TOSTEM invites you to explore creative ideas and congratulates 3 Thai architects whose designs won awards at the TOSTEM Asia Design Award (TADA) 2024 held in Tokyo, Japan. This is the second edition of the competition, which showcases architectural designs for residential spaces across Asia, honoring architects who play a crucial role in enhancing comfort and quality of living. The awarded works stand out for their innovative designs and focus on environmentally friendly solutions that genuinely meet user needs.

Mr. Vicha Worasayan, leader of the Housing Technology Business Group at LHT Asia Sales and Marketing Co., Ltd., the manufacturer of TOSTEM aluminum windows and doors, revealed that the TOSTEM Asia Design Award (TADA) 2024 is the second Asian architectural competition that gathers works from architects across Asia, including India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand. The designs submitted should reflect a unique architectural language or demonstrate meticulous architectural details, considering the environmental context and local culture deeply. Each submission must showcase the potential of designs that effectively and creatively utilize TOSTEM products, integrating them into outstanding architectural elements while supporting sustainable living for a better future.

This year, TOSTEM has a panel of judges who are winners from the TADA 2023 competition to select the winning works. The awards this year are divided into two categories: Building of the Year and Special Mention for Sustainable Living. It is a great honor that the designs of Thai architects have gained recognition, winning 3 awards out of a total of 10 awards presented, which include the following works:

Building of the Year Award for the project “Dog/Human” by EKAR – Architects, designed by Mr. Ekaphap Duangkaew

This impressive work stems from the concept of designing a home that harmoniously integrates humans, animals, and nature. The architectural design considers the visibility and interaction between humans, animals, and nature, which is of utmost importance. The design challenge for this project arose from the client's intention to create a home not just for humans but also for their dog and other pets. Therefore, this house is designed to accommodate dogs as well, with the main areas, including the main entrance and the client's living space, located under a triangular roof. The slope of the roof indicates a suitable height for both humans and dogs, creating the most comfortable space.

At the same time, it opens up views for specific activities. The bitumen roofing tiles, which are soft to the touch, were chosen instead of regular steel sheets to provide comfort for users. The column bases are designed to accommodate dogs' territorial behavior without any barriers, allowing them to feel most comfortable in their living space. The swimming pool stairs are designed to be suitable for dogs, facilitating easy access to the water. Transparent glass and aluminum frames for doors and windows from TOSTEM connect the interior and exterior seamlessly, without obstructing views or hindering contact with nature, while also effectively preventing insects. The sliding glass doors (TOSTEM) allow unobstructed views of pets, promoting close communication and interaction. This design not only enhances communication but also fosters a strong connection with nature and the surrounding environment.

Special Mention for Sustainable Living for the project “TNOP HOUSE” by IS Architects, designed by Mr. Pawin Taratjaijai

This design work for a vacation home in Chiang Rai is set amidst nature, harmonizing with the local context and the charm of rural life, while addressing the owner's need for a personal retreat. The owner, a designer who loves planting trees, painting, and art, inspired the design of this modern architecture blended with local architecture to meet both functional and aesthetic needs, emphasizing tranquility and relaxation. Given the sloping terrain, IS Architects designed the building's axis parallel to the slope's contour, with the side facing the main road designed as a solid wall to shield against visual intrusion and various pollutants.

Conversely, the design maximizes openness to nature, emphasizing openings that face the scenic grasslands. This modern architecture integrates local materials, with over 70-80% of materials sourced locally, including roofing materials, decorative wooden structures, gray-brown ceramic tiles, green glazed tiles, as well as terrazzo and meticulously crafted washed sand by local contractors. The house features elevated sections, simple shapes, porches, and openings that allow air and sunlight to enter, effectively eliminating moisture and pathogens in the humid climate.

Additionally, the design of the openings (Void) is aesthetically pleasing in its simplicity, ensuring that the architectural lines of this house align, such as the vertical axes of the various openings, whether aluminum windows and doors or wooden doors, are designed to share the same axis. The windows and doors are designed to reach the ceiling, eliminating horizontal lines that could create excessive lines. The architect chose TOSTEM aluminum windows in the DUSK GRAY tone from the WE Plus and WE 70 series to ensure a harmonious color scheme throughout, rather than opting for white or black. Furthermore, the location of the house is in an area with limitations, such as dust, smoke, noise, and PM2.5 pollution during the summer, necessitating measures to prevent external pollution. Therefore, the architect selected TOSTEM doors and windows, which offer solutions that address architectural needs by reducing the impact of PM2.5 air pollution and preventing odors, noise, and dust from entering the home. Thus, the choice of modern, high-quality materials effectively addresses these issues.

Special Mention for Sustainable Living for the project “3-Gen House” by Architects 49 Chiangmai Limited, designed by Mr. Rattawut Jantaratrakul and Mr. Kittithach Nilsuwan

This design work accommodates family members of various ages, from grandparents to parents and children living together, with a design that integrates the differing needs of all three generations. It creates spaces that foster interaction and good relationships while maintaining privacy and warmth within the same household, hence the name 3-Gen House. Located in Chiang Mai, this house has a contemporary Lanna vibe, situated along the Ping River amidst greenery, with the Suthep-Pui mountain range as a backdrop. It is an architecture that harmonizes with the traditional riverside lifestyle while enriching the living experience of each generation.

The architects borrowed the layout style of Chinese houses with a “central courtyard” surrounded by buildings on all four sides. The courtyard serves as a central space for everyone to engage in various activities. The house consists of three separate units, dividing the living spaces for each generation: the left wing is for the children, the central unit includes the parents' bedroom upstairs, while the downstairs serves as a shared living area for everyone. The right wing, a single-story unit, is for the grandparents, with the buildings connected by a corridor featuring external walls and internal door arches to create safety and privacy in the central courtyard.

The main materials of the house are reclaimed wood from several previous structures, which were refurbished. Leftover wood from the architectural work was repurposed for furniture, using local craftsmanship techniques. Additionally, the architect desired a set of windows and doors that meet standards and are durable for long-term use without frequent maintenance. Therefore, the architect chose TOSTEM aluminum windows and doors, which are efficient products equipped with built-in screens and secure locking systems. Upon entering the building, one feels the spaciousness from the design of the openings and the layout that does not obstruct views or airflow, allowing windows to be opened for ventilation. For certain months when PM2.5 may be a concern, TOSTEM windows effectively prevent air pollution.

All three award-winning works by Thai architects creatively incorporate TOSTEM products as integral elements of their designs, aligning with TOSTEM's commitment to quality, advanced technology, and effective and innovative design principles. They showcase the integration of products into outstanding architectural elements, enhancing comfort and quality of living while promoting sustainable lifestyles.

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