Officially Kicking Off Architect '69: The Largest Construction Technology Exhibition and Influential Architecture Exhibition in ASEAN

Mr. Aset Sukyang, President of the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage, stated during the official opening ceremony of Architect '69 that in recent years, various professions have faced disruptions from wars, pandemics, and economic challenges that have made employment more difficult. The advent of AI has raised concerns about job displacement, affecting many professions. This has led to continuous adaptation, summarizing the need to prepare for AI: transitioning from traditional wisdom to readiness in the new era amidst rapid global changes. Therefore, Architect '69 will serve as a platform for professionals to explore the balance between humans and technology for sustainable futures.

Architect '69 is recognized as the largest construction technology exhibition and the most influential architecture exhibition in ASEAN. This year, it will take place from April 28 to May 3, 2023, at Challenger Building, Impact Muang Thong Thani, under the theme “SATI: WISDOM: PROMPT”, focusing on establishing new wisdom foundations amidst the changing world of work and life, with AI technology playing a significant role. It aims to elevate Thai architecture to the international stage with a comprehensive exhibition space of 75,000 square meters, with 70,000 square meters dedicated to showcasing products and technologies for design and construction, featuring over 1,000 leading brands from Thailand and abroad.

An additional area of approximately 5,500 square meters will host exhibitions and activities from the association, showcasing works from four professional architecture organizations, including the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage, the Association of Thai Interior Designers, the Association of Landscape Architects of Thailand, and the Association of Urban Planners of Thailand, along with over 1,220 member architect firms and more than 40 educational institutions from across the country. This grand exhibition is expected to attract over 325,000 attendees from both Thailand and abroad over the six days.

Mr. Jaturon Kingmingha, Chairman of Architect '69, added that Architect '69 will not just be an exhibition but a significant milestone to inspire and share knowledge that will drive the profession and the creative economy in the long term, proving to the global stage that Thai architecture has the potential to adapt and grow steadily amidst rapid technological changes. The event aims to be the largest and most prestigious exhibition of innovative construction and architectural design in ASEAN, pushing the profession towards international recognition and becoming The Most Influential Architecture Exhibition in ASEAN.

The highlights and activities within Architect '69 are divided into five main sections: 1. THEME EXHIBITION - the main exhibition section; 2. FORUM - seminar section; 3. THE FOUNDATION - academic exhibition section; 4. INTELLIGENCE & COLLABORATION PLATFORM - showcasing outstanding works and professional collaborations; 5. ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES - activity and service area. Notable examples include THAI INTELLIGENCE, showcasing the main theme exhibition, and ASA ALL MEMBER - Thailand Only, reflecting architecture in the Thai context, as well as ASA EMERGING YOUNG ARCHITECTS IN THE AGE OF NEW DISRUPTIONS, showcasing works from the new wave of architects in this era of change.

The forum activities are divided into two groups: 1. International Seminar - ASA INTERNATIONAL FORUM, featuring international keynote speakers presenting and exchanging ideas reflecting the relationship between “WISDOM” (human wisdom) and “NEW INTELLIGENCE” through the perspectives and experiences of renowned architects on various interesting topics; and 2. ASA INSPIRATION LAB, gathering designers, architects, thinkers, and leading experts from Thailand and abroad to share experiences, ideas, and new experiments driving the future of design.

Mr. Jaturon Kingmingha, Chairman of Architect '69, also mentioned another interesting zone, the professional association exhibition, which includes the exhibition from the Association of Thai Interior Designers (TIDA), the exhibition from the Association of Landscape Architects of Thailand (TALA) under the theme “TALA: Thai Wisdom and Artificial Intelligence,” the exhibition from the Association of Urban Planners of Thailand (TUDA), and the exhibition from the Regional Architects Association. There will also be service activities such as the Tri-Partite (ASA/ACT/CDAST) area, showcasing collaborative support between three institutions, with the Association of Siamese Architects receiving support from the Council of Architects and the Council of Deans of Architecture of Thailand. Additionally, there will be a preparatory clinic for architecture by the Council of Deans of Architecture of Thailand (CDAST), concluding with special activities such as ASA CLUB, ASA BOOK SHOP, ASA KIDS CLUB: KITBLOX & FAMILY CORNER KITBLOX, ASA NIGHT AWARDS CELEBRATION, and ASA DAY HEY, providing a space for members to meet and engage in activities together.

The smaller activities of interest include Exclusive Talk on the topic of Art and Architectural Space and City by Mr. Lo-Lee Tavisak Sritongdee and Mr. Wuttikorn Kongka on April 28, 2023, from 18:00 - 19:00 at ASA CLUB, followed by SPECIAL EVENTS such as HERBIE the Autonomous Plant Meet & Greet, where you can meet HERBIE, a self-moving plant that seeks water and light, and this time HERBIE will communicate with us in Thai. Come greet HERBIE and talk with the creators Cecilia MoSze Tham and Mark Bünger from Futurity Systems on May 2, 2023, from 12:00 - 13:00 at the main stage of the main exhibition area in Challenger Building. Another SPECIAL EVENT invites you to watch a special collaboration from Mr. Lo-Lee Tavisak Sritongdee, creating live art at ASA SHOP on April 28, 2023, from 11:30 - 12:30. However, there are many more interesting exhibitions and activities, and we invite everyone to visit Architect '69 and participate in various activities to gain knowledge and experience, as well as memorable impressions at the actual event space from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM throughout the six days of this event.

Mr. Supaman Markha, Deputy Managing Director of TTF International Co., Ltd., the organizer of Architect '69, revealed that this year's event continues to receive positive responses from exhibitors, even amidst challenging economic conditions. This year, 913 companies have confirmed their participation, with 10% of exhibitors coming from abroad, primarily from Asia at 99.5%, and 0.5% from Europe, including China, Japan, South Korea, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Italy, Romania, and Croatia, reflecting the continuous expansion of business networks and technology exchange in the construction industry. It is expected that over the six days of the exhibition, it will stimulate an economic turnover in the design-construction industry of up to 22 billion baht.

At the same time, advance registration data reflects the event's potential as a regional platform, with the majority of attendees being domestic visitors at 95% and 5% from abroad, with 78.34% from Asian countries, followed by 12.03% from Europe and 5.08% from America. It is expected that throughout the six days of the event, there will be a total of over 325,000 attendees, with over 70% being Professional Visitors, including architects, designers, engineers, contractors, real estate developers, and construction material distributors, who are key decision-makers in the industry.

Mr. Supaman stated, “With nearly 1,000 exhibitors and 70% of attendees being Professional Visitors, it reflects that Architect '69 is not just a trade show but a platform for business opportunities expected to generate over 22 billion baht in negotiation value and plays a crucial role in driving the design-construction industry in the region.”

Key highlights of this year include the Thematic Pavilion, which is being held at a record 8 locations, in collaboration with leading construction material brands and design studios, including WATSADUNIYOM x HAA Studio, VANACHAI x Studio Tofu, TODA x Supermachine Studio, PANEL PLUS x ACa Architects, HAFELE x Jenchieh Hung + Kulthida Songkittipakdee / HAS design and research, SCG x SaTa Na, BRT INTERTECH x Context Studio, ALUFRAME x Unknown Surface Studio. The first-ever Thematic Pavilion Designer Choice Award will also be introduced to elevate design standards and participation in the industry. Additionally, there will be a new highlight area, Palette of Materials Pavilion, presenting materials in a Mood Board format, akin to an “inspiration map,” showcasing over 800 pieces from the works of more than 40 design studios to create a space that connects material manufacturers with designers.