September 29, 2020 at the First Floor, Sirikunakorn Building, Khon Kaen University – Faculty of Architecture joining the Infrastructure and Environment Section, Khon Kaen University, held an opening ceremony of an exhibition on Modern Architecture in Khon Kaen University. Asst. Prof. Arwut Yimtae, Vice President for Infrastructure and Environment made an opening address. Asst. Prof. Dr. Chamnan Bunyaputthitpong, Head of the Project gave a reporting speech. Over 30 administrators, lecturers and interested students attended.
The Modern Architecture in Khon Kaen University Campus exhibition is under the project of modern architecture in the university project, the aim of which is to compile and record modern architecture buildings in the two- and three-dimensional forms including photographs, posters and pictures of building plans.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Chamnan Bunyaputthitpong, Head of the Project told the news reporter that the design theories of Modern Architecture are under an important architectural design era that has impact on the study of modern architecture of the world. Khon Kaen University has significant modern architecture buildings that have been categorized at a national level. This might not be made known to the public. This project is therefore providing a good chance to begin the study on this intensively.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Chamnan Bunyaputthitpong, Head of the Project added that Modern Architecture is an important architectural design era that has impact on the study of modern architecture of the world. Khon Kaen University has significant modern architecture buildings that have been categorized at a national level. This might not be made known to the public. This project is therefore providing a good chance to begin the study on this intensively.
“Khon Kaen University is the oldest university in Isan Region. There are important buildings on campus designed by the national renown architect like Ajarn Amorn Sriwong. 70 % of the work exhibited are done by this architect, who designed the first buildings in Khon Kaen University at the establishment period of the university’s first decade (1964-1973). During that time, only 3 faculties were open, namely, faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Science and Arts. The buildings of these faculties were designed and constructed for the instruction and operation of the university. Additional buildings are the dormitories for the students at that time. There are 6 buildings under the project study including EN01 – now Department of Civil Engineering, EN 06 – now Department of Environmental Engineering, the circular building, which was the multi-purpose building, SC 01 of Faculty of Science, AG01 – the lecture and laboratory building of Faculty of Agriculture, and Dormitory 2. The project team hopes that the compilation of modern architecture building will be useful and that they will be maintained through the future. Many of these buildings have been restored and the outcomes are satisfactory. This exhibition is well interested by many. There are contacts for exhibiting at other places. After this, we will compile the work at the Khon Kaen University Hall of Archives” said Asst. Prof. Dr. Chamnan.
Asst. Prof. Arwut Yimtae, Vice President for Infrastructure and Environment said he was very pleased that Faculty of Architecture implements this project through surveying and compiling of Modern Architecture buildings and data. These are valuable for learning in architecture and for the history of Khon Kaen University, and for the remembrances. Even though many have not used these buildings, but they would certainly feel the loss if the buildings were removed. In order to make KKU a pleasant place to work, besides the good and welcoming environment, an aesthetic zone is another important aspect we take into account. Therefore, with the Faculty of Architecture implementing this project on compilation of data and conducting a study of modern architecture on KKU campus, the issue that we are proceeding with would reach the target. After collecting data of the six buildings, other buildings will be surveyed. The information thus compiled will be useful for the maintenance and restoration work in due course. The project also leads o collaboration among organizations in KKU and can be integrated and incorporated in the teaching and learning of Faculty of Architecture and other related fields,” said the Vice President for Infrastructure and Environmentใ
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noppadon Tangsakul from Faculty of Architecture, who is one of the project team members said that modern architecture is an in-trend issue in Thailand, especially among architects. Ajarn Amorn Sriwong, the architect who designed these old buildings is also the architect who designed buildings in other universities like Chiangmai University and Prince of Songkhla University.
“The designs of these buildings have certain impact at the world level. The buildings express their beauty arising from the materials and structure used. This is the principle architecture students need to know. Siam Architect Council has awarded the buildings of this era, and with this came the trend of Modern Architecture. The buildings have not reached a hundred years old, but they are famous because of their international impact. Thus, the annual architecture conference has set the theme on architectural heritage. The project is partly connecting bits by bits of modern architecture into a big perspective. The buildings in Khon Kaen University will be an important part in this respect of the whole country. The team also sees the impact on restoration of valuable buildings. For example, if a faculty wants to renovate a building, there will be available the basic data, enabling them to know what to keep and what are of high values, e.g., the structure. For the next step, we would like the ajarns to become our team so that the students can use these buildings as their study cases or the lecturers can use them as part of the instruction. Therefore, the data gathered under this study is very important and can be adjusted to suit the changing activities of the university and faculties. However, the valuable principle structure must be retained,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noppadon said.
The project on collecting data of the modern architecture buildings on Khon Kaen University campus began in March, 2020. The project started with coordination with organizations and faculties that own the case-study buildings in order to ask for their cooperation in data collection from documents, books, publications, photographs and archives of KKU, as well as the construction plans from Division of Buildings and Space. Then surveying has been conducted to collect architectural data, and architectural plans rewritten both in two- and three-dimension patterns.
The working team comprises Asst. Prof. Dr. Chamnan Bunyaputthitpong, Head of the Project, from Faculty of Architecture; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noppadon Tangsakul, Dr. Chantanee Jiranthanat, Assoc. Prof. Kulsri Tangsakul, and Miss Sopida Pimpapian, Acting Head of Design and Master Plan Unit, Division of Buildings and Space. Those who are interested can come to the Exhibition of Modern Architecture in Khon Kaen University at the multi-purpose hall, First Floor, Sirikunakorn Building, Khon Kaen University from September 29 until October 1, 2020.
[ Thai ]
