Between Dichotomies 2 : Reality, Fabricated Reality & the Near-Obsolete Typologies by Beautbureau

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Between Dichotomies 2 : Reality, Fabricated Reality & the Near-Obsolete Typologies Architectural Design Option Studio â&#x20AC;˘ Spring 2015 International Program in Design + Architecture [INDA] Chulalongkorn University â&#x20AC;˘ Bangkok Thailand

BETWEEN DICHOTOMIES 2 : REALITY, FABRICATED REALITY & the Near-Obsolete Typologies 5 9 23 43 67 123

Introduction 2015 : Typological Study + Agents of Obsolescence The Iconic Sites Proximate Utopia / Dystopia 2035 : Typologies Reborn Collaborators

INTRODUCTION Fiction is an impetus to architecture. Imagination is an upstream process toward making the fake become real. The fiction that architects write—as an inspiration for and a response to culture—forecasts the fabrication of cities, which marks history. To advance culture, architects must embrace the power of unrealized ideas and nurture wild propositions. By realizing the seemingly unimaginable, architects lay down a new milestone of tangible realities. Jimenez Lai, Citizens of No Place (2012).

Utopia is always a fiction, a fabricated reality…it must work by opening up a useful difference between the current now and a hypothetical one. Michael Sorkin, Utopia Now! (2009-10).

Principal literary utopias and dystopias —from Plato’s Republic to Aldous Huxley’s 1932 Brave New World and George Orwell’s 1949 Nineteen Eighty-Four—have reverberated and remained timelessly fascinating, and fascinatingly timeless, through geopolitical eras to the present day. They bore no burden of realization that weighed heavily on multifarious architectural and urbanistic utopias championed by visionary architects and urbanists; of which physical manifestations, if ever existed, met with varying degrees of success in channeling sociocultural and political values and promoting desirable change. The results were either semblances of utopia or hair-raising, abominable dystopias, albeit with lofty, even humanitarian, intentions. However, the legacy of Piranesi, Ledoux, Boullee, Le Corbusier, Ebenezer Howard, Frank Lloyd Wright, Archigram, Archizoom, Paolo Soleri and the likes undeniably lives on in ensuing disciplinary discourses that have influenced and contributed to the advancement of the fields until these days. Realization deficits, unfortunate misrepresentation and lapse of real-life execution of visionary architecture and urban visions in the past might as well be viewed as a series of invaluable lessons learned, as opposed to a deterrent to architectural imagination. This studio poses the challenge of speculating the hypothetical, fabricated reality of the proximate utopia/dystopia, circa 2035, that is grounded firmly on the reality of the current situations, contexts, and trajectories. On the basis of such speculative scenario in the imminent future, the semester’s design intervention is exercised within the confinement of the architectural and neighborhood (as opposed to urbanistic) scale of operation. The studio aims to redefine/ reconceptualize, reinvigorate, transform, or deconstruct/reconstruct, three institutional building typologies of civic and symbolic significance that are considered under threat of obsolescence : library, post office, and performance theater, so as to make them become a performative part of the fabricated reality.

Introduction

Reality : Contextual Forces of the Now On the local front, Thailand circa 2015 is witnessing the beginning of national reform, spearheaded by the National Reform Council (NRC). The 250-member entity is tasked with proposing broad measures to improve the country in the next two decades—a vision for Thailand’s future— in the 18 areas of : politics; public administration; law and justice process; local administration; education and human resources; agriculture, industry, commerce, tourism and services; energy; public health system; natural resources and environment; mass media and information technology; social affairs, communities, youth, children, women, elderly, disabled and underprivileged; labor; corruption prevention and suppression; social values, arts, culture, ethics and religion; sports; science, technology, analysis, innovation and intellectual property; consumer protection; and, economic, treasury and finance. This studio assumes the post-national reform Thailand in the year 2035 as our proximate utopian/dystopian context of the fabricated reality. Projected results— accomplishments or failures— of the endeavors of the Reform Committee(s) of particular interest to each studio member would contribute to the hypothetical framework of, and provide implications to, the member’s design intervention. On the regional front, 2015 marks the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). Significant instances of contemporary global events, issues and trajectories abound : China has overtaken the United States of America as the world’s largest economy; Digital technologies have been driving full-fledged Web Economy; Affordability of cheap smartphones and availability of 3/4G networks drive the global smartphone audience to close to 2 billion, with projected 80+% of internet usage from mobiles; to name very few. Each studio member is encouraged to research far and wide for meaningful current developments in the realm of politics, economy, society and culture, environment, and particularly, technology, that have potentials to influence the formation of his/her version of proximate utopia/dystopia. The Near-Obsolete Typologies To explore the dichotomy between reality of the now and fabricated reality of the imminent future, this studio questions the relevance, as well as practical, civic and symbolic values of the following building types :

Introduction

•

Library has long served humanity as an icon, and beacon, of knowledge. The recent advent of the World Wide Web, the ever-increasing contents and popularity of Wikipedia, the one-click-away Google research, the 24-7 streaming online information, altogether begs a radical redefinition of the typology in the 21st Century context. The National Library of Thailand has, in essence, announced its very own obsolescence as a brickand-mortar institution with its expanding Digital Collections [www.digital.nlt.go.th], save for its physical archives of historical collections that comprise the nation’s literary treasures.

•

Post Office as a typology is arguably under constant threat of becoming obsolete, perpetually affected by waves of progress in logistics and telecommunication technologies at an exponential rate; hence in constant need of reinterpretation and transformation. Needless to say email has long surpassed snailmail as the prevalent mode of textual communication—only to be challenged by tweets and mobile instant messages. FedEx courier delivery services expands worldwide. Postal services themselves have been vastly diversified and augmented, from the bygone era of physical mailboxes, telegraphs and simple snailmail delivery on foot to the present days of automatically-sorted, real-time digitally-trackable, drone-delivery services of parcels and goods. The future of the typology, as well as its traditional value as an institution that connects people, is as ripe as ever for further redefinition, now and in 20 years’ time.

•

Performance Theater has served as a social gathering place to view live performances or musical shows since the ancient time. The design for a performance theatre has mainly focused on seating arrangements in relationship to view access and sound attenuation. With new technologies and smart innovations, theatre design has evolved to incorporate more advanced gadgets to create dramatic and dynamic environment in order to stimulate beyond visual and acoustical senses of audiences. Not until recently that halogram has been incorporated into a live show. High speed internet allows the possibilities to connect two live performances across two separate continents which enhance the audiences’ experience for viewing shows and concerts. The National Theatre on Rachinee Road, the first built theatre of Thailand and a cherished architectural heritage, will serve as the site for fabricated reality of future theatre prototype. Since the opening of the National Theatre, Khon which is a Thai genre of dance drama, has been the primary scheduled shows along with some other contempory music concerts and Thai musical instrument concerts.

Introduction

2015 : TYPOLOGICAL STUDY

+AGENTS OF OBSOLESCENCE

The semester’s investigation begins with the typological and case studies of the three building typologies : library, post office, and performance theater. Studio members select the typology of interest and divide into three respective groups. Each group conducts a thorough typological research and analysis of the chosen building type, its historical precedents and recent case studies, in an attempt to acquire the knowledge of the following : • • • •

•

Formal / architectural aspect of the typology : historical and contemporary forms, as related to; Functional / programmatic components Symbolic, socio-cultural, civic, political dimensions of the typology Historical significance and pivotal moments in the development / evolution of the typology over time Assessment of the typology’s contemporary significance, or lack thereof

Each group must identify current agents of obsolescence—the local, regional and global driving forces and influences that are impacting upon the architectural presence, functional and/ or societal relevance of the studied typology in the contemporary context of year 2015. At the end of this phase, the group should be able to make informed projections of the typology’s future trajectories on the basis of the 2015 facts.

