a-"^[?I$E]0H)#<@0 these ideas sparked interest with some architects to
re-envision their role in engaging and driving social
./0"2)=G/H?015)8,-Z";)8E;8<60#:[3^[?I$E#<%%+0E =[EH1+,^- $4 E60#5A71- $B0"0:;6/)#<@0@"=G6/ 0#^/$#$E!" change. Social architecture was further discussed

u-tt.com
=[EH1!C1/‹ KLMNOPQ ŽM”OQO£PUOMhX ;8<60#5A7-1$B0"0: 6#<%?"60#A[œ"0 ;8<60#5)8,Z- ";)8E+0E60Z]0A by academics under the broader theory and subject
;6/@91@"1066?/0+,-:<1$E=>0)_^Z6##1!"x0"<+,-5)`" 5)`""‰C"[! 6=B0H[vZ7-E +B0!C4=>0)_^Z6##1234680Z5)`" of ‘The right to live in the city,’ a concept initiated by
.88[AtcI$E.G4$$6;%% A0C"<+,-"B0A0.G4H"=G/H?01C?[E^/$H?015)8,-Z";)8E Marxist sociologist Henri Lefebvre, that encompasses
principles regarding access to city resources within
the public context and consists of following four main
afasiaarq.blogspot.com

04 ideas being viewed as essential conditions for social

modernization: Sustainability, Democracy, Equity, and
Social Justice. Therefore, social architecture is not
meant to isolate itself in proportion to the new system
of modern society, which is the popular understanding,
but is actually intended to use architecture to work
with intermediaries in the system, which are the Human
agency. Subscribers to these notions believe that
THEREFORE, SOCIAL ARCHITECTURE IS NOT although human behavior is to some intent molded by
socialization, humans still have enough freedom and
MEANT TO ISOLATE ITSELF IN PROPORTION potential to choose to initiate and achieve change, a
TO THE NEW SYSTEM OF MODERN SOCIETY, potential that could lead to a new kind of society in
WHICH IS THE POPULAR UNDERSTANDING, BUT the end. Those architects who are influenced by these
ideas view architecture as a tool to stimulate transi-
IS ACTUALLY INTENDED TO USE ARCHITECTURE 06
tions toward changes and the system of a new form
TO WORK WITH INTERMEDIARIES IN THE SYSTEM, of social mobilization, while also giving more authority
to the community to view architecture not merely as
WHICH ARE THE HUMAN AGENCY. a result of designer’s decisions.

