Reinforcing the importance of architecture in every story from the past to the present and leading into the future, the Siam Architects Association, in collaboration with TTF, held a press conference to announce the readiness for Architect '68, the largest architectural technology and construction product exhibition in ASEAN, under the theme 'Reviewing Directions: Past Present Perfect'. The event will feature numerous exhibitions and special activities, including showcasing innovative products for comprehensive design and construction from over 1,000 leading brands from both Thailand and abroad. It is expected to attract over 325,000 visitors from around the world during the six-day event, which will take place from April 29 to May 4, 2025, at Challenger Hall, Impact Muang Thong Thani.

Mr. Ase Sukyang, President of the Siam Architects Association under Royal Patronage, discussed the readiness for Architect '68, which marks another significant year in presenting exhibitions to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the association. This year, the event is scheduled from April 29 to May 4, 2025, at Challenger Hall, Impact Muang Thong Thani, under the theme 'Reviewing Directions: Past Present Perfect'. This is a great opportunity to reflect on the journey of Thai architecture from the past to the present, exploring how it has evolved through stories and continues to influence the present. Architects have collaborated with various professions from all regions, examining and reviewing the directions that Thai architecture has taken through different eras, whether through the integration of techniques and cultures from the past, adapting to environmental conditions and societal needs of each era, or connecting what once was with what is now, to envision a future together.

However, the purpose of Architect '68 goes beyond being a platform for connecting people globally in the field of architecture. Through exhibitions, seminars, and knowledge exchange discussions, it plays a crucial role in promoting the architectural profession and developing architectural knowledge, which significantly impacts the quality of life in society. It also reflects art and culture and contributes to the country's economy. The event serves as a medium for showcasing design work, construction materials, and providing knowledge about construction products, technologies, and innovations related to the international architectural industry, gathering leading brands from Thailand and abroad in a vast space of 75,000 square meters. Given the interest in the exhibition, knowledge-sharing activities, and comprehensive services, Architect '68 is expected to receive positive feedback with over 325,000 attendees from both Thailand and abroad over the six days of the event.

Mr. Than Srichan, Chairman of Architect '68, mentioned the exciting activities planned for the event, stating that this year features numerous interesting exhibitions, such as the 'Reviewing Directions' exhibition, which presents the concept of re-evaluating the value of past architectural works, researching, analyzing, and redesigning them through the interpretations of architects, teachers, and students from new design schools. This aims to connect generations and serve as an example of interpreting from the past to the future. Following that is the exhibition 'From the First Piece to the Latest', showcasing two pieces of work: the first design that marks the beginning of a journey and the latest design that reflects the development and progress of current works. Additionally, the 'Three Generations' narrative reflects the relationship between three age groups, showcasing the approach of collaboration through 'Conversations with Illustrations of People from Three Generations across Various Professions'. Next is the exhibition from the Association of Thai Interior Designers: TIDA and the academic seminar area 'TALA: Thai Tai', concluding with the exhibition from the Association of Thai Urban Planners: TUDA, where each zone features various interesting activities, such as architectural advice, membership registration, fun contests, and merchandise sales from the association.

Additionally, there will be exhibitions from four professional architect organizations, including the Siam Architects Association under Royal Patronage, the Association of Thai Interior Designers, the Association of Thai Landscape Architects, and the Association of Thai Urban Planners. There will also be an academic exhibition, which is a design competition exhibition (ASA Experimental Design Competition) showcasing international design competition entries open to association members, students, and the general public to present design ideas under the theme 'Future Nostalgia In Architecture'.

The professional exhibition includes the ASA Conservation exhibition, showcasing award-winning works for outstanding architectural conservation for 2025, ASA Vernadoc 2025, presenting works documenting local architecture using the Vernadoc method, conservation projects for historical sites as memorials, and exhibitions from the conservation network showcasing works from collaborations with the Siam Architects Association, educational institution works, and design competition works from government agencies and other organizations related to architecture and urban design. The ASA TOD exhibition presents alternative approaches for land development around public transport stations following the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) guidelines to promote land use that facilitates transportation connections, along with the exhibition and discussion 'Flooding and Grandma Tiam's Hat', focusing on emergency shelter design for communities.

The activity and service area will include ACT+ASA Shop, a space for selling books and souvenirs from the association, ACT+ASA Club, a meeting point and relaxation area for ASA members, a volunteer architect corner providing consultation on house designs, ASA Night in a new format for social gatherings among ASA members from all generations, and ASA Day Hey, a concert event aimed at bringing together young and seasoned members for entertainment and networking. This year features a music competition for 'Architecture Students' ASA Day Hey Student Band Audition 2025 to find a band to perform at the ASA Day Hey event.

Finally, the academic seminar section includes ASA Forum & Professional Seminar, emphasizing knowledge exchange across generations, divided into ASA International Forum 3 Gen, featuring lectures from international architects with backgrounds and works clearly representing each era, while the ASA Professional Seminar invites experts from various fields in Thailand to share insights beneficial to current architectural practice. This event will also feature ASA Classroom for workshops or computer program training for architectural design, allowing participants to engage actively and apply what they learn.