2015 : Typological Study + Agents of Obsolescence

During the first phase, the post office group researches on mail distributing systems to gain understanding of the entire process of postal processing and distribution, i.e., what happened between the sender and receivers. The group looks into both national system and international case studies to compare the differences. Thai Postal Service is found to be doing very well in 2015, which is contradictory to the group’s assumption prior to conducting the research. The typology is far from obsolete in certain aspects and components. Although fewer people are sending letters in the era of emails and other communication technologies, the logistic services are actually thriving. In other countries 10

2015 : Typological Study+Agents of Obsolescence : Post Office

Chittranuch Napawan, Thavisa Saranakom, Kanin Sunthornsuk

like the US, the USPS appears to be struggling in the service climate full of commercial competitors such as FedEx and other private companies. In Thailand, however, private companies are not viable as Thailand Post’s competitors; most Thais primarily rely on Thailand Post’s services. The group research in this phase also includes the rules and regulations of what can be sent, as well as weight and volumetric limits. The group also looks into different types of physical branches and extra services Thailand Post provides, how the “back of the house” operates, and what technologies are required for such operations in order to provide secure, reliable and convenient postal services. 2015 : Typological Study+Agents of Obsolescence : Post Office

BAMB BOO PUPPET THEAT A RE - THAILAND

MUAY A THAI - THAILAND

KABUKI THEAT A RE - JAPA P N

LIGAE THEEAT A RE - THAILAND

musician

Performers Audience

Staffs

LAMP ING NG

Special Features

Special Features stage mechanism : part of the performance

Performers

acoustic : part of the performance

P RLIAMENT PA

MAGIC PERFORMANCE

SHADOW PUUPET - THAILAND

lighting : part of the performance

Performers

Audience

Staffs

According to the “performance stages” categorization, many of the eastern stages will be considered as the “flexible stage” such as Kabuki or Noh stage (Japan). However, it is crucial to do further analysis to see the interaction between performers and audience since a lot of the eastern performances and stages are quite unique. Here, we’ve chosen some well-known eastern performances with particular emphasis in Japanese and Thai performances to analyze the spatial interaction between, the audience, the performers and the backstage. As it turns out, many of these performances possesses a much more interesting and unique interaction between these three elements, quite often, the boundaries between the three, are blurred. 12

* Pa P rliament: The space is unclearly defined as who are the "performers" or who are the audience. The boundary is blurred, similarly, this also appears in modern theatre spaces.

Special Features

COMTEMPORARY WESTERN THEAT A RE

Performers Audience

2015 : Typological Study+Agents of Obsolescence : Theater

After the analysis, we’ve zoomed out to a bigger picture and asked ourselves, “Then what is a performance” since the analysis suggests that the three main cores of a performance is the “performer”, “the audience” and “the backstage”. Thus, this led to the assumption that then perhaps, even a parliament meeting can also be viewed as a performance, there’s a performer, there’s the audience, both in the parliament and also in some cases, observing right from home through broadcast. Lastly, you’ll never actually know what’s the “backstage” behinds those suits and ties. In conclusion, a performance is without a doubt can also be used to convince people, change the mindset of a society and ultimately, propaganda. Nantawat Siritip, Rossarin Ungrangsee

Nantawat Siritip, Rossarin Ungrangsee

2015 : Typological Study+Agents of Obsolescence : Theater

Performance is one of the most direct ways to communicate as it involves multiple senses. There are three main elements that are common to most performances; “the performers”, “the audience” and “the backstage”. Furthermore, performance stages can be further categorized into different types according to the way the stages and the audience seating meet. End Stage: The audience is seated at one end of the stage, there’s a clear definition of boundaries between the performers, audience and backstage.

the back stage, this type of stage gives a more “inclusive” feel to the audience during performances. Arena Stage: The audience is seated around the stage and ultimately, the performance, this type of stage gives the best view to the audience but it is not very suitable for performances that required strict sequencing due to the stage’s exposure to the audience.

Thrust Stage: The audience is seated at three sides of the stage with the left over side of the stage being connected to

Flexible Stage: is basically the “others” type of stages that can’t be accurately placed into the previous categories. The audience arrangement depends on the specific performances and this can also changes during the performance as well.

Nantawat Siritip, Rossarin Ungrangsee

2015 : Typological Study+Agents of Obsolescence : Theater

Nantawat Siritip, Rossarin Ungrangsee

2015 : Typological Study+Agents of Obsolescence : Theater

ENTERTAINMENT

CULTURE

ENTERTAINMENT

INFORMATION PERFORMER

CHANGE PEOPLE IDEA RELATE TO POLITIC

CONVEY

From the analysis, the diagram illustrate our prediction of Performance Theater in 2035, In the past, most theaters share a common character of having a clear defined boundaries between the performers, the audience and the backstage, this is often determined by the stage, the backstage and the seats. Today, the typology of performance is changing with the development of technology such as the internet and websites such as Youtube. These technology virtually connects us to the physical space and thus, performances becomes more accessible despite the reduced physicality. In other word, the

performance is being brought into your living room through the technology that we have today. However, with the development of the technology such as augmented reality and oculus rift, our perception of reality and virtual reality change. Virtual world is becoming more realistic meanwhile the line that defined the performers and audience is being blurred. In 2035, it is possible that instead of the performance being brought to us, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be brought to the performance despite the physical reality.

Nantawat Siritip, Rossarin Ungrangsee

2015 : Typological Study+Agents of Obsolescence : Theater

Nantawat Siritip, Rossarin Ungrangsee

2015 : Typological Study+Agents of Obsolescence : Theater

2000: IBM DiskOnKey

1993: Macintosh Color

History of Library

1997: iomega zip

2007: Kindle

2012: Oculus Rift DK1 2015: 1st iWatch

2600 BC

2002: Blu-ray Disc

1900 BC

2011: Kinect

coneiform script clay tablets records on papyrus Temple of ancient Egypt

1999: iBook G3 2004: PlayStation Portable

2007: Asimo 2010: 1st iPad

1994: PlayStation

2014: MotionSavvy

Library at Nippur Nippur’s clay tablets

2004: Librié EBR-1000EP

Mesopotamiun literature Library of Celsus, Anatolia

7,5

Monastery libraries developed such as Abbey of Montecassion in Italy : books were usaully chained to the shelved

Enlightenment era of Libraries

England 1556

1795

Russia

1800

America

1913

German

First plan of national library “Welsh Mathematican John Dee” Mary I of England - proposal was not take up

1694

Proposal for building a Royal library by Sir Richard Bentley

1753

The first true National lirary was founded as part of the British museum for everyone (neither for church or King) 40,000 printed books, 7,000 manuscripts, prints and drawings

1757

co-operate with Cotton library and the Royal library joined

1856

Anthony Panizzi modernization their library (The famous circular reading room)

England

1753

6,00

5 250 000 000

5,25

4 500 000 000

4,50

1992: Sony MZ1

The council of Paris condemned those Monasteries that still forbade loaning books

History of National library France

6 000 000 000

2001: 1st iPad

17th

1212

500 AD The Imperial Library of Constantinople become the largest library in Europe

1692

1999: Anoto Digital

1997: USB

6,75 450 AD

330 AD

4 types of libraries were established : Imperial, Patriarchal, Monastic and Private.

2007: 1st iPhone

300 BC

Egypt Library of Alexandria Anla Libertatis in Rome

Byzuantium renamed to Constaninople The Roman intellectual was undergoing a transformation as the academic world moved from laymen to Christian clergy

700 BC

10 BC

Nineveh library Nineveh’s clay tablets

3 750 000 000

3,75

3 000 000 000

3,00

2 250 000 000

2,25

T E N

1 500 000 000

1,50

E T

1800

The Library of Congress was established

German National library in Leipzig

1556

Bibliotheque Mazarine library for the first time at Louvre Palace by Charles V

1692

Bibliotheque Mazarine library open in public under the administration of Abbe Louvois

1792

Change to national property and change name to “Bibliotheque National”

1766

First proposed to build a public library

1795

The Imperial public library by Catherine the Great

France

2015 : Typological Study+Agents of Obsolescence : Library

1913

I 750 000 000

Jirachaya Kerdpanya, Winchana Prucksananont, Johan Sørheim

Russia

First proposed in America by James Madison

U.S.A.

