The Association of Siamese Architects (ASA) has held a design competition project to restore heritage architect under the event called ‘Heritage in Danger’, which was aimed to promote participation among architecture students in locating valuable architecture in their locality that is facing the problem of deterioration, lack of maintenance, or indecent usage and is worth conserving and restoring in order to sustain the national valuable cultures.
The Faculty of Architect, Khon Kaen University sent two student teams to the competition. The selected architecture heritage was Yasothon Theater in the Sing Tha old town in Muang District, Yasothon, which was built over 40 years ago. The theater was used as a study case for designing under the conservation concept and development to meet the needs of community people. The study and survey for conservation design and improvement of the buildings in this area was part of the course: Vernacular Architecture, the content and instruction of which continue for two consecutive semesters. The first semester is the understanding of vernacular architecture in various dimensions and the wisdom in the creation of the architecture. The students learn the significant values of local architecture heritage called vernacular architecture. The instruction provides a chance for the students to perform field surveys and collect information of the vernacular architecture in real areas. During the second semester, the students bring the concept and the understanding obtained from the survey to apply in designing a contemporary building or modifying buildings in order to accommodate the present lifestyles and usage. They have to understand the conditions and context of the area. The work submitted by the two teams were part of the explained instruction of the course. The activities in this course are supported under the annual budget that is allocated every year so that the students can visit and survey the area to collect their data. Relevant contemporary architecture in Isan has also been studied under the Community Integrated Design Project of the Faculty of Architecture, Khon Kaen University.
The two teams of contestants were the fifth-year students as follows:
Yasothon Film Team: Revival of the old building-1:
Miss Chanya Panyapoontrakoon
Mr. Panuwit Srisuttha
Mr. Krissakorn Wanjampa
Mr. Rachatorn Taweesakpaijit
Yasothon Film Team: Revival of the old building-2:
Miss Kanthasorn Lonkhunthod
Mr. Wasin Kajornsakwongwai
Miss Punyarat Boonjan
Mr. Teerapat Saengnil
The supervisory team of professors included:
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Warunee Wang, Asst. Prof. Dr. Chantanee Jirantahnat, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noppadol Tangsakul and Asst. Prof. Dr. Songyot Weerataweemas
Twelve committee members selected the best 7 teams from all over the country to enter the final round. The committee members comprised 3 representatives from the Association of Siamese CArchitects, 3 members from Lanna Architect Committee, 3 representatives from the Thaksin Architect Committee, and 3 members of Isan Architect Committee. The selected team was Yasothon Film Team: Revival of the old building-1. The team was granted the expenditure amount of 25,000 baht for the development of concept and preparation of the final touch. The work of Yasothon Film Team: Revival of the old building-2 has been selected for exposition at the Architect 64 Fair along with the work of 29 teams. enter
The final judgment of the Heritage in Danger Competition was done by 7 committee members and announced on January 4, 2021. The Yasothon Film Team: Revival of the old building-1 received the First Runner-up Prize of 10,000 baht. The prize presentation and the show of the work will be held at the Architect 64 Fair from April 27 to May 2, 2021 at Challenger Building, Muang Thong Thani.
News: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Warunee Wang
Photos: Yasothon Film Team: Revival of the old building-1
Reporter: Kannaphat Sirikiat
