Kantana Institute

2013 On Site Review Report
by Zainab Faruqui Ali
Kantana Film & Animation Institute

Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
Architect
Bangkok Project Studio, Boonserm Premthada
Client
Kantana Group Public Company
Design
2008 - 2009
Completed
2011
4193.THA
Kantana Film and Animation Institute

Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
I.
Introduction
The Kantana Film and Animation Institute is an institute for training undergraduate students in film
and animation, and is located in Klong Yong town in Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand. The
facility offers a broad range of filmmaking and animation courses. The building successfully
integrates modern materials concrete and steel with an extraordinary use of Thailands traditional
building medium brick. It is owned by the oldest film production organisation of the country
Kantana Movie Town and is situated in the latters vast lands covering an area of 162 hectares (400
acres), amongst farmlands and villages of Nakhon Pathom. It is 56 kilometres from Bangkok, the
capital of Thailand.
The architect is a professor of architecture at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, and runs a small
practice in the same city. His designs are innovative and concerned with serving the community in a
special way.
The Kantana Film and Animation Institute is situated amidst the greenery of vast grasslands and
stands out distinctly with its innovative and undulating brick walls and their randomly placed square
openings. The reference to traditional material is direct but the expression of the architecture is
creative and contemporary. The idea of reviving brick, the lost and forgotten building material in the
country, is praiseworthy and is much appreciated by critics as well as the local community. The mere
fact that construction of this Institute rejuvenated the business of a large brick factory and created
jobs for brick makers from two villages makes an excellent contribution in service of the community.
The imposing undulating brick walls and the setting of grassland of the Kantana Institute lets the
architecture and nature complement each other. The four walkways, or forests, within the Institute
are a notable feature of the project and give very special experiences to users. This forest also
echoes, in an abstract way, the courtyard of traditional Thai houses.
The five different functions of the Institute are planned in a very simple, distinct and organised way.
The students and teachers, as well as the administrative staff, find it very comfortable as well as
stimulating to work in the special environment created in the building.
The Institute was built by both Buddhist and Muslim workers. The architect and the brick-factory
owner selected workers with experience in bricklaying at buildings such as temples and mosques.
The workers worked for a number of years together.
Kantana Institute is already part of the study tours of architecture schools of the country and has
been an inspiration to many architects in terms of using brick in their architecture. In this way
Kantana is keeping the traditional handmade brick industry of Thailand alive.
II.
Contextual Information
A.
Brief historical background

Nakhon Pathom is a very old province of Thailand. Centuries ago it was a coastal city on the route
between China and India. It has been an important Buddhist centre from the 6th century. Buddhism
flourished here in the reign of Dvaravati. When the Tha Chin River, a major river in the country,
changed its course, the city lost its main water source and was thus deserted, the population moving
to a city called Nakhon Chaisi. In the 19th century, King Rama IV ordered the restoration of the
Pagoda Phra Pathom Chedi, a religious monument that was then in a dilapidated state amidst the
jungles of Nakhon Pathom. A city gradually formed around it, bringing new life to Nakhon Pathom.
The province experienced a major influx of southern Chinese in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Today the province has its boundaries with Bangkok and is visited by tourists from all over the
country for its important religious relics and monuments. Nakhon Pathom has a small Muslim
population and there are a few mosques in the province.
B.
Local architectural character

Nakhon Pathom has mostly villages with farms of rice, vegetables, orchids and coconut groves. The
traditional houses have raised floors to protect the house from flooding; the spaces underneath are
used for storage or for keeping livestock during the dry season. The houses are usually composed of
separate rooms arranged around a courtyard, which generally has a shady tree, and in the towns are
mostly made of wood, or of wood and brick. The traditional religious buildings are the Buddhist
temples made of handmade bricks or wood with multiple tiered wooden roofs. A complete temple
complex has a stupa, Khmer temple, ordination hall, shrine, library, open pavilion, bell tower, school
and a crematorium.
C.
Climatic conditions
Nakhon Pathom Province is located in the tropical monsoon climate. There are three seasons
summer, rainy season and winter. The average temperature in summer, in the months of February to
mid May, is between 28 and 36C. The average rainfall ranges from 220 millimetres in May to 310
millimetres in October. The average relative humidity in the rainy season is 72%. In winter, during
the months of November to January, the average minimum temperature drops to 17.2C with an
average relative humidity of 3440%.
Kantana being located in an open area experiences direct sunshine and breeze all year round, and
storms in the monsoon period.
D.
Immediate surroundings of the site

