ASA Lanna Center is located on a highway in Chiang Mai, Northern province of Thailand. The city has unique cultural identity as it was a capital of an independent kingdom, named “Lanna” meaning a million of rice fields.
As a branch office of Association of Siamese Architects (ASA), the design aims to find balance between maintaining the local culture identity while accommodating nowadays requirements. Thus the image of rice field is created on the rooftop to evoke sense of nostalgia. While the room requirements such as office, library and multi-purpose room are tugged underneath. They are arranged from low ceiling in the front to higher ceiling in the back, to create the stepping rice field landform.
The main entrance is carved into the building from the side lane away from the noisy highway. In the center, an internal courtyard links the rooftop and ground floor together and brings natural light down. It is also a flexible space for various events organized by ASA members. A small café space is placed on the roof before the top, and has a separated staircase entrance when the main entrance is closed during weekend. On top, a timber structure pavilion in Lanna-style is located as a focal point of the building. People can enjoy the rooftop space from the pavilion with the view of Doi Suthep, the sacred mountain of Chiang Mai on the opposite.
The materials and finishes were selected to express the natural textures and locally produced such as laterite, and red brick. While all the roof top planter parapets are cast-in situ concreate with bamboo form-work.
Passing by the building, the stepping rice field landscape with Lanna-style pavilion will keep reminding us of the spirit of Lanna, and hopefully inspire others for the way to develop the city.
Credits:
- Creative Crews - Collaborator
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