It was automatically expected that I would become a doctor or an engineer. I was a really good student and it was pretty much the formula that you would study high school at Triam Udom, then move on to do either medicine or engineering at Chula.
I wasn’t keen on becoming a doctor. My dad was an engineer but he passed away when I was very little. My family is in the engineering business, so they thought it fitting for me to study it and help with the business.
I went from being confident to constantly doubting myself. I really didn’t enjoy engineering so I decided to drop out. It seemed a bit too systematic. There was only one right answer and only one solution to everything.
Architecture was a relief. It wasn’t as restrictive. Pretty much everything is open to interpretation. Growing up, I always enjoyed drawing.
I knew I wasn’t meant to be an artist because I also liked math and science. Architecture sits right in the middle between art and science. I knew I was on the right path straight away.
My mom was really hard-working. She was the first Thai person to be appointed public relations director at the Oriental Hotel. Even though my dad wasn’t around, she was very successful in her job and very happy.
My mom took a laissez-faire approach to raising her kids. I was the second child of four and we kind of took care of one another. When asked how she raised us, my mom would say, “Treat them like elephant grass: just toss it somewhere and it’ll grow on its own”.
I was a no-name youngster when I took on the Six Sense Hideaway project. I’d never done anything of that scale. It was a mega project costing over B600 million. Luckily, the resort’s owner, Tod Jirathiwat, had a lot of faith in me.
All architecture takes is thorough research. Then you know the extent to which you can stretch it. Sala Phuket is all about Sino-Portuguese culture and history. Slap on some modern architecture and you get a perfect balance of old and new.
All design processes are the same: it takes a lot of research to be able to meet all aspects, from the needs of the project’s owner down to delicate things like cultural impact. It’s interconnected, like a spider web.
When I find the essence of something, I want to take it all the way, to be clear on the concept. You have to apply it wisely, though, otherwise it would be tacky.
One of my idols is Lek Bunnag [who designed Ritz-Carlton Phulay and The Barai]. Lek is one of the greatest architects I’ve ever met. He’s very passionate. Twenty minutes with him was worth more than all my time in college.
I don’t say I work in architecture; I am an architect. In Thailand, an architect is just a profession. Something you do to make a living.
Being an architect is not really a job; it’s part of my everyday life.
I don’t agree that modern architecture only uses black and white. I think it depends on the project. It depends on what you want to achieve and communicate through the use of color, or the lack thereof.
I like having a partner [in his firm, Department of Architecture]. It’s very handy when you’re out of ideas. Twitee [Vajrabhaya Thepakum] is always suggesting things that I’ve never thought of. Most importantly, it’s much less exhausting
because two is always better than one.
I fail all the time, but it’s not really a failure as long as you’ve tried your best. It’s only going to drive you to improve yourself and get better. Fix whatever you can, learn from it and make it better in the next project.
Always do the right things, lawfully and morally. My uncle taught me that. It guarantees a peace of mind.
I’m happy being recognized for what I’ve achieved. It’s refreshing to be remembered as your own person and for what you do. When I was little, most people knew me as a son of the Oriental’s PR.
Architects don’t really lead glamorous lives. We design beautiful houses for other people, but our own places are a right mess. My condo looks like a tornado has just passed through because I accumulate a lot of stuff.
There’s money to be made in architecture. You just have to be really patient. Don’t expect to get rich overnight when you start out.
