March_1966 — Page 64

assymetrical, abstract composition of different units.

It is an appreciation of these characteristics that we are attempting to broadcast in our teaching at the Our School of Thai Architecture. methods are perhaps best illustrated by the following experiment,

A programme was given to students to design a mountain resort centre. The site for the project was the scenic, pine clad, rolling plateau of the Poo Kra Ding Mountain of north east Thailand.

Some research of the conditions of the mountain was undertaken before the students were taken to the area for orientation and four days vaca- tion. The students were encouraged to pick their own site for the propos- ed centre. All agreed, after the short sojourn in the area, that the building must in no way destroy the site's natural beauty.

The

Upon school re-opening they all started work on the project. I set the task for them to design the recreation centre as a part of a large develop- ment programme I had made. centre was to be one of several sup- posed to be built at all beauty spots. Each was to have dormitories for boys and for girls, special hotel rooms, main lounge, administration office. small natural museum. library and outdoor terrace and sun deck.

For the first week or so the time was spent in seminar, discussing the problems of our national character. and the virtue of assymetrical forms as well as the dynamic and abstract balance of form as in our traditional domestic architecture. No limit was put to the use of forms, as long as they were in harmony with the rest of the building.

Interesting Results

In fact, I encouraged them to think in terms of dimension, of the beauty of variety of planes, forms and tex- tures especially the rustic and na- turalistic effect. One rule I did set was that no change must be made to the contours of the site and that the buildings should either run parallel to the contour or perpendicular. never at an oblique angle to the hill.

The final student designs showed interesting results, revealing great potential for this type of architecture. The entire building was composed of different forms and shapes of various sizes loosely grouped together and tied into single entity by covered ways and a verandah, creating court spaces which helped to divide the dif- ferent functions of the building. With good landscape architecture, it would undoubtedly form a very at- tractive focal point bringing nature closer to living than any type of con- ventional design.

At least, the students had learned to exploit forms and natural sur- roundings, and to realize the meaning of abstract assymetrical balance on the sloping plane. They also learned that walking along a verandah or

too far in terms of short walking distances and function, their design would be nothing but a large crowded box, spoiling the beauty of nature and This may the aesthetics of living. sound rather contrary to theory in architecture, but I think there is a proper time and place for every principle.

National Heritage

modern

What I have described is one of the episodes we had in the course of teaching at the School of Thai Archi- tecture. We do not know whether our thinking along such lines would be favourable to the outside world. but we believe that we are doing the This is right thing for our country. our attempt to salvage or utilize what we call our national heritage, which

Students' designs for Poo Kra Ding resort centre

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Typical pine growth on Poo Kra Ding mountain

Far East Architect & Builder March, 1966