Non@Cambridge

“Arena of Understanding for Everyone”

“Arena of Understanding for Everyone”


Thai architecture is a function of its politics. Since the country’s process of internationalization during its period of political revolution and constitutional reform in the mid-twentieth century, traditional Thai architectural design has shifted towards modern styles, which integrates global technology with declining consideration of cultural and local contexts. The character of Thai architecture shows more of the imported “Western” elements than the rational Thai abstract applications. This causes a dramatic decrease in intellectual involvement of Thai architects from the creative dimensions of contemporary Thai architectural design. I have found this to be a ‘crisis’ that will result in the regression of architecture in Thailand. And as a Thai scholar and a world citizen who seek role of architecture is in a need of clarification, I am endeavored to achieve the meaning of ‘Architecture’ in Thai context.

I take my purpose of being at MIT as an example of my investigation through history and theory of architecture. The crisis of identity seems to occur everywhere. As stronger cultural and traditional characters of the nation are, the result is likely to be more severe, because of what I call ‘problem of response and admission of the radical change’. Globalization makes our communicability by mean of exchanging ideas a lot easier. Architecture, as I do not want to particularly focus on in this paper, is part of cultural dynamic that, somehow, occupy itself in history of human kind. The provocative issue is that ‘can the Eastern perspective arouse Western thoughts?’ This question is as equally contentious as what theorists and practitioners have been debated on ‘paradigm shift in architecture’, which I am convinced; East-West issue is paradigm. The perspective of the ‘East’ and the ‘West’ are most likely to be seen as a combined, mutual, role that is forced to transcend its principle task of understanding. I think that the solid division between them should be disguised. Tradition must be protected and preserved, in the context of globalization. Technological advancement and method of modern thinking of the West, that transform most of our daily life style throughout the world, should be taken into account with cultural role of the East, that, somehow, look upon more in reverence to wisdom of nature and aesthetic of tranquility. The learning of this collective and united comprehension will result in a physical and contextual design of everything, which will help establish the world as an ‘Arena of Understanding for Everyone’.

Architecture itself and its history are controversial –one can see art of building science, one observe engineering aesthetic, while one acquire nothing at all—but it is what makes the study very enthralling. Architecture deals with almost all the disciplines. I can see my work is being unfolded by tracking down how each consequence of history was being written within interdisciplinary opportunities offered by MIT. My main study objective is to acquire a critical understanding of contemporary architecture and to engage in consultation through design. This objective is based on my belief that design solutions are best achieved through the approach to architectural design as an outcome of history and its controversies. I am convinced that research will show how modernism in architecture has been propelled by a series of individual initiatives taking place within a general milieu of the twentieth century and the ideological impulses that have animated it. My study will also examine stages of design progression through which modernism has evolved and how architects in Thailand have departed from the norm.

Since my study objectives are based on critical knowledge of both Thai and Western-influenced contemporary architecture, I feel that I can stretch the boundaries of Thai architecture and at the same time honor its quintessence. Tradition must be protected and preserved, in the context of globalization. The solid foundation and profound appreciation of Thai architecture, which was my specialty in my undergraduate education, will serve as a point of departure for negotiating the intertwining perceptions of “the East” and “the West”.

MIT itself is a very diverse institute. Advantage of being a magnet school that attracts intellectual minds from around the world makes it so distinguished, and should be considered as a crucially significant part of seminal form of development. Understanding difference of culture will foster changes in the way we perceive ourselves from a narrow shell to a panoramic view. Admitting variety of scholarly points of view will engage in a role of developing this idea. To look at Thai Architecture might not be interesting to everyone, but to look at how western point of view influenced architecture throughout the world is deliberately a critical issue. It will nurture knowledge and incubate the transformation of thoughts, from within ourselves to a reaction to the universe: to see the world the way it actually is, not the way we believe it is. Though we might not be able to come across those idealistic thoughts –ask Plato and Kant--, but at least we know that we are lifting our foot up the ground and willing to step forward.

posted by Non@Cambridge @ 6:37 PM