94 ASA ASA COMMITTEE !"#!"$!%! !"#!"$!%! ASA COMMITTEE ASA 95


07-08.LG<$%A><.sffe.
tlcifolc.KG".giul.vjwxeo.
y_gz{.wa|jjn.j}.v~ceq~c€.
‚efonelw|
IT CAN BE SEEN THAT SOCIAL ARCHITECTURE
IS IN ITSELF A PARADOX.
!"#$%&'(!)#*+#,-#.)/'
!"#$%&!!'$#(&$!)*$ %+&,-',%.)'$/')*$ %+&)0$'1%2!"3!'4.
!$,5 *6'78.9:<; &=>?6<@ AB%C 1%DEF>%?-G$/'.HIIJ.KG"L5>M $N %O0&$!P5%08ORQ 06 .
35!S!$&$!7$22T@%UV;KG")6</'.7$/OQ,$)*$ W?0&!!'P$)?!8..
/S")*$ W?0&!!'P$)?!8.'X$OQU0$G60P!Y U-'.R3&$!P:&Z$!"E63..
)*[3.\)*$ ?W 0&!!'].R$&)*$36%DU/^%^G0V2!"R>'D&GM$DRM$/-SUX$!
G$E&!"36<._[.`a[.\bcdef.gfhicjfklfmen._efeolklfm].R$&.
)*$36%DU/^%^G0VKX=<D>D,V0.KG".pc[.clc[.qjn[\rneffifo].'X$OQU0$G60.
KX=<D'F></$)D9+G. !"DUPD0>!'6%
96 ASA
:06+,-68/0?10+[JEC13 :<5CF"234?/0=>0)_^Z6##1
5Aa-$=[EH11,8[6ey<Z4$";Z4E!"^[?5$E 5673:0660#+,-
C8[6H73!"60#+B0E0""["J 1,=$E^B0;C"/E;C/E+,2- )A#4$16["
234;6/ )#<60#;#6 H?01Z4$";Z4E!"340"60#$$6;%%
68/0?Ha$340"C"D-E !"#4@'%5.0:((^JHKE K"&1B")
*#_4%/B%4>4'"(..'H::A#+(5.)` 6[" C10Z>DE60#
+,-=>0)"76+,-+B0E0"340"",J^4$E5)`" LWӴVNU !"60#\0Z
]0A;8<.8[63["!C45673#G)+#E +,-?/0E 5Aa-$=#40EAaJ"+,-
+0EH?01H73!C4.G4H"234)<+<=[E=##Hc ;8<^4$E=80Z
H?015)`")#<t0""[J"8E5Aa-$!C4H?01H73+,-A[œ"0^/$5)`"
H?01H73I$E.G4H"+,-1,=/?"#/?1;8<C8938$Z:065:40I$E
H?01H735#71- ;#6;8<C138[6ey<I$E60#H#$%EB08E
;8< )#<60#+,-=$E H?01Z4$";Z4E!"t##1@0^7I$E^[?
=>0)_^Z6##15$E+,- 340"C"D-E=>0)_^Z6##11,8[6ey<
I$EH?01=>7^Zc$ZG/=GE5"a-$E:065)`"5#a-$EI$E60Z]0A
+,>- 6G #[E=##HcI"DJ 5Aa$- 5)`".88[AtcI$E60#;64)v
_ C0!"
6085+d<C"D-E‹ !"Iy<53,Z?6["=>0)_^Z6##16F>G6
H03C?[E!C45)`"5H#a-$E1a$=#40EH?015)8,-Z";)8E 5)`"
¦QPUoMSg I$E60#)<+<=[E=##HcI$E fWgPh RjVhNl
uD-E^4$E60#H?015)`"A8?[^!"^[?5$E=GE 60#=#40E=##Hc
=>0)_^Z6##1]0Z!^4%#7%+",JZ/$11,)_vC0!"60#3B0#E
$ZG/!" ‡ %+%0+A#4$1‹ 6["$Z/0EZ06+,-:<C8,6A4"
architektur.mapolismagazin.com
07
ASA COMMITTEE
architektur.mapolismagazin.com
In Thai society, the mindset of this nature was
initially drawn upon as a means of finding solutions to
address issues in slum areas during the early 80s.
Under the current emergence of NGO-driven human
rights and housing projects, including projects for
improving the Manangkhasila and Seng Ki Communities,
a model for solving housing problems while respecting
the importance of spatial science was drawn upon,
a practice that reflects the architect’s role and actual
ability to manage and solve problems regarding
physical attributes. However, the operation to lend
architectural services to society remained limited to
just a small group until one decade ago, a time when
the role of architects in carrying out community and
society works increased due to government policies
aimed at solving residential housing problems and
the awakening of civil society toward a desire to give
more power to the people and bargain for the develop-
ment process and physical changes they desired, a
change which was of great importance and imbued
architecture with the potential to serve as a vehicle for
carrying a hope for change to the people.
However, currently, many architects still feel that
social architecture is not significant in theory, nor do
they view it as a particular branch of science that can
be classified separately from architecture in general.
However, there is also another group who sees the
process of professional practice in the field of social
architecture as differing in theory from general archi-
tecture in terms of design process and achieving
results in architecture. Not only academics and archi-
tecture professionals in Thailand, but Western scholars
as well have argued extensively in regards to social
architecture and a means of pinpointing what it
means, how it can be defined and how is could be
classified differently from architecture in general. One
interesting definition is that of Anthony Ward who
described that: “Social architecture is the practice of
architecture as an instrument for progressive social
change. It foregrounds the moral imperative to increase
human dignity and reduce human suffering. Its social
practice has both supported and reinforced existing
social hierarchies and has operated mostly as a
mechanism of oppression and domination. Therefore,
Social Architecture has the duty to challenge these
structures of domination, including capitalism, in which
Social Architecture is also in the system.”
From all that has been mentioned, it can be seen
that social architecture is in itself a paradox. This is
caused by a thinking process stemming from two
directions with the first being a paradox in the design.
That is that the architect needs to both contain and
disperse the identity in the design together at the
same time, meaning that architects who are working
in this field need to play the role as a form-giver in
order to create a thinking platform for the people to
start sharing their ideas. At the same time, they have
to play the role as a supporter or a facilitator in the dis-
cussion process, in order to enable people empower-
ment and minimize the character of domination.