1783

First National library during the revolutions at Frankfurt Parliament later after the revolution the library was abandoned

Germany

1848

0,75

B E W

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 1: http://www.geohive.com/earth/his_history3.aspx

WWW

Mosaic YAHOO!

Java eBay

Wikibooks Myspace Mozilla Firefox

Wikipedia Hotmail

Google

Jirachaya Kerdpanya, Winchana Prucksananont, Johan Sørheim

Facebook Tumblr Youtube Reddit Wikileaks Twitter

2: http://www.uis.unesco.org/literacy/Pages/data-release-map-2013.aspx

3: http://www.internetlivestats.com/internet-users/#trend 4: http://www.internetlivestats.com/total-number-of-websites/#trend

2015 : Typological Study+Agents of Obsolescence : Library

L I BR ARY ANA LYS IS : S C A L E, P RO G R A M S ZO NI NG, A ND AC C ES S I B I L I T I ES SCALE

11,637

SQM.

SERVICES PUBLIC

PRIVATE AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS SERVICES PRIVATE

COLLECTIONS

URBAN CONTEXT : YALE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

AUDITORIUM

READING ROOM

BEINECKE RARE BOOK AND MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY - NON-CIRCULATING,CLOSED STACKED LIBRARY. THE USERS MUST REGISTERED AND PRE-REQUESTED FOR THE MATERIALS. THE MATERIAL STORED IN THE LIBRARY WILL TAKE 20 MINS OF PREPARATION TIME. THE MATERIAL THAT STORED OFF THE LIBRARY MUST BE PRE-REQUESTED FOR 2 DAYS IN ADVANCED. GOOD INSTANCE FOR A SPECIAL LIBRARY INTERMS OF UNDERSTANDING HOW THE DESIGN CONTROL USERS, AND

NON-CIRCULATING, CLOSED STACKED LIBRARY

LENGENDS

BOOKS COLLECTION

INFORMATION SERVICE

SERVICES AND FACILITIES SECURITY AND REGISTERATION

VISITORS

RESEARCHERS

STUDENTS

RESEARCHERS

PRINT SHOP

E-BOOK

READING ROOM

LIBRARY STAFF

PRE-ONLINE REQUESTED FOR MATERIALS

OPEN / PUBLIC SPACE

SERVICES PRIVATE

SERVICES PUBLIC

SCALE : 5,453 SQM.

SEMI PUBLIC SPACE

COLLECTIONS

URBAN CONTEXT : UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CAMPUS

AUDITORIUM

MULTIMEDIA

LIMITED ACCESS SPACE

READING ROOM

JOE AND RIKA MONSUETO LIBRARY - BEST EXAMPLE IN TERMS OF HI TECHNOLOGY LIBRARY. THE PROJECT ITSELF CONTAINS APPROX 3.5 MILLIONS OF COLLECTION WHILE USE A VERY SMALL SPACE. WORKS VERY WELL AS AN EXTENSION PART OF THE LIBRARY IN THE CASE THAT THE EXISTING IS OUT OF DATE WHILE HAVING MORE TO COLLECT AND MORE USERS TO COME.

SEQUENCE LINE

3.5 MILLIONS

UNDERGROUND STORAGE

COLLECTIONS VISITORS

REGISTERATION

RESEARCHERS

STUDENTS

RESEARCHERS

LIBRARY STAFF

INFORMATION SERVICE

PRINT SHOP

SEQUENCE LINE

READING ROOM

ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LIBRARY

USERS SCALE : 2,000 SQM.

SERVICES PRIVATE

URBAN CONTEXT : VANESSLA TOWN, NORWAY

COLLECTIONS

SERVICES PUBLIC

VANESSLA LIBRARY AND CULTURAL CENTER

TECHNOLOGY CENTER

READING ROOM

N/A - NOT ONLY SERVE LOCAL AS A LIBRAY BUT ALSO A COMMUNITY CENTER. ALSO, SEEKS TO BECOME AND EXTENSION OF THE COMMUNITY SQUARE. FUNCTION AND DESIGN OF THE PROJECT ARE GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THE NEW TRENDS OF COMMUNITY SPACE.

SERVICES AND FACILITIES

REGISTERED MEMBER

BOOKS COLLECTION

EVERYONE

AUDITORIUM

EVERYONE

INFORMATION SERVICE

PUBLICSERVICES

PRINT SHOP

SECURITY AND REGISTERATION

PRIVATESERVICES

- FRIENDLY SENSE : LOCATION, DESIGN, AND FUNCTION OF THE PROJECT ARE EASY TO ACCESS . SCALE

38,300

SQM.

SERVICES PUBLIC

COLLECTIONS

SERVICES PRIVATE PROJECT HEADQUARTER

LIBRARY COLLECTIONS URBAN CONTEXT : SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

READING ROOM X 150 PEOPLE

THE SEATTLE CENTRAL LIBRARY

HEADQUATER OFFICE

2 MILLIONS

- BUILD COMMUNITY AROUND THE BOOKS - STRENGTHEN THE EDUCATION OF SEATTLE ‘S YOUTH - SOURCE FOR HIGH QUALITY INSTRUCTION AND PROGRAM TO SUPPORTPERSONAL GROWTH - INTEGRATE LEARNING INTO DAILY LIFE NEIGHBERHOOD INTERACTION - CIVIC FOCAL POINT AND A RESOURCE HUB FOR SEATTLE’S COMMUNITY - SPACE AND SEVICE SUPORTS SEATTLE’S NEIGHBERHOODS

HEADQUARTER

SERVICES

INFORMATION SERVICE EVERYONE

EVERYONE

PRINT SHOP

E-BOOK

CAFE

EMPTY SPACE

KIDS ZONE

AUDITORIUM X 700 PEOPLE

REGISTERED MEMBER

BOOKS COLLECTION

SECURITY AND REGISTERATION

HEADQUARTER

SERVICES AND FACILITIES

2015 : Typological Study+Agents of Obsolescence : Library

MULTIMEDIA

Jirachaya Kerdpanya, Winchana Prucksananont, Johan Sørheim

TECHNOLOGY CENTER X1 FOR 25 PEOPLE

Jirachaya Kerdpanya, Winchana Prucksananont, Johan Sørheim

2015 : Typological Study+Agents of Obsolescence : Library

THE ICONIC SITES

In the second phase of the semester, each group proceeds to conduct a site analysis of the predetermined venue in order to gain an understanding of the urban site characteristics and components : its boundary, relationships to its immediate surroundings, the neighborhood, the city, and the nation; the existing architectural components, their historical significance and contemporary values. The pre-determined sites for the library, post office and performance theater groups, respectively, are : 1. The National Library of Thailand, Samsen Road, Dusit District, Bangkok 2. The Grand Postal Building, Charoen Krung Road, Bangkok -plus- Thailand Post’s Processing Center at the Suvarnabhumi Airport 3. The National Theater, Rachinee Road, Phranakorn District, Bangkok In this phase, each group should be able to synthesize the understanding of the various dimensions of the given site and the body of typological research acquired in the previous phase, in order to : (A) form analytical opinions about the roles—performative or otherwise—the civic institution and the iconic site currently play; and, (B) start constructing arguments about the performative roles it could possibly assume in the near future. Potential architectural operations with the site should be identifiable at the end of this phase, together with foreseeable consequences, repercussions and/or predicaments of such operations.

The Iconic Sites

The surrounding context: “Phra Nakhon” is a unique district due to it being located in the zone known as the “conservation area” due to the many historical and religious buildings in the area. The National Theater is another example of such buildings as it plays an important role of holding Traditional Thai performances such as Khon as well as the occasional Western classical performances for the past 83 years. Apart from the theater, the surrounding neighborhood possesses a unique characteristic of being historical while at the same time, trying to merge with the new and this can be seen in the people around the site which consisted of the locals, the vendors and the foreigners.

