The Siam Architects Association, along with TTF, has announced the continuation of Architect'68, the largest architecture technology and construction product exhibition in ASEAN, now in its 37th edition, under the theme 'Reviewing Directions: Past Present Perfect'. This event emphasizes the importance of architecture in every story from the past to the present and into the future through various exhibitions and discussions, showcasing innovations for comprehensive design and construction from over 1,000 leading brands both Thai and international. The event will take place from April 29 to May 4, 2025, at Challenger Hall, Impact Muang Thong Thani, with an expected attendance of up to 325,000 people.

Mr. Ase Sukyang, President of the Siam Architects Association under Royal Patronage, spoke about the Architect event, which has been held continuously for the 37th time, now recognized as the largest architecture technology and construction product exhibition in ASEAN. Architect'68 aims to serve as a platform for disseminating and promoting architectural professional work and the association's activities, as well as being a medium for showcasing design, construction product innovations, and technologies related to architecture, while promoting the architectural profession to members, students, and the general public.

“This year’s Architect'68 builds on the previous event that featured an exhibition commemorating the 90th anniversary of the association. This year, with the theme 'Reviewing Directions: Past Present Perfect', it is a great opportunity for us to reflect on the journey of Thai architecture from the past to the present, exploring how it has evolved through various narratives and how architects have collaborated with diverse professions across regions. We will examine and review the directions that Thai architecture has taken through various eras, whether it be the integration of techniques and cultures from the past, adaptation to environmental conditions and societal needs of each era, or the connection between what once was and what is now, to envision a future together,”

Moreover, Architect'68 aims to be a space that connects people worldwide in the field of architecture through exhibitions, seminars, and knowledge exchange discussions that play a crucial role in promoting the architectural profession and developing architectural knowledge, significantly impacting the quality of life in society. It also reflects art and culture and contributes to the country's economy. The event will serve as a platform for showcasing design work, construction materials, and providing knowledge about construction products, technologies, and innovations related to the international architecture industry, gathering leading brands from Thailand and abroad in a space of 75,000 square meters. Given the interest in the exhibitions, knowledge-sharing activities, and comprehensive services, Architect'68 is expected to receive positive feedback with over 325,000 attendees.

Mr. Thanw Srichan, Chairman of Architect'68, outlined the overall activities planned for Architect'68, which will be divided into five main sections: the main exhibition, academic exhibition, professional exhibition, activity and service area, and academic seminar section. The main exhibition will consist of seven display zones, starting with the first zone 'Reviewing Directions', presenting the concept of reassessing the value of past architectural works, researching, analyzing, and redesigning them through interpretations by architects, teachers, and students from new design schools to connect generations and exemplify interpretations from past to future. The second zone 'From the First Piece to the Latest' will showcase two pieces of work: the first design piece marking the beginning of the journey and the latest design piece reflecting the development and progress of current works. The third zone 'The Documentary' will present old photographs of the association that document significant activities and events from the past, reinterpreted in an exhibition format.

The fourth zone 'Stories of Three Generations' will reflect the relationships of three age groups, showcasing their collaborative work through dialogues accompanied by visuals from diverse professions. The fifth zone will feature the Thailand Interior Designers Association Exhibition: TIDA, and the sixth zone will host the academic seminar exhibition 'TALA: Thai Thai'. Finally, the seventh zone will present the Thai Urban Planning Architects Association Exhibition: TUDA, with various interesting activities in each zone, such as architectural advice, membership registration, fun contests, and merchandise sales from the association.

The Chairman of Architect'68 further stated that in addition to the main exhibition from four professional architectural organizations, including the Siam Architects Association under Royal Patronage, the Thailand Interior Designers Association, the Thailand Landscape Architects Association, and the Thai Urban Planning Architects Association, there will also be an academic exhibition featuring the ASA Experimental Design Competition, showcasing international design competition entries open to association members, students, and the general public under the theme 'FUTURE NOSTALGIA IN ARCHITECTURE'.

The professional exhibition will include the ASA Conservation Exhibition, presenting award-winning works for outstanding architectural conservation in 2025, student works from educational institutions, and the outstanding architectural thesis competition (TOY ARCH), along with government and other organizations' design competition entries.

The activity and service area will comprise the ACT+ASA Shop, selling books and souvenirs from the association, the ACT+ASA Club, a meeting point for members, a volunteer architect corner providing consultation on house designs, and ASA Night in a new format, a social gathering for members from all generations, eras, and institutions.

Finally, the academic seminar section will include the ASA Forum & Professional Seminar, focusing on knowledge exchange across generations, divided into the International Forum 3 Gen, featuring lectures from international architects with clear backgrounds and works representing each era, while the Professional Seminar will invite experts from various fields in Thailand beneficial to the current architectural profession. This event will be special, with seminars in the form of workshops or training on computer programs for various architectural designs, emphasizing participant engagement and practical application.

Mr. Supaman Makha, Deputy Managing Director of TTF International Co., Ltd, discussed the results of the 'Architect'67' event and the goals for 'Architect'68', noting that the event has grown from previous years despite challenges in the business and global economy.

The 'Architect'68' event aims to elevate the exhibition's potential across all dimensions. The previous event (Architect'67) had a total exhibition area of 27,968.37 square meters, an increase of 4.58% from Architect'66. As of October 31, 2024, the current booking for exhibition space has reached 16,236.67 square meters, which is 11.39% higher than the same period last year, reflecting positive growth in the construction industry.

Currently, the number of exhibitors has increased by 6.35% compared to the same period last year, reflecting the confidence of Thai exhibitors in the Architect event, while the number of international exhibitors has decreased due to global economic factors and the organizer's policy to promote Thai exhibitors.

Leading exhibitors confirmed to participate include SCG, MAKITA, JORAKAY, TOSTEM, VG, TOA, PANTAMITR Group, CONNEXT Group, S-ONE, BOONTHAVORN, BLACK & DECKER, DOS, CRISTINA, EDL, TAK+WG, among others. Additionally, several new exhibitors such as NIPPON PAINT, FAMELINE, MELATONE, SAINT-GOBAIN, FELTECH, TOPMIX, M KUCHE, INOL GROUP have also joined.

Highlights of the event, besides the association's area, include exhibitors utilizing the Thematic Pavilion more than ever before, with six areas: 1. S-ONE with architects from Looklen Architect 2. NIPPON PAINT with architects from pbm 3. VANACHAI with architects from FLAT12X 4. VG with architects from ativich/studio 5. WOODDEN with architects from POAR 6. FAMELINE with architects from Architects & Associates. The organizers have also introduced a new 'Lobby Zone' to expand access to target groups and create more business opportunities for exhibitors.

Regarding the audience, the company aims to increase the proportion of professional attendees, targeting architects, real estate developers, engineers, and construction contractors. In the previous Architect event, professionals accounted for 55% of attendees, while Home Owners-End Users made up approximately 45%. The estimated proportion of professional attendees is expected to grow to 60% in Architect'68.

“We remain committed to delivering quality events that meet the needs of industry operators, focusing on creating opportunities for exhibitors to connect with their primary target groups to foster business networking and drive architectural and construction innovations in this region,” Mr. Supaman stated.

The 'Architect'68' event is scheduled to take place from April 29 to May 4, 2025, at Challenger Hall, Impact Muang Thong Thani. For those interested, more information can be found at www.ArchitectExpo.com and on the Facebook Page: ASA Expo.