A+U No. 517: Progressive Vernacular

This issue’s focus is the Bangkok-based office of A49, established 30 years ago by architect Nithi Sthapitanonda. Seeking an identity in the architectural traditions of his country, he has striven to instil new life in indigenous Thai practice by imbuing it with the principles of modernism. Initially through residential design projects, the firm has since developed a contemporary, international outlook and expertise that engages nearly any type of project, including large-scale urban planning. Featured are thirteen notable projects, such as the Phuket Renaissance Resort & Spa and the Royal Archive Centre in Nakhon Pathom, plus essays by Pussadee Tiptus and Piyalada Thaveeprungsriporn on the evolution of architecture and identity in Thailand.