The Kantana project is located in a rural area of Nakhon Prathom Province, longitude 135148N
and latitude 1001619E. It is situated in the heart of the Kantana Movie Town property. The area
has Rajaphat University in the north, rice fields in the south, a main road in the east and a canal in
the west.
The Kantana site is accessed by one main road and by boat from the canal. The area is surrounded by
rice fields, animal farms, orchards, vegetable farms and orchid farms.
The immediate surrounding consists of grasslands and film stage sets made of makeshift temples,
sculptures and old-style buildings. The houses along the Jek canal, near the site, are made of wood
and arranged around a courtyard or veranda. The houses in the village are scattered. The traditional
houses are being gradually replaced by houses with metal walls and metal or tile roofs although
wooden houses still exist. There are some two-storey houses where the ground floor is made of
hollow concrete blocks and the upper floor with wood or metal sheets. Various types of tropical trees
abound throughout the villages and the town.
E.
Topography
Nakhon Pathom Province is situated in the alluvial plains of the central lowlands of Thailand, and is
drained by the Tha Chin River, a tributary of the large Chao Phraya River. The capital city of
Bangkok has grown until it actually encompasses the provincial border of Nakhon Pathom. It is
made of relatively flat land, with a slope of about 12 degrees and an average height of about 12
metres above sea level.
The Kantana Institute is situated on the flood plains area. In 2011, heavy flooding occurred in the
area when the water rose to 1.5 metres; but the Kantana site was protected by an earthen dam.
III.
Programme
A.
History of the inception of the project

In 2006 the project was initiated by Jareuk Kaljareuk, chairman of Kantana Group Public Company
Ltd, one of the top three biggest film and animation production companies in the country. His father
and the founder of the company, Pradip Kaljareuk, produced films, each of which bore a good
message for society. Thirty years ago he had visualised the concept of a film and animation institute
which would give an excellent education as well as contribute to society. His idea was that through a
properly designed environment students would learn to make good films and learn to love their
country and its traditions, respect the king and uphold family values. In keeping with his ideology,
the Institute is now also active in making students aware of environmental issues, global warming,
energy efficiency, recycling and so on.
The architect conceived the idea of a nature-friendly building with extensive use of handmade brick;
and for this an about-to-close brick industry in a nearby province was fully revived.
B.
How were the architect and the specialists chosen?

The chairman of Kantana Group Public Company Ltd set up his criteria for selecting an architect in
2006; these strongly suggested an architect with vision and teaching experience, along with
knowledge of film and animation and, most of all, respect for Thai culture. He interviewed a few
professors and selected the architect teaching at the prestigious Chulalongkorn University, whose
visions were in tune with his own. During an interview with the reviewer, the chairman revealed that
he believed that the architect was passionate about Thai culture and society, was innovative and
ready to take challenges, and could also make his fathers dream come true.
The structural engineer, selected by the architect, has been working with the architect for the past 15
years. Other engineers were also selected by the architect. The contractor, who had experience in
building brick buildings, although not handmade ones, was selected by the architect.
C.
General programme objectives