The Iconic Sites : The National Theater

Nantawat Siritip, Rossarin Ungrangsee

The Iconic Sites : The National Theater

The diagram above illustrate the neighborhood analysis in terms of the important / notable surrounding buildings and their functions such as commercial, governmental, religious and more. From the diagram, most of the building in the area are governmental, institutional, with a few of them also being tourist destinations as well. The color bars at the bottom show the length of time it takes to cover the surrounding area using three different type of transportation; walking by foot, driving and biking. Biking is the most effective way of travel in this area, while driving takes the most time due to the concentration of tour buses in the area. The left hand-side diagram shows the existing bike route in the district which run pass our site directly, however, from the site

The Iconic Sites : The National Theater

Nantawat Siritip, Rossarin Ungrangsee

visit observation, it’s still not be used as much due to the climate, most of the users are street vendors instead. The boat route and piers are also another existing mode of transportation and is used widely amongst the people in the area due to its low price and efficiency. The closest pier to the site is “Maharaj” pier, yet it’s still a 10 minutes’ walk from the site. The proposal of the new dark blue and orange MRT underground metro system are also shown here to portray the vision of the current government. Once the project is completed, estimated in 2020, the closest subways station to the site will be the MRT “Sanamluang” station. This development will likely to bring more people to the area since today, the lack of convenient public transportation and parking are large issues that this district possesses.

The Iconic Sites : The National Theater

Nantawat Siritip, Rossarin Ungrangsee

The Iconic Sites : The National Theater

Nantawat Siritip, Rossarin Ungrangsee

The Iconic Sites : The National Theater

Thailand National Theater During the time of Jompol Por Pibulsongkram was the Prime minister of Thailand, country needs the national theater to create civilization for the nation and a place for wecoming the royal guests. The main performances of the theater are Khon, Thai national dance, and other Thai tradational performance. These performances are very popular and show social well being of Thailand. However, time changes, the new generation are less interest in these type of performances as well as the development of high technology and connecting network create various way of communication and project the performances much more superior than the national theater Not only the social environment, but the national theater itself. The public relation department cannot communicate and promote the national theater to the new generation. Rarely people know about this place.

The Iconic Sites : The National Theater

Nantawat Siritip, Rossarin Ungrangsee

The Iconic Sites : The National Theater

ERA 01

PHASE 02 :

Between Dichotomies II : Reality, Fabricated Reality & the Near-Obsolete Typologies

ICONIC SITES Chittranuch

Napawan 543 47178 25

Thavisa

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THAILAND’S POSTAL SYSTEM WHICH PROVIDES DIFFERENT SERVICES SUCH AS STAMPS FOR THE EARLIEST THAILAND’S NEWSPAPER. AS PROVIDING NEWS ARE IMPORTANT, THE GOVERNMENT THEN DECIDED TO SET UP AN OFFICIALLYFIRST POSTAL OFFICE IN THAULAND.

VALUE : FOR ROYALS POLITIC & COMMERSE BUSINESS

VEHICLE :

MAILMAN

Saranakom 543 47476 25

HORSE

COMMUNICATION BEGAN BY CONSTRUCTING TRANSPORTATION ROUTE AND WE CAN COMMUNICATE EASILY THROUGH MERCHANTS, HORSES OR MESSENGERS.

+ Radio Telegraph

ERA 02

SUNTHORNSUK 543 47126 25

THIS SYSTEM GOES ON UNTIL THE BEGINING OF RATTRANAGOSIN ERA. LATER UNTIL THE REIGN OF RAMA 5, HE WAS INTERESTED IN COMMUNICATINGTHROUGH LETTERS IN ENGLISH AND SO USE POSTAL SYSTEM TO COMMUNICATE WITH KINGS AND CITIZENS OF OTHER COUNTRIES TO KEEP AN ACQUAINTANCE.

POLITIC : PURPOSE : INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION

* STRUCTURE : ไปรษณียาคาร

GRAND POSTAL OFFICE KANIN

+ Sending NEWSpapers

* REPLACE : BRITTISH EMBASSIES @ ถนนเจริญกรุง * BUILT : GRAND POSTAL BUILDING @ ถนนเจริญกรุง

POLITIC :

VALUE :

World War 2

WILDLY SERVICE FOR PEOPLE

ENHANCE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION

Letters & Telegraph as population interpersonal communication

JOINING THE FORIEGN POSTAL GROUP TO ALLOW COMMUNICATION IN BETWEEN COUNTRIES

+ POSTAL SCHOOL & TRAINING CENTER [Human resource]

VEHICLE :

- SETTING UP POSTAL INSTITUTE TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO STUDY ABOUT POSTAL SERVICES AND SYSTEMS AND WORK AT THE OFFICE

TRANSPORTATION B M

VALUE :

POLITIC :

COUP’ THREATS

POLITIC CHANGE : DEMOCRACY

ERA 03

Hua Lumphong

GRAND POSTAL BUILDING BECAME SYSBOL OF THAILAND COMMUNICATION

ROYAL SYMBOLS INFLUENCE FOR THE POSTAL SERVICE BECOME LESS

AS THE MALITARY USED FOR ANNOUNCE THE COUP’

พระราชบัญญัติ การไปรษณียไทย

ON LAND : CARS WITH THE COMMUNICATION SERVICE FOR PEOPLE

ON AIRS : PLANES

TECNOLOGY : Telephony Wireless transmission

Telephone become household use service for people

POSTAL LAWS

ECONOMY : “Becoming State Enterprise”

+ Communication Technology

Wat Muang Kae Pier

S ET IL

T AN

UR TA

AIR ST SE

DISTRIBUTION CENTER WAS MOVED TO LAKSI PO

T EN

EV AL ST NS VA

LL HA

S RE G IN RK PA

ERA 04

O FF

Saphan Taksin

E/S

Wat Muang Kae Pier

M walk 15 mins (500m)

walk 3 mins (80m)

Hua Lumphong

motorcycle taxi 5 mins

New services such Internet New services for mobility : 3Gs

= THE BUILDING WAS ONLY FOR BEING SYMBOLIC AND HISTORICAL

NOON

120 Degree

TECNOLOGY :

TELEPHONY & WIRELESS TRANSMISSION WAS MOVED CAT BUILDING

Srirat Highway

ERA 05

Saphan Taksin

Walk

AL ST E PO FIC F O

SITE

Train Station

Highway

O SH

Pier

BTS

GE RA

S ET IL

HOW TO GET TO GRAND POSTAL

MRT

DECEMBER

* RENOVATION : GRAND POSTAL BUILDING @ ถนนเจริญกรุง

110 Degree

100 Degree

EVENING

MORNING 90 degree

80 Degree

JUNE

SURROUNDING RELIGION (TEMPLE, CHURCH)

Wat Muang Kae Pier

OFFICE

Public Parking

SCHOOLS

Postal Vans Private Parking

GOVERNMENT (DISTRICT OFFICE, EMBASSY)

SERVICE

S ET

ng on Kru

(FIRE STATION, POLICE STATION, HOSPITALS, LIBRARY)

Car Circulation

hare

Soi C

One Way Road

COMMERCIAL PARK

AI ST E

RC AI ST

MUSEUMS TRANSPORTATION

hareo

T EN

Soi C

g 32 Krun

HA LL

Srirat Highway

TO S ET

SITE

GOVERNMENT (DISTRICT OFFICE, EMBASSY)

PARK

OFFICE

SERVICE (FIRE STATION, POLICE STATION, HOSPITALS, LIBRARY)

MUSEUMS

SCHOOLS

COMMERCIAL

TRANSPORTATION

OUTDOOR EVENT AREA

BANGRAK POST OFFICE

CAT TELECOM

CAT TELECOM OFFICE BUILDING

BANGRAK FIRE STATION

EMBASSY OF FRANCE

n Krun

RELIGION

GRAND POSTAL BUILDING

Chareo

LEGENDS:

Krung 34

Soi Chareon

g rd.

rd. Surawong

ung 36

Kr areon

Soi Ch

The Iconic Sites : The Grand Postal Building

Chittranuch Napawan, Thavisa Saranakom, Kanin Sunthornsuk

The Iconic Sites : The Grand Postal Building

The study group visits the Suvarnabhumi Airport Post Distribution Center to observe the sorting and distributing operations. Mails and parcels are divided into 3 types: standard, registered, and EMS. Each type requires slightly different machines and operations which determine how fast mails & parcels take to reach the destinations. It is observed that Thai mailing system still relies heavily on manual human labour, compared to mostly automated international systems. Loopholes and human errors may occur in certain parts of the process.