Mr. Supaman Markha, Deputy Managing Director of TTF International Co., Ltd., revealed that Architect '68 represents a significant step in elevating the Thai architecture and construction industry to the international stage, focusing on showcasing innovative products and modern construction technologies that meet the rapidly changing market demands. Overall, the Thai architecture and construction industry is gradually recovering due to investments in large-scale projects from both the public and private sectors, along with design trends emphasizing sustainability and environmental conservation, leading to the expansion of the construction materials market and design solutions that align with modern lifestyles.

This year's event has attracted significant interest from many exhibitors, with over 85% of the exhibition space already booked. A total of 842 exhibitors are participating (as of March 14, 2025), representing a 5.65% increase compared to the same period last year, including 191 new exhibitors and 302 international exhibitors, accounting for 14.20% of the total exhibition area, reflecting confidence in the Thai construction materials market and the continuously growing business opportunities at the international level.

Currently, many attendees have pre-registered for the event, showing a 50.91% increase compared to the same period last year. The majority of attendees are from the construction industry, including architects, engineers, real estate developers, and contractors, making up 83.51%, with a growth rate of 49.33% from last year. International attendees account for 16.66% of total registrations. It is anticipated that over the six days of the event, approximately 325,000 visitors will attend, with the proportion of professionals in architecture and construction increasing from 55% to 60% this year.

Another highlight of the event is the special thematic pavilion, which this year features the most designer and construction material brand pairings ever, with six areas: 1. Looklen Architects x S-ONE GROUP, 2. pbm X NIPPON PAINT, 3. Flat 12 x X VANACHAI GROUP, 4. A&A x FAMELINE, 5. ativich x VG, 6. POAR x WOODDEN, focusing on green technology, future materials, sustainable design, and digital technology in architecture, presenting new options for practical construction use, such as NIPPON PAINT's innovative paint made from 'rubber', the first in Asia. Additionally, there will be interesting innovations from exhibitors debuting at the event under the Best Innovation Award 2025, including:

  • New Interior Series aluminum windows and doors from TOSTEM – designed with aesthetics in mind, eliminating unnecessary excess, such as hiding screws and hardware from view.
  • GREEN Jorakay Corners from JORAKAY – the first non-toxic GPVC innovation in Thailand, designed to protect tile edges with strong, durable, and flexible materials suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, focusing on reducing environmental impact and prioritizing user health.
  • VENENO Collection UNITEC Technology from WDC – porcelain tiles for flooring and wall design, featuring advanced surface innovations that expand the scope of use beyond traditional surface materials.
  • Super Hooth odor and smoke treatment system from HOOTH – a new innovation for kitchen exhaust systems, addressing quality in odor and smoke extraction while maintaining a clean environment around the home.
  • Kanguru multifunctional hanging fence cabinet from DOS – designed to address space limitations in front yards, combining house number signs, package boxes, mailboxes, and trash bins into a 3-in-1 design.

Importantly, leading construction material companies like SCG will showcase trends in construction materials and solutions aimed at improving quality of life across all dimensions under the concept 'SEAMLESS QUALITY LIVING: Connecting Every Perspective for Life'. They will present innovative products that are beautiful, safe, and comfortable to enhance daily living, aligning with the environmentally friendly concept 'Waste to Construction', which repurposes waste materials to add value and reduce carbon footprints, reinforcing their position as leaders in 'Low Carbon Materials', along with launching new products and solutions to enhance living standards using clean energy and improve air quality. Additionally, a special Green Collaboration project will debut at this event.

To facilitate attendees, the organizers will provide free shuttle van services from the event to major MRT stations (MRT Chatuchak Park Station, MRT Rama 9 Station) from 9:30 AM to 8:30 PM, along with special privileges from over 29 leading brands covering food, beverages, hotels, and transportation, such as Bangkok Airways, Grab, Bolt, LINE MAN RIDE, TK Palace Hotel, Best Western Plus Wanda Grand Hotel, and many restaurants around Impact, to create a memorable experience for participants.

Mr. Supaman concluded that Architect '68 will be an important platform to drive the Thai architecture and construction industry forward and ensure sustainable growth, focusing on knowledge exchange and serious business networking. It also aims to create a distinctive experience that will attract businesspeople and investors from around the world to deeply engage with the architecture and construction industry in Thailand, which will help increase revenue for design, construction, and real estate businesses, enhancing the competitiveness of Thai operators on the international stage.

Architect '68, under the theme 'Reviewing Directions: Past Present Perfect', is scheduled to take place from April 29 to May 4, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM at Challenger Hall, Impact Muang Thong Thani. Interested individuals can register to attend in advance today! Participants will receive the Architect '25 Hand Guide (limited availability) and have the chance to win souvenirs worth over 100,000 THB at the event. For more information and updates, please visit www.ArchitectExpo.com and the Facebook Page: Architect Expo.