RTC
The Royal Thai Consulate , Savannakhet, Laos
The context of the site for this project is a small town where will soon grow to be one important border city since AEC is realized. Ministry of Foreign Affair has to prepare a modern bureau for the future expansion of the forthcoming city
Across the Mekong river by Laos Thai friendship bridge from Mukdahan check point, the site for Royal Thai Consulate General is on the main street. The land is a slightly slope where it use to be a chalk factory.
The project contains two main function of the Consulate office and Consulate residence in the same land plot.
The design approach is to create a contemporary Architecture of Thai accent.
The building has 2 storeys, stand facing the main road ,representing the country in a formal expression. Although the building spread horizontally quite a distance, it is not perceived solid.
The office is on upper floor while the ground floor contains lobby and conventional hall. Axis by granite plane, the separate build is the visa department where can be access from pedestrian.
The separation is for security reasons but the with architectural treatment, the building seem to be incorporate.
The building is set back from the fence to create approach distance.
The initial concept design was to have reflecting pond in full length of the front façade. For the reflection in the water would crate façade pattern in another dimension.
The Thai traditional wooden house’s wall pattern is reinterpreted into the Architectural façade. This representation of pattern becomes essential in the design.
The result is a subtle dimension on the exterior curtain wall of the office building and at the same time interior element in another closer scale. Not only they create the shadow play consistently all day they become part of the interior space treatment.
The Architecture serves exquisitely as the representative of our country’s tradition in a new vision.