The Iconic Sites : The Grand Postal Building

Chittranuch Napawan, Thavisa Saranakom, Kanin Sunthornsuk

The Iconic Sites : The Grand Postal Building

The Iconic Sites : The National Library

Jirachaya Kerdpanya, Winchana Prucksananont, Johan SĂ¸rheim

The Iconic Sites : The National Library

Jirachaya Kerdpanya, Winchana Prucksananont, Johan SĂ¸rheim

The Iconic Sites : The National Library

PROXIMATE UTOPIA/DYSTOPIA: THE FABRICATED REALITY

A utopian narrative [Quoting Bertrand de Jouvenel’s Utopia for Practical Purposes]...has two registers, one in its descriptions of particular institutions and practices that will give rise to a utopian way of life, and a second in its descriptions of the physical, emotional, and intellectual felicities of that way of life. Timothy Hyde, Proximate Utopia, or the Semblance of the Future (2009).

It is now time for each studio member to individually construct a narrative of a proximate utopia or dystopia, i.e., the fabricated reality for post-reform Thailand in 2035, in which the civic institution previously studied assumes a meaningful performative role in the fabricated utopian/ dystopian society. It is important to note that the narrative herein is narrowly-focused, concerning only specific practices and select aspects of life that are supportive of and have causal relationships with the particular architectural typology in hand. It is by no means the intent of the studio to replicate the all-inclusive, grand narratives of the literary utopias

(such as Huxley’s Brave New World and Orwell’s 1984), either in scale or complexity. As a guideline, the narrative should aim to describe the following constructs : •

•

Primary contextual forces/agents that drive the change from reality of 2015 to fabricated reality of 2035 Particular 2015 social values or practices that the fabricated utopia/dystopia aims to critique or dismantle Particular 2035 social values, principles, ideologies, practices, or way of life that the fabricated utopia/dystopia proposes to channel The performative (practical, civic, symbolic, or semiotic) role of the newly-defined institutional typology in the 2035 Thai society Primary agents of transformation that influence the typological operation

The narrative in this phase serves as each studio member’s initial problem setup for the subsequent design phase. It should be represented in both textual and graphic formats.

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

PHASE 3 Scenario Development 3.1 Front Door Farm 2015

RISES OF THE

1749 (million pieces)

165

1864

1895

196

214

2011

2012

2013 meat

FRONT DOOR FARM

ตลาดหนาบาน A project proposed by Thailand Post to be operated in Bangkok by 2035 and subsequently nationwide.

fruits

veggies

Amount of mail services are increasing every year. Thailand Post has got the advantage of their work labor across the country that can reach all households in every area, that is why they manage to have strong connections and are trust worthy to Thai citizens.

2015

Fresh ingredients received from farmers and butchers transported via postal freezer truck arrive at FDF processing center, being stored in FDF storage.

chicken

pork

The objective is to rescue the dying fresh market, and create a new mode of food shopping for the most convenient way to get your fresh ingredients daily delivered at home.

fresh-water/ seafood

Real-time Order Board receive online orders

OBSOLESCENCE OF

FRESH MARKET

PRO

CES

M S AIL P W OR R SOR HICH T MAI OCCE LOA TE RE LS S DIN D M AD VIA SING G D AIL ADD MA CEN OCK S G RE CHIN TE S ET T SSES ES R O

ตลาดสด

F P DF FOR REPA PROC HO RES I CESS ME NG ING DEL RED CE IVE IENT NT RY S ER

SIN

G PAC KAG IN

People tend to shop at supermarket rather than fresh market because freshness and hygiene quality is guaranteed. Fresh markets are less convenient and aesthetically unpleasing. Working-class people, do not have much time to stop at markets everyday. In twenty years time, local butchers and farmers may lose their jobs.

Food are processed according to online order, ready to be packed.

LOA D

ING

Front door delivered

LHAKSI BANGKOK (HUA LUMPHONG)

FRONT DOOR FARM

ตลาดหนาบาน

194,511 190,659

178,958 162,598

160,366

168,309 191,966

SUVARNABHUMI AIRPORT

166,364

173,144

ED FRI TIR S N CKE NTS TY CHIREDIE ANTI QU ING g 200 g 100 g 100 aht B 00 1 AL TOT

N FRO

168,197

Online website interface Customers can explore various menus.

2015 BANGKOK POPULATION

MAIL CENTERS TOP 10 MOST POPULATED AREAS

AR RF

CUS

TOM ER FOO S CA D IN N OR GRE DER DIE AN NTS D R HO AT ECEI ME HO VE ME

2035 44

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

2035 PROPOSED MAIL PROCESSING CENTERS MAIL CENTERS PROPOSED MAIL CENTERS DISTRICT TAKEN CARE BY EACH CENTER FDF PROCESSING CENTERS

Chittranuch Napawan

OPERATION TIME CYCLE ORDER GET WITHIN THE DAY ORDER GET THE NEXT DAY

Chittranuch Napawan

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

City’s giant cookbook to explore Thai food menus, to taste various menu, scan the QR code and get more info about the ingredients and cooking methods. Customers can then order the ingredients for home delivery right away.

THE GRAND

FDF COMPLEX

3.2 Future Food Production

Apart from the online application, FDF also offers a physical dimension which provides services for Thai people. This iconic building will represent the new lifestyle of Thai culinary.

Molecular Gastronomy

REAL LIFE COOKBOOK

Mini world exhibits how Thailand Post and FDF services work. An educational center for children, adults, or even foreigners to learn about Thai agriculture, postal service, and way of life.

ORGANIC GARDEN

In 2035, food production would aim for longer shelf-life food, which leads to a research on new food form and new ways of cooking. Molecular Gastronomy is an upcoming way which involves the physical and chemical transformations of ingredients that occur in cooking. It is a modern style of cooking which combines with science and takes advantage of many technical innovations from the scientific disciplines.

Japanese Konapun

3.3 Rice farming and processing Typical Farming

Aeroponic Farming

AeroRICE PROCESSING HARVEST PADDY ขาวเปลือก CLEANING CRACK กระเทาะเปลือก

unconstant sunlight soil

FDF INFO CENTER

FOOD EVENTS

FDF staff members to assist with registration also to promote new promotions such as monthly menu packages for home delivery.

A space for occasional events. Activities such as food festival, food exchange, cooking class, cooking competitions, can be held here.

controllable LED light

Light Source

air

Medium

10 times more

Time

3 times slower

PADDY HUSK แกลบ

SCRUB ขัดขาว WHITE RICE ขาวสาร

RICE POWDER RICE LIQUID

molecular scale

Fertiliser

CARGO RICE ขาวกลอง

MOLECULAR GASTRONOMY TRANSFORMATION

molecular scale 10 times less

Water

normal

PEEL แยกแกลบ

RICE BRAN รำ

SIZING PACKAGE

3 times faster RECEIVING

CLEANING/HUSKING

SCRUBBING

WHITENING 1

WHITENING 2

GRADING/PACKING

ลูกนวดขาว WASTE

CONVEYOR

PADDY BLADE

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

Chittranuch Napawan

FAN

Chittranuch Napawan

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

3.4 Food Bank

2015 Years and years, the methods and the quality of Thai rice stay the same, while the other competitors, such as Myanmar, India and Vietnam have moved forward. As the other countries bring in new technologies, Thai government only talks more about insurance and pledge, and less about research and development on rice seeds. Thai farmers are facing the downfall of rice economics. 2018 As the crisis has built up, finally the farmers from all over the country got together and protests. They demand actions from government and threaten to burn down CAT telecom tower on Chareonkrung road. CAT tower was the heart of online communication as it is the place where Internet database are stored.

2015

dystopia

2035

FOOD bank

world’s hunger

food BANK

ธนาคารอาหาร food storage and distribution depots

poverty

2019 The government could not come up with ways to solve the problems. Finally, the war broke out. CAT tower was burned down. With limited online servers, Thailand suffered major economics lost. The site becomes abandoned.

