31/05/2025
"We often think architecture is about creating complex objects, don't we? Arranging materials into shapes. But often, I find it's not that at all. It's about 'serving' directly. Serving humanity. Serving something far greater than ourselves.
The Thammasat University Rangsit Campus Residential Building. What we see is not just a dormitory. It's much deeper than that. It's an attempt to create 'balance' within the boundaries given to us. When we design, we don't just draw lines on paper. We are trying to 'understand' something. Something that cannot be measured with numbers. It's a search for 'truth' in simplicity. Which, in the end, leads to 'surrendering' ourselves to what we cannot fully control.
It begins with the 'intention' of Professor Dr. Pridi Banomyong. He envisioned an open university. This building, then, must be more than just a place to sleep. It must be a space that fosters the 'growth' of thought, of spirit.
So how do we bring this to life in the physical realm?
We look for what 'is' already there. The university's colors – yellow and red. They weren't just chosen randomly. They hold meaning, deep-rooted values. Yellow is 'Dhamma' (righteousness). Red is 'sacrifice.' It's a 'story' etched in the hearts of people. And we bring it to 'manifest' on the building's skin. To let it speak in its own way. To let that 'identity' express itself.
Placing the building parallel to the north-south axis. It's very simple, yes. But it's a deep understanding of nature. It's about 'receiving' the prevailing winds, allowing them to 'ventilate' the space without relying heavily on mechanical systems. Allowing the wind to do its work is an acknowledgment that the natural system has its own 'wisdom.' And we simply 'learn' from the system that has been created.
The sunlight streaming into the walkways. It's not just about visibility. It's an 'experience.' It's feeling the movement of time through the changing light throughout the day. It's about connecting life within the building to the rhythm of the outside world. It's an awareness of the 'signs' of the Creator.
536 rooms are just a starting point. But the heart is the 'spaces between rooms.' The 'spaces where people meet.' Lobby, Co-working Space, Terrace/Roof Garden. These are 'spaces of interaction' that invite 'gathering' and 'community.'
Even the parking with its Split-level system. It demonstrates 'simplicity' within complexity, allowing a small area to accommodate the most use. And the green space, over 1,700 sq.m. with 84 trees, is not just for beauty. It's about creating 'lungs' for the building, fostering 'tranquility' and 'well-being,' like a small 'Jannah' (paradise) on Earth.
Ultimately, this Thammasat residential building is a lesson in design that doesn't attempt to 'create' anything grand. Rather, it's an effort to 'understand,' to 'accept,' and to 'serve' what already is. It's about creating a space that reflects true 'value,' inviting life to exist simply, orderly, and peacefully."
