Here at renga design we love a little bit of cpd whether it be listening to a podcast on design, taking a photo walk round a new part of the city or just watching Grand Designs with a cup of tea. At the beginning of May I attended an event run by the Association of Siamese Architects being held at a massive expo center to the North of the city. It involved exhibitions alongside a construction show and a set of lectures spread over three days. I was only able to go for one day and watch two lectures but it was great to back in lecture theater taking notes- seriously, it was.
The first lecture was by South African architect Peter Rich. He had alot of interesting things to say but the thing I most enjoyed were the fantastic studies and drawings of settlements and villages. For the Alexandra Interpretation Center he carried out a meter by meter survey of a small area of the township in which Mandela had lived moving from house to house on his own asking children to hold the tape for him and really getting to know the inhabitants. I can’t find a great picture of his sketches as his website is currently down but I’ll be buying his book when it comes out.
The second lecture was unfortunately and maybe also fortunately in Thai. With my mind full of the last lecture the inability to understand what was being said was actually a relief. The presentation was by Boonserm Premthada and focused primarily on Kantana film and Animation Institute. Now this was my kind of project. Made primarily from lovely wobbly, terracotta coloured, slim Thai brick. It is strident, bold and beautiful. With a clear axial plan massive undulating brick walls create a dramatic place to study. Please look at the pictures from the link above- you’ll see what I mean. Visually it was a great presentation with the images communicating the concept clearly despite having no understanding of what was being said. Maybe next year I’ll be better placed to understand a bit more and be able to talk to some of the attendees.
I was really glad I went to the ASA Forum as I came away inspired and reminded of the power of concept and a clear design process focused on carefully considered outcomes or objectives.
Maybe next year I’ll be able to talk to some people!