ธนาคารอาหาร

2022 Since the incident, rice has become harder to produce, as there are fewer farmers and less land for farming. Together with extreme climate changes and still no government supports, rice farming in Thailand becomes very rare.

food security

“food = new currency” charity non-profit organization

Asia current foodbanks Japan South Korea Taiwan India

1 2 3 4 5

2023 However, there was a glimpse of hope when a private organization was established and started to experiment and come up with alternative ways of rice farming. They saw an opportunity to renovate the CAT tower and use this abandoned historical site to be their research base. They were trying to develop indoor aeroponic rice farming to be able to control the environment, and to go vertical rather than horizontal.

food resources collected sorted reviewed quality distributed

Thailand โครงการธนาคารอาหารชุมชนของสมเด็จพระราชินี 7 provinces (2 stations each)

2026 The government offered help to the private organization by support the funding, and also offered the connections with Thailand Postal Service in order to distribute the rice being produced to Bangkok citizens. Later in that year, it has become State Enterprise.

00 5,

6, 9,

3, 74

2030 The government issued a new policy in order to rescue the rice exclusivity crisis. Each month, the government will offer 6.75 kilograms of rice per one person. Rice banking system was also invented in order for people who have rice left over to deposit and earn interest. They can also transfer rice to the other family members, or borrow extra rice and pay back in the future.

Population

Thailand’s food export

2015 2035 2055

Year

2035 The Grand Rice Bank was established to be the national rice bank for Thailand. The building is located at the old location of the Grand Postal Building. The Grand Rice Bank becomes a national research and development base for rice growing, processing, and distribution. It is also storage for emergency rice and grade A quality seeds.

world’s population increases

world’s food demand increases

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

Chittranuch Napawan

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

PROSTHETIC PHYSICAL ENHANCMENT

WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY

TARGET TYPE OF TRAVELLING

// P

ERS INV ONA ENT L OR Y

WE 01

ARA

-W

life living out of a suitcase

BLE

ENT

Wa is

+e le cha ctronic rge rs 03

THAILAND

YO U ME R A HEIG SU RM HT

+e le cha ctronic rge rs

DES AC TINAT CO ED BO MM OK ING OD @ ATI A O

tlin

Sho

POS -W

ize

BLE

+e le cha ctronic rge rs

EP AC K

AG E

sle e we ping ars

Wearable technology is going to bring a great change where everyone connect with each other. We acknowledge all the problem of the world faster than before. The communication has skyrocketed in term of speed. As we are social animal. The most important thing to us is interaction and presence of people.as we can see today of using device is getting in the way of that.

STA

L ST ATIO

Too

tfit

aste

tme nt Kit uty Kit

thb ush

ness ecit

ies

Tra n

( ho

tel

rte

Sha

vin

like O to alre a

dy SOA pro P

vid

Sco

ote

r Seg

wa y

rta

inm

ent

-S

hotel

RTG

-B

PERSONAL TRAVELLER

wandering from place to place without settled

+ virtual entertainment

+ misc.

SIZE Typical travelling that aim for spending time on different region or country for relaxation and enjoyment. this type of travelling can be a couple a group a family or rarely a person.

29 inch

30 inch UP

let’s travelling!

SPENDING TIME : 2 days

19 inch

electricities

22 inch

Virtual inventory can provide quick packing service ready for quick travelling over the weekend or sudden vacation luggage free. making travelling become SPENDING TIME : easier and more convinent.

24 inch

2 days

DESTINATION LOCATION

Years TYPE OF TRAVEL :

NECESSARY ITEM

DESTINATION LOCATION

SIZE

often budget backpackers, trying to make their travel fund stretch for as long as possible by staying in hostels and looking for cheap food and attractions. Rather than other short term types of travel, long term travel often becomes more of a lifestyle choice.

equipment 02

03 Dra Writt win ing g to + ols

26 inch

The best thing about traveling for business is that usually your company is footing the bill. Being paid to fly first class and stay in luxurious hotels at someone else’s expense is a great way to see the world.

24 inch

formal // tolietaries business wear

ed )

Ente

a Week

NECESSARY ITEM

DESTINATION LOCATION

Bic ycle

The wearable can be that middle ground collide between visual and physical space. As we are now relies on the digital in every aspect with our life. It is the device that will use while interacting object and human.it is the advance technology help simplify the technology to become more adapt to human. It provide mobility and fast efficiency information. Wearable technology will redefine our lifestyle in the way of our living enhance our social interaction

24 inch

SPENDING TIME : 2 days

clothings

SHA

spo

22 inch

Tow els

oc ca ou tion tfit al 00 3

LO WE

NEW TYPOLOGY OF TRAVELLING

19 inch

BUSINESS - work + travel In the 2035, The communication will be more effective than we are with wearable feature provided more ways to connect. some types of work can be doing just by connecting or using software without the support of structure ”why have to do it in office if you’re can do it anywhere ?” TYPE OF TRAVEL : Business Travel, Event Travel proving the the point with this kind of target group

Bea

Too

TO P

SIZE

Tre a

thp

RAN

Kit

..g

+u UT FIT n ga der rme nt

ZIPC

wea ra + T ble c ra a + V nslato n enh irtua r anc e tr +M l gu ave e io lling +co mory re de exp mmu cord erie nica or Toil nce tion etr ies

WE IG can HT 00 pro 0 vide / MA X up to . IMUM AD ..... AY . . . . . : ........ .... O

DD RE

While you do not have a choice of where you go and you will be spending a lot of your time working, getting paid to travel rather than being stuck in a cubicle is a great way to spend your working week.

Holiday package, Weekend travel Group tour, Visiting family/friends

26 inch

2-3 weeks

NECESSARY ITEM vacation clothings

clothings

tolietaries

transporter

+ virtual entertainment

TYPE OF TRAVEL : Weekend break , Package holiday, Gap year, Long term slow travel The service can become more than luggage-free service but extend the bondaries of what we can called a home. If “ home is wherever i am or belong and home is just physical object surrounded us why home must be static ? ” The service can be influential to people life more than just travelling business

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

hotel/hostel bungalow

+ misc.

equipment electricities

electricities

camping

custom clothings for many occation

temporary shelter

Temple

+ clothings

tolietaries

hotel/hostel Family//Friend bungalow house

+ entertainment

+ misc.

sport gear

electricities

(ถือศีล)

Kanin Sunthornsuk

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

‘ตัวเบา’ ไปรษณีย

THAI POSTAL VIRTUAL INVENTORY

SERVICE MAP CUSTOMIZE YOUR INVENTORY ONLINE

YOU’RE HERE

postal service provide VISUAL order of physical items What ways can we provide to our human communication other than information? Postal has potential and is the essential in the transportation and transition between physical object where the technology yet cannot provide other solutions.

TRAVEL LIGHT luggage-free

national

Minimum Traveller

Miniimum Stay Traveller

BEGIN

SIGNING UP & REGISTER ACCOUNT FOR USING VIRTUAL INVENTORY

foreigner

MAXIMUM Expected To Use The Service

destination to destination Numeber Of Expected Users 2,268,228

17,291,624 52.47%

9,072,915 stay at least one night

Maximum Traveller

Maximum Stay Traveller

wandering from place to place without settled

approximately

25 %

per month

With the enhancement of technology such as wearable technology can be solution enhance both lifestyle of people toward physical transportation and working process.

2,300,000

life living out of a suitcase let’s travelling!

per month *not staying at the same time

MAXIMUM Expected To Use The Service

OPTIONS OF SERVICE PROVIDE

Numeber Of Expected Users

POSTAL LUGGAGE PRODUCTS

4,219,938 approximately

22,727,555 74.27%

16,879,755

25 %

4,200,000 *not staying at the same time

per month

following the analysis of items of travelling in the targeted group the products devided into 4 categories: clothings toiletaries transorter and misc.

if intended use only Postal products

per month

stay at least one night

PERSONAL INVENTORY

// PERSONAL INVENTORY

YOUR MEASURMENT

WEARABLE 01- WEARABLE + electronic chargers

TRAVELLING TO DESTINATION.....

