Bangkok, Thailand
Aluminum Grotto and Public Ground is a thoughtfully designed architectural project created for the 90th anniversary of the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (ASA). Commissioned by Thailand’s aluminum company S-ONE Group and the architectural firm Jenchieh Hung + Kulthida Songkittipakdee / HAS Design and Research, it reflects Thailand’s position as Southeast Asia’s leading metal manufacturer while providing a public resting place at the ASA 90th Anniversary Architect Expo. The space offers free public participation in activities like learning, art exchanges, and educational lectures, functioning as a non-profit hub for idea exchange and community engagement without commercial promotion.
The design concept envisions a valley-like aluminum grotto amid the busy exposition, inspired by traditional Thai reliance on natural landscapes and responding to Bangkok’s limited green open space — just 6.99 square meters per capita compared to the WHO’s recommended 9 square meters. The elevated structure creates an open area underneath, enhancing urban “gray space” and expanding connections between indoor and outdoor environments, reminiscent of the multifunctional “Tai toon” area in traditional Thai stilt houses.
The grotto-like space is illuminated by natural light, creating a ceremonial atmosphere for educational events and lending an immersive sensory experience. Constructed from hundreds of thousands of uniquely cut aluminum rods, the design integrates façade, structure, and function into a unified whole, known as Total-ness Design. Each rod is crafted with precision by artisans, echoing the fine craftsmanship of Thai temples, blending traditional skills with modern industrial materials.
Awarded the prestigious “Thematic Pavilion of the Year Award” at the ASA Architect Expo, the Aluminum Grotto and Public Ground highlights HAS Design and Research’s innovative approach to architecture that bridges heritage and future urban life. Their work emphasizes harmony between nature and the built environment, offering a fresh vision for communal spaces in Bangkok.
ABOUT
Bangkok-based architectural firm Jenchieh Hung + Kulthida Songkittipakdee / HAS Design and Research won the 2025 International Architecture Awards in the Display/Installation category, presented by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Center for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. The firm melds cultural narratives with architectural form, creating contemporary designs grounded in local context and global dialogue. Their work approaches architecture as meaningful cultural practice, embedding memory, place, and community into design. Highlighted by projects like Aluminum Grotto and Public Ground, HAS Design and Research elevate simple regional materials into poetic spatial experiences that bridge past and future, combining craftsmanship and experimentation to craft inclusive, resonant architecture.
Architects: Jenchieh Hung + Kulthida Songkittipakdee / HAS design and research
Design Team: Jenchieh Hung, Kulthida Songkittipakdee, Jenchieh Hung, Kulthida Songkittipakdee, Saralchana Pueakhachen, Muze Ouyang, and Jiamin Yang
General Contractor: Bangkok Canvas
Clients: The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage, KIN Thailand, S-ONE Group
Photographers: DOF Sky|Ground