Kantana Film and Animation Institute was envisaged to be a specialised academic institute
established for creating professionals in the area of film and animation production. The Institute was
also meant to promote Thai culture to the world through film and animation.
Being located in a rural setting in Nakhon Pathom Province, it aims to contribute to the town by
adopting education as a key strategy for reinforcing the skills of students as well as preserving the
environment, local lifestyle and culture.
The main objective was that the architecture has to be a source of inspiration for the students while
they study in the Institute for four years. Students who study at Kantana come from all parts of
Thailand, and are selected through a rigorous admission process. The Institute also provides
opportunities for talented students in need of financial assistance.
The environment of the complex has to stimulate student behaviour through sensitivity, passion,
challenge and innovation. Again, the Institutes mission should be aligned with the corporate social
responsibility of the Kantana Group. And here the architectural environment should play a great role
in inspiring the students towards achieving this responsibility. In addition, the architecture should
incorporate the local and global issues of the day.
D.
Functional requirements
There were five major functional areas to be provided for the Kantana Institute administration,
lecture hall, studio-workshops, library and canteen.
The administration offices consisted of the chairpersons office, the deans department office, the
heads department office, the lecturers office, a financial office, a registration office, a student
affairs office, an academic office, a conference room, bathrooms and a pantry.
The lecture hall was to be a 100-seat-large hall that could be divided into two rooms whenever
needed.
The studio needed a film editing room, a sound editing room, a sound mixing room, a recording
room, a technical service room, a computer server room, an animation computer laboratory, a fine
arts studio, bathrooms and film equipment storage.
The library consists of a digital library, bookshelves, a general reading area and a private study room.
The canteen needed a dining area, a pantry, a common area and bathrooms.
A parking area was to be designated for cars, bicycles and motorcycles.
Landscaped areas were to be incorporated into the design.
IV.
Description
Some 56 kilometres away from the capital city of Bangkok, the Kantana Film and Animation
Institute has transformed a rural site of paddy fields into a place of learning. The Kantana Institute is
situated within an area of 16,000 square metres. It is a seat of education housing five major activities
namely: administration, lecture hall, library, studio and a canteen. The single-storey complex is
arranged around two prominent axes that serve as the main circulation walkways or, as defined by
the architect, the forests. The functional spaces are clearly defined by the central circulation
walkways. The administration is located in the north-east section, the library in the south-east, the
lecture hall in the south-west and the studio in the north-west. The canteen is situated at the end of
the south walkway and is semi-open. There are large undulating brick walls defining the walkways
as well as bounding various spaces. These walkways define the central circulation and connect the
circulation to different parts of the building. There are four distinct parts created by the central
walkways that run straight in an east-west direction and are slightly skewed in a north-south
direction through the building. This pathway, or the inserted forest, is of grey stone and pebbles
that form a zigzag pattern.
The administration office is a multi-function space containing a chairpersons office, a programme
office and a general office. They are connected to the courtyard, and the sunlight from the court
makes these spaces pleasant to work in. The lecture hall and the studio each have their own linear
courtyards creating openness within the perimeters of the individual spaces. These courtyards are
ideal spaces to relax in between or after lectures. The court of the lecture hall is bounded by a freestanding wall. The library has, in its centre, an open courtyard or a light-and-air well. The
daylighting in the library is superb due to the presence of this courtyard and the people can also hear
the sounds of nature from it: the trees, the birds and the rain. The studio is designed for experimental
activities and is well planned. The workshop is a good example of the interior character of
darkness. It helps the students to feel peaceful and to focus while producing their film or animation
projects.
The canteen, situated at the end of a pathway, is open towards the south, which gets a good amount
of breeze all year round. The openness or the non-room quality of the space also makes it a multiuse space.
The structural system of the building is a reinforced-concrete frame system.
Light and shadow naturally penetrate and animate the building. In the cold and temperate zones,
direct light is welcome, but in the tropics, comfort lies in the coolness of the shade, and in the
currents of air. Therefore the architect has made the rooms with softer lights that he refers to as
dimness, which provides enough light and creates an appropriate mood for the function demanded.
These shaded spaces are quiet and help students focus on their work.
The building is set within vast grasslands that complement the colour and appearance of the
brickwork and create a perfect setting for the architecture. The architecture is reminiscent of the
historic stupa with its 12 corners and recessed brick walls, but in a very abstract way. It reflects the
essence of tradition by being associated with, although abstractly, the stupa and temples of ancient
times and, mostly, by using the traditional material handmade brick in an innovative way.
The Brick Walls and the Walkway, or the inserted Forest
The undulating brick walls, made of about 600,000 handmade bricks, are of double layers and have
rectangular openings in them. These are 8 metres high and smaller. The walls are made undulating
by stacking the bricks in a certain way. Inside the building, the partition walls are made of hollow
concrete walls.
The architect experimented with different configurations and compositions of the walls. Deriving the
shape of the walls from the natural geometries, trying the gravitational forces in different
arrangements, considering the play of sun on the walls, the architect has arrived at a perfect solution
of pleated brickwork that creates a relationship between the terrain, the architecture and the people.
The wall is, again, a link between past and present.
The shadows of the trees on the walls make the walls seem active. The receding and protruding
nature of the walls and the shadows of the protruding parts of the walls on the walls create a sense of
movement in the walls. The walls, apparently massive, seem much lighter when one walks in
between them. The zigzag pattern of the walkway and the openings in the walls arouse a certain
curiosity as to what lies beyond. The walkway is quite breezy and actually is very quiet. There is a
certain kind of agelessness visible in the walls. Within these walls, one can only hear nature: the
cuckoo, the murmuring of the swaying leaves. The play of light and shade is amazing in these walls
and the walkways. The walls create a meditative mood for users. The windows and the carved-out
spaces in the walls are similar and are apparently randomly placed in them. These different-size
recessed openings pierce the walls at irregular intervals, bringing light and air into the building. The
cut-outs closest to the ground create quiet corners for reading, relaxing and meditating in the shade
of the trees. The four directional walkways allow a relationship to be built between people and the
building. The students are allowed to think and concentrate while walking through this walkway, or,
as the architect named it, the forest. At one point in history the land surrounding todays Institute
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was all forest, subsequently destroyed for agricultural purposes. The architect thus decided to insert
the concept of forests into his design. The repetitiveness, the scale-less appearance and the maze-like
quality in these forests were intentional because the architect was convinced that the slight feeling
of disorientation they induce will activate a sense of curiosity and discovery among users.
These walkways are not inside, nor fully outside, but create an architecture of transition.
The trees in the walkway will become larger when fully mature, and cover the gap between the walls
with their canopy, and thus provide shade for users. The trees are selected so that their foliage will
allow light as well as provide shade below. The strategically placed openings provide natural
ventilation and light, and double as an intimate nook for student discussion.
The building is an example of taking the essence of the past and creating the new.
A.
Project data
site area:
building area:
average ceiling height:
height of walkway peeb trees:
16,000 square metres