DESTINATED ACCOMMODATION

HEIGHT

FOR USE THE PERSONAL INVENTORY Store Your Belongings

BOOKING @

Waistline

The service that help you store your personal belonging and your personal clothings in our provided storage

ARRIVE AT THE

GRAND POSTAL BUILDING

ADDRESS

PERFORMING TASK AS FULFILLMENT CENTER & WORKING SPACE

02- WEARABLE Shoe Size

HEADQUATER, WORKING SPACE ,PUBLIC ACCESS SERVICE

ZIPCODE

+ electronic chargers

POSTAL STATION BRANCH

PROVIDED CUSTOMER SERVICE //FOR REGISTRY OR NEW USER

PERSONAL ITEM HAS BEEN ADDED!

03- WEARABLE + electronic chargers

TO IL

ETS

wearable can enhance travelling experience + Translator + Virtual guiode Toiletries Kit +Memory recordor +communication

STA

IRC

service

Treatment Kit

TRACKING SERVICE PROVIDE TIME INFO FOR YOUR INVENTORY TO ARRIVE

Beauty Kit

TO IL

ETS

SENDING DATA

SOAP

nessecities ( hotel like to already provided)

occational outfit 003

Optional

STORE YOUR PEOSONAL BELONGINGS TO INVENTORY

CUSTOMIZE YOUR INVENTOR ON GPB

Being able to store your personal belonging store cannot able to provide such as your memorable items or items that you wish to store in your travelling including you custom clothings only in the limited space postal can provide

Being able to examine the product of your inventory at the very place “the fullfillment center”

service

Scooter

PROVIDED HOTEL// HOSTEL BOOKING

Segway

@ your following ADDRESS

@ HOTELS

local postman deliver your package @ attractions

DESTINATION

TOP

LOCAL POSTAL STATION

LOWER Entertainment :

Kanin Sunthornsuk

neareast your destinated accommodation

REPEAT

TRAVELLING..... can be destination to next destination.just customize online

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

SENDING ONLY DATA TO THE NEAREST LOCAL DESTINATION POSTAL BRANCHES WHICH HAS ALL AROUND IN THAILAND TO PACK THE LUGGAGES FOLLOWINGS

RETURNING

Transporters Bicycle

POSTAL LUGGAGE PRODUCTS

ONE PACKAGE OF A DAY OUTFIT

outfit 002

SENDING YOUR PERSONAL BELONGING WILL BE STORAGE IN GPS TO LOCAL POSTAL STATION’’s STORAGE. UNTIL YOU DECISE TO HAVE IT DELIVER OR SENDING OR WISHING TO RETURN WHICH CAN BE RETURN AT GPS

Shaving Kit

SHAMPOO

PERSONAL INVENTORY

ASE

Towels

Toothpaste Toothbush

sleeping wears

CUSTOMIZE YOUR INVENTORY ONLINE

WEIGHT 000/ MAXIMUM : ..............g can provide up to ......................

+ under garment

EVE

service

Provide additional local product from the specific site.

Postal personal box storage for personal belonging items individually

Kanin Sunthornsuk

service

Same prototype storage for postal product to restock

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

POST- MEDIC DELIVERY PRIVATE- ONE DAY DELIVERY - WITHIN 4 HOURS OF ORDER TYPES OF PRODUCTS DELIVER CONFERENCE

MEDICINE

DME

DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

HME

DMEPOS

HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT PROTHETICS, ORTHOTICS AND SUPPLIES

STAGES OF SERVICE

1. CUSTOMER CONTACT OPERATOR

GOODS LIFT

OTHERS

AIN LEV ING EL 5 CE NT

50CM

CONVEROR TRACK

OFFICE

SLING

200CM

OPERATORS

5CM

2. OPERATOR SEND INFORMATION TO PACKING HOUSE ON STORAGE FLOOR

ER LE AT VE OR L 4 AN DO

ICE

S OVERHEAD CONVEYOR

3. PACKING HOUSE STAFF RETRIVE PRODUCT AS ORDERED AND PACK PACKING AREA

L ST EVEL OR 3 AG E

4. THE PACKAGE IS SEND TO THE 1ST OR 2ND FLOOR TO BE PICKED-UP

VERTICAL CONVEYOR PACKING AREA

5. STAFF NOTIFY DELIVERY STAFF TO PICK UP THE PACKAGE

IVE

TH LEVE RO L 2 UG HP

ICK -UP

6. DELIVERY STAFF COMES TO THE PICK-UP STATION

PICK-UP STATION

300 MM

310 MM

300 MM 300 MM

260 MM

130 MM 1000 MM

360 MM

MAXIMUM SIZE 1.80 X 2.30

400 MM

450 MM

550 MM 550 MM

400 MM

350 MM

450 MM

550 MM

1000 MM

PACKING AREA

7.STAFF AT EACH STATION RETRIEVE PACKAGE VIA CONVEYOR AND PUT IT IN THE CAR

IVE LEV TH EL RO 1 UG HP

200 MM

170 MM

140 MM

ICK -UP

250 MM

170 MM

140 MM 350 MM

300 MM

240 MM

220 MM

110 MM

9 MM

6 MM 200 MM

400 MM

200 MM 450 MM

THE GRAND POSTAL BUILDING FUNCTION AS THE MAIN SERVICE OF POST-MEDIC DELIVERY. EVERY SYSTEM AND PROCESS OCCURS INSIDE THIS BUILDING. 54

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

Thavisa Saranakom

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

LIBRARY AS A SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE � � � � � �� 1 :

� � � � � �� 2 :

L A C K O F S K I L L S A N D C A N N O T A F F O R D FA C I L I T I E S

D I G I TA L D E V I C E S

CONCEPTUAL SCENARIO

Computers, internet, and IT training within libraries will mainly serve those people who cannot afford them or lack the skills to use them. The part open to everyone, however, it will benefit particular groups within society such as older people, people on low incomes, and people with disabilities. Those people who are strug-gling financially were most frequently cited as gaining particular benefit from the services.

OFFLINE LEARNING

NEEDY AND DISABLE

LO V E S H A R I N G

ELDER

ACC E S S I B L E TO T E C H N O LO G Y BUT SEEK FOR LESSONS OFF THE INTERNET

OFFLINE LEARNING Escape way from overdoses of the digital world, oﬄine learning similar to the mechanic’s library of the 19th century which collect old and new technologies, from sewing machines to 3-D printers, and encourage attendants to develop and share skills that cannot be practiced over the Internet. i.e . wood working, organic gardening, public speaking, and etc.

� � � � � �� 3 : N AT U R E L O V E R

SEEK FOR OPEN AIR ENVIRONMENT

LIBRARY AS AN INFRASTRUCTURE

� ��

N AT I O N A L A R C H I V E C O L L E C T I O N S The National library contains a large amount of Thailand’s historical papers and materials. However, the renovation of how they represent those content is needed in order to express Thai value and encourage social engagement with the building it self.

MIX-USED OF OLD AND NEW

��

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

Winchana Prucksananont

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

We needed new strategies for finding and processing information --especially when we were overwhelmed with online sources. Our society has undergone a paradigm shift; in the information age the polymath is the mentor. The Renaissance man, the role model. Literacy has fundamentally changed from its print paradigm. It was no longer adequate to have alphabetic literacy, or to be bound by physical books. Print media has nearly seized to exist in public facilities. So we found new ways of engaging information especially with the multitude of multimedia tools at our disposal. We socialized our learning by integrating and connecting with others through our reading, learning and researching. 2035 He walked over to the counter, breathing heavily. The librarian jerked upright - looking at him through dramatically shaped glasses. <I’m here to hold the lecture,> the young boy stated.

class was called “Extracting Information”, and taught the basics in modern technology. Some of the students was here to learn how to make use of their new device - received through the government-funded “Information for Everyone” program. Two floors above, the young boy was at the end of his lecture - which seemingly had gathered an even bigger crowd during the 30 minutes. The following debate already had a list of eager replies and contradictions; all tidily listed in order. One of the boy’s teacheres was the one in lead, and he was preparing a thorough introduction to clearly divide the group into opposing fractions. At the same time the boy coughed, and took a long breath before his final statement.