!"#!"$!%!
08
AT THE SAME TIME, ARCHITECTURE IS EXPECTED
TO BECOME AN INSTRUMENT OF SOCIAL CHANGE
AND BECOMES A PLATFORM FOR SOCIAL IMPACT OF
THE HUMAN AGENCY, AN ELEMENT THAT NEEDS
TO HAVE A HIGH DYNAMIC.
34?Z5C^9"=,J >0)_^Z6##15Aa$- @91@":DE21/1H, y
9 =1%[^7
=B0H[vI$EH?015)`"d0=^#cC8[6 KfPS LNOVhNVX +B0!C4
%/$ZH#[JE1[6>G6#[%#G4;8<5I40!:!"x0"<I$E5:^:B0"E
1066?/0^[?6#<%?"60# $["5)`"=0#<=B0H[v+,-1066?/0
.88[Atc uD-E5)`"H?01:#7E5A,ZE=/?"C"D-E ;^/H?01+,-=>0'
)_^Z6##15Aa-$=[EH121/1,=>0"<5)`"d0=^#cC8[6"[J"6F
5)`"8[6ey<53/"+,-=B0H[v34?Z5@/"6[" *+("E69">F5*#a3
2.'" >F5*'@31B")*#_4A#A3567-FK"'FK"&b"&>%5*^%c
^9"4067-+&"&")*#K7-&4H#K0 /01)>4*I@0:B' Y3Z
$0d[Zd0=^#c+6,- ?40E!Cv/6?/0d0=^#c+0E=>0)_^Z6##1=G/
d0=^#cI$E60#:[360#Aa"J +,- KLkPUOPQ LNOVhNVX +[EJ Aa"J +,-
60Z]0A;8<AaJ"+,-+0E=[EH1 ;8<640?A4"2):06%+%0+
)6^7I$E=>0)"76!"x0"< VNThONOPh ^[JE;^/%+%0+
Y3Z+[-?2)$Z/0E5@/"60#5Z,Z?Z0=]0A;?384$1 2):">DE
60#!@4=>0)_^Z6##1I[%5H8a-$";8<5)8,-Z";)8E?7t,H73
I$E.G4H"!C45I40!684=[EH1+,-ADE)#0#>"0106IDJ"
]0Z!^4%#7%++,-5)8,-Z";)8E2)I$E)#<@0H1Y86
;8<=[EH12+Z+,-!C4H?01=B0H[v6[%=7+t7 5=#,]0A H?01
5C8a-$18‰ H?015)`"t##1 ;8<6#<%?"60#+0E)#<@0'
t7)2^Z106Z7-EIDJ" =>0)_^Z6##15Aa-$=[EH16B08[E$ZG/!"
6#<%?"60#6/$#G);8<:[3?0E^B0;C"/E;C/E+,- 5Aa-$5)`"
6B08[EH?01#G4+,-=B0H[v^/$2)+/01680E\06C8[EI$EA8?[^
+0E=[EH1",J ;8<Z[E1,]0#67:=B0C#[%=>0)"765Aa-$@91@"
$,6106#$$ZG/!"$"0H^$["!684
REFERENCES
1 Harvey, D. (1990). The Condition of Postmodernity. Oxford: Blackwell, p. 282.
2 http://www.designother90.org and Smith, C.E. (2011). Design with the Other 90%: Cities. Washing-
ton D.C.: Cooper-Hewitt Museum, Smithsonian Institute.
3 Tafuri, M (1979). Architecture and Uotpia: Design and Capitalist Development. Massachusetts: MIT Press.
4 http://architectureforhumanity.org and Sinclair, C and Stohr, K. (eds.) (2006). Design Like You Give
a Damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises. New York:  US Green Building Council.
5 Jones, P and Card, K. (2011). “Constructing “Social Architecture”: The Politics of Representing
Practice”. Architectural Theory Review 16(1): 228-244.
6 Lefebvre, H. (1996). Writing on Cities. Translated by E. Kofman and E. Lebas. Oxford: Blackwell. and
Harvey, D. (2008). “The Right to the City”. New Left Review 53: 23-40.
7 International Alliance of Inhabitants. (2005). “World Charter for the Right to the City”, Retrieved on
October 16, 2013 from http://www.urbanreinventors.net/3/wsf.pdf
8 Pierre Bourdieu !"#$%&'()*+(,-(./01432 56789,:;1(<*:<=> +()?;#@7,=A" Habitus @9B Field "C.()9B4$2)"?7 Bourdieu,
P. (1977). Outline of A Theory of Practice. Trans. by R. Nice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
9 Ward, A. (1996). “Suppression of the Social in Design: Architecture as War” in T.M. Dutton and L.H.
Mann p. 27-70. Reconstructing Architecture: Critical Discourses and Social Practices. Minneapolis:
University of Minnesota Press.
!"#!"$!%! ASA COMMITTEE
The second issue is the paradox in the nature of
social architecture itself, which, on one side, carries
characteristics of high-status with it due to the fact
that the physical results of the practice are created
as a response toward solving problems in a particular
circumstance. At the same time, architecture is ex-
pected to become an instrument of social change
and becomes a platform for social impact of the Human
agency, an element that needs to have a high dynamic.
To create architecture under this context is indeed
prone to problems, as there is the existence of two
roles within it simultaneously, a challenge that is very
difficult to escape.
For this reason, architecture for the community
does not have the important qualities required to be
a hard science, a notion that is frequently recognized
and understood as a focus on the intent rather than
the process, which is more important than the end
result. However, this is only partly true, because the
fact that social architecture is not a hard science is
considered to be a key feature as well. It gives a wide
range of possibility with the intent to create a positive
social change by using a science that is broader than
architectural science, which is a spatial science, for
including both the physical area and the social space.
This approach steps away from the usual role of the
architect serving as a Technician and incorporates
more general roles such as healing the environment
and using architecture as a tool to drive change and
stimulate the ways of thinking of a people to achieve a
more desirable society.
In the context of a changing global community and
a Thai Society focused on liberty and rights, equality,
fairness and fostering a more democratic process,
Social Architecture plays a large role in the process of
the formation and change. Social Architecture functions
as a critical knowledge base and successful backdrop
for supporting the present social dynamics and, with
all this in mind, there are many missions waiting for
social architects in the near future.
ASA 97