Parliament Design Competition: Stately Settings
Nida Tunsuttiwong
As soon as constitutional democracy took the place of absolute monarchy in the kingdom in 1932, parliament became the place where the nation’s laws are promulgated.
Since the country has developed rapidly, particularly towards the latter half of the 20th century, it has become increasingly clear that the country’s seat of government has outgrown its current home, so the decision was made by members of the House of Representatives to move it to a new location.
A plot of land in the Kiakkai neighborhood of northwestern Bangkok was identified as a suitable site for the new parliament building and the New Thai Parliament Design Competition was launched by the Association of Siamese Architects last year in order to find the best possible design.
Members of the public can currently view the work of 130 entrants, including the finalists and winning entry on the 7th floor of the Bangkok Art and Culture Center (BACC), located just a short walk from the National Stadium BTS skytrain station.
Visitors to the exhibition are sure to be impressed by many of the groundbreaking designs and stunning models of the proposed structures accompanying the entries. The exhibition will continue through March 26.
Winning Design
A balanced approach
The largest exhibition space is devoted to the winning entry, which was submitted by a group of architects called Sa-ngop 1051 (‘Peace 1051’), led by Teeraphol Niyom.
The design – entitled Sapayasatan (‘a place to undertake good [or suitable] things’) – was inspired by the Tri-Bhumi Buddhist Cosmology, which refers to the belief in the existence of three worlds: Heaven, Earth and an ‘Underworld’. The design features a well balanced combination of traditional and contemporary architectural styles.
The new site covers a 109-rai (over 17-hectate) area located alongside the Chao Phraya River. The winning design does not include a fence or wall, which is meant to symbolize that parliament is open to all. However, there is a small moat surrounding the site.
In addition to the Sappayasatan design, there are many other stunning designs and Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) presentations, including those produced by other finalists. You don’t need to be a student of architecture to appreciate these displays, which feature realistic images and models produced by some of the country’s leading talents in this field.
Other Design
While the concept of the competition is easy enough to understand – ‘creating a meeting place for members of parliament [MPs] and senators’ – the ideas generated by the contestants illustrate a great deal of diversity in the way that they view the country’s democracy.
While some of the designs are based on futuristic themes, many others feature traditional Thai design styles, including religious references. The design submitted by JV Design 103, for example, incorporates the Phan Wan Fah, a golden tray, pedestal and model of the constitution, which is based on an existing feature that is part of the Democracy Monument.
This particular feature is considered to be an important symbol of Thai democracy.
Bangkok Art and Culture Center opens from Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am until 9 pm. Admission is free.
For further information, contact Tel: +66 (0)2 214 6630-8, or visit the official website at http://www.bacc.or.th.
Transport connections:
Train: Take the BTS skytrain to the National Stadium. Disembark from Exit 3 and you will see signs for the BACC.
Wining Design Meeting Halls
Credit: TAN Network (www.tannetwork.tv)
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