The entrance area was rigged with the latest technological interventions and a wide array of clientele - representatives of all professions, ages and groups. A beehive of subtle discussion, conversation and wise words spoken. The human resources, consisting of scholars and great thinkers of their field, was found scattered around evenly in the open plan. One of them a programmer who had excelled in a variety of fields, greeted the 10 year old welcome. <Are you ready to go upstairs?> he inquired after an idle chat.

<Today, the vast majority of us are doing jobs that our predecessors hardly could have imagined. It may be hard to believe, but before the end of this century, nearly all of today’s occupations will also be replaced by automation. This upheaval is being led by a second wave of automation, one that is centered on artificial cognition, nanotechnology, machine learning, and sustainability. Finally the robots will continue their migration into white-collar work. We already have artificial intelligence in many of our machines; we just don’t call it that. Each successful bit of automation generates new occupations - occupations we would not have fantasized about without the prompting of the automation.>

Every floor of the library had a different ambience. On the first floor you found the more traditional ways of learning. A handful of books displayed neatly in a lounge area, along with facilities to accommodate the fundamental needs of the users. Moving toward the top, the technology seemed to evolve for every floor. On the fifth floor, where the lecture was to be held, it was a series of pavements resembling the ancient greek agora. Next to the elevator, the audience was ready for the young boy’s lecture.

The crowd smiled pleasantly at the end of the lecture - each and every one enjoying the fact that this was all things they already knew. Still, in the midst of the audience there seemed to be a dispute. A soft murmur covered the sharp voices in the confined space. The first speaker demanded order, and addressed the rules of the debate. The gathered audience was divided into four teams: proposition, opposition, government and secondary speakers.

The lecture went on about the industrial revolution. How automation had eliminated human jobs for centuries, replacing them with machines. But the key aspect of the lecture was the change of labor. Since then, wave upon wave of new occupations had arrived : asteriod miner, virtual teacher, avatar developer - each building on previous automation. The boy had a hard time imagining how it all had been different only 20 years ago. He had held several lectures on the subject, without being astonished in any way. Even though he was knowledgeable, this was how life always had been for him. Meanwhile on the third floor, the programmer, who had abruptly left the lecture after the introduction, was about to start a lecture of his own. Every Monday he was in charge of one of the three ICT classes. The main participants consisted of poor children, senior citizens and otheres who somehow hadn’t been included in previous government attempts on decreasing computer illiteracy. The

After the brief introduction by the first speaker, one of the oldest among the crowd threw in an altercation; breaking the murmur once again. <White collar professions will never be automated!> the old man shrieked in a harsh voice, and thus engaged the audience into the debate. 30 minutes later, when it was settled without any verdict or conclusion, the boy felt restless. He wondered what life would be in another 20 years; what career he one day would pursue. He took the stairs down, overlooking the enclosed park facing the river. It was a vibrant scene, and he decided to pause for a minute on the second floor. An old monk appeared; the young boy recognized him. Uncertain if the monk had attended his lecture or not, the boy decided to ask him.

SILENT SPACE

born

<Humanity will never be content.> the monk replied, leaving the boy hesitant. Without any further questioning, he walked back down and left the library.

SOCIAL SPACE

3 - DESIGN

FUNDAMENTAL NEEDS

LECTURE SPACE

study DATA

discuss INFORMATION

practice KNOWLEDGE

lecture WISDOM

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Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

ENLIGHTENMENT

Johan Sørheim

worker

Johan Sørheim

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

The National Theater is to be kept functioning as a theater due to its cultural significance but modified to suit the 2035 Thai society. The scenario is that in 2035, the new generation of Thais will lose interest in the traditional form of Thai performances (aka. The old form) due to it being very restricted and therefore, cannot adapt to the ever changing trend of the future; modern Thai performance which was considered a profane has become popular among the new generation due to its flexibility. The Nationalistic 2035 Government sees this as an opportunity to revive the National Theater and thus, forcefully include the new modern form of Thai performance into the National Theater.

The national theater is now a mingling between the two, caught in between the old and the new. Under all of the lights, glitters and smokes, the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan of using flexibility of the modern form to deliver messages to the society is well on the way. The traditional form of Thai art will still exist, but mostly for educational purposes rather than entertainment. The back of house, including the props and costumes making rooms are turned into a living museum as a way of providing jobs for the workers. The main audience of the old theater is going to be mostly, VIP guests such as royal visitors, academics and students (as part of their educational program.

Nantawat Siritip

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

The new theater will consist of a new stage typology, at this moment still undefined but the main idea is based upon more interaction and blurred boundary between the performers and the audience. However, the introduction of the new form also means there will be more strict regulations in what they are

Nantawat Siritip

allowed to perform. Hence the addition of the cultural office department, which will not only does the task of screening the plots and plays but will also be responsible for the underlying message behind each performances. (Propaganda)

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

The Theater needs to become more than just a performance theater, since the culture of going to the theater does not involve just only watching the play. Therefore the plan is to include other activities and facilities for the audience to enjoy before the show starts. Such activities are simple things like restaurants and cafe’ as well as glass dance studio, so that the audience can see the

performers practices their moves, hence the idea of the blurred boundary. Moreover, the arrival to the theater should also be a part of the experience, therefore, a connection to the nearby pier is created. As in the future, newly improved public transportation by water will become more readily available to Bangkok citizens.

Nantawat Siritip

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

The new addition of the modern form of Thai performance into the national theater create this tension between the aberrant performers and the government. The aberrant performers are now being oppressed, striped from their freedom and creativity to do or say whatever they want. This led to the birth of the hidden theater, where “prohibit” performances take place. It’s

Nantawat Siritip

hidden, but it is hidden in plain sight, camouflaging itself among the others, right under the nose of the government as with the saying, “keep your friends close, and keep your enemies closer.” This aberrant performances are only known to specific group of people, which required series of online registrations and frequent authentications to ensure maximum security.

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

In the past, Thai performance such as Khon has a distinct separation between the performers and the audience. With the nature of such performance that has strict rules, Khon and many other traditional performance didn’t evolve much over time. In contrary, Thai society changes a lot and the fact that traditional Thai performance does not adapt itself to the changing society results in declining audience. As in today, most of the audience that go to watch the performances at the National Theater are mostly 40 years old and above. This figure is foreshadowing the scenario in 2035, where most of the current audience will be considered senior citizens. To say that Thai performances is near-obsolete is an incorrect statement as another “modernized” form of Thai performances are rising in popularity. Their flexible nature allows more creativity and makes them more “current” – all of which, appeal to the younger generation. Nevertheless, today, these two forms of Thai performances are considered as separate things; the modern form is even considered a profane by some extremists. In 2035, the nationalistic Government tried to restore nationalism to the globalized Thai society. Revival the interest in Thai performances is one of the many tasks the Government planned to do. Realizing the popularity of the modern form, they decided to officially invite the modernized version to perform along the near-obsolete old form and used the “flexibility” of the modern performance to their advantage such as propaganda.

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

Nantawat Siritip

Proximate Utopia / Dystopia

2035 : TYPOLOGIES REBORN

During this design stage, each studio member translates the proximate utopia/dystopia narrative from the previous phase into an architectural design proposal for the redefined, transformed, or reconstructed institutional typology, targeting the entire population of Thailand as its audience.

66The architectural manifestation must be located

primarily at the iconic site pre-determined for the respective typology, which has been studied in Phase 2. Any argument for supplementary location(s) must be substantiated by the narrative.

66The typological transformation or reconstruction

should attempt to retain the programmatic essence of the building type. That is, the goal is to make the near-obsolete typology relevant in the 2035 scenario, not to convert it programmatically into an entirely different typology. Auxiliary programs may be proposed as directed by the narrative.

66Any

existing building on site may or may not be preserved, in its entirety or partially.

66Any

technologically-deterministic elements of the proposal must stem from the current technological trajectories with empirical evidence, and must take secondary role to architectural operations. No unsubstantiated futuristic component is allowed as a part of the design.

2035 : Typologies Reborn