2,000 square metres
4 metres
10 to 20 metres
The heights of the tree canopy to cover the walkway height of the undulating walls: Depending on
the ceiling heights, proportion of walkway space and the shadow of the peeb tree, the heights vary
and are of 7.95 metres, 6.40 metres, 5.80 metres and 4.60 metres:
furniture:
all recycled furniture, except in the studio-workshop
and classroom
B.
Evolution of design concepts

The architect went through three stages of the process for designing and building the Institute. The
first one, spanning two years, was the academic research stage consisting of the programme
feasibility study and the curriculum development. 2008 and 2009 were devoted to the second stage,
or the architectural design stage, based on the results of the previous research, which aimed at
creating architecture that would inspire students to think and create. The third was the construction
phase, lasting for a year and a half, and the Institute formally opened in June 2011.
About 10 years ago, the architect came across a thesis on brick, the traditional Thai building
material, which inspired him to think about using brick in his designs. The architect wanted to return
to the basics of Thai architecture, and so the Kantana was to use handmade bricks extensively. An
about-to-close brick factory was rejuvenated by producing thousands of handmade bricks for this
purpose. The brick selected was of the smaller size, such as those used in the famous Ayutthaya
temple.
The concept for this design was nature, architecture and people. Nature is an integral part of
traditional Thai architecture, and in this way the project can be related to being Thai. The architect
also was inspired by Islamic architecture and philosophy. He was moved by the quiet meditative
quality present in mosques and also by the relationship of human beings and nature in Islamic
philosophy.
The high wall was meant to be a background for the sun, a tree and a man when they are connected
by each others shadows. This walkway space is designed in order to stimulate the concentration of
the students during their journey to the classrooms.
The building is designed on the theme of a return to basics construction. It is based on natural
craftsmanship. A brick used to be an everyday material in the cultural heritage of Thai society. The
architect wanted to transform the simplified form of a brick into a universal geometric space. The
brick wall here does not give the sense of solidity but makes a homogeneous surface for the sunlight
to play on.
The Institute, by being placed in the rural context, was surrounded by trees, fields and farms. The
architect wanted the students to be close to nature, amidst the farms, grasslands, animals and birds.
This is why the architecture is open to nature of all kinds.
1.
Response to physical constraints

As described by the architect, the site selected by the owner was an ideal one. It was plain grasslands
and paddy fields and so gave a perfect setting for the architecture. Not a single tree from the site was
cut for this construction. The architect had to make provisions in the building and the surrounding
landscape for flood protection.
Nature, including rainstorms and the sun, was to be observed and to be a source of inspiration for
students and teachers and the architect intended to provide an environment for that through this
design.
2.
Response to user requirements

The main users of the Institute are the students. The functional spaces they are to use most are the
lecture hall, studio-workshop and library. As the interviews reveal, these spaces work very well for
their functions. The canteen and the walkways, or forests, are the other usable spaces. The canteen
acts very well as a multi-functional space because of its semi-open nature. The circulation walkway,
especially, is a meaningful space that lets students think and concentrate. This walkway separates but
at the same time skilfully connects five major zones. The interiors are made dark but with adequate
daylight fit for the function. This darkness or dimness is essential for physical as well as
psychological comfort in the tropics. The library is well lit for reading purposes.
3.
Purely formal aspects

Kantana Institute uses brick to its fullest beauty. Form is of simple rectangles but the bounding walls
are of undulating, double-layered brick walls that give them their very special look. The building, set
amidst the grasslands, appears surreal. The interior walkways or inserted forests with trees
bordered by the red brick walls create a special environment for students that inspire them, make
them concentrate and meditate. A large-scale institution has been broken down to a human scale by
these walkways and courtyards that stimulate student interaction. The buildings are rectangular, but
somewhat lose their rectilinearity when they come into contact with the walkway containing trees,
air and natural light. There is a sense of tranquillity that exists in the walkways. The brick wall is not
just a wall but becomes animated by the shadows created by the sun. In the rainy season, the wall
changes colour to green due to the growth of moss, common in the tropics. Overall, viewed from a
distance the building forms an ageless, scale-less picture in the green landscape.
4.
Landscaping
The site is designed as slightly undulating grassland with a gentle slope. The trees that were on the
site were not touched and new trees were planted that are all local. Historical evidence showed that
the surroundings had previously been all forest for a long time but it had been destroyed by new
settlers agricultural activities. The architect planted numerous types of trees in the surroundings so
that, when fully mature, they will give the Institute a forest-like appearance. The forest concept is
also brought back to the Kantana project by inserting tree-lined walkways in the central spaces of the
Institute. The walkway is planted with the Indian cork tree or peeb, which grows up to a height of 10
to 20 metres and has fragrant white flowers. All trees original and newly planted come from the
district and are planted as follows:
Kra-ped (Teetha) in the south-east
Teen-ped (Scholaris) in the south-east
Whaa (Jambolan plum) in the south
Pikul (Bullet wood) in the east
Mook (Wrightia religiosa) in the east
Cha-Hok-Kian (Carmona retusa, Vahl Masam) in the east
Coconut in the east
Pradoo (Rosewood) in the north-east
Raintree in the north-east
Intanin (Speciosa) in the north-east
Knoi (Siamese rough bush, tooth brush tree) in the north-east
Sala (Cannonball tree) in the north
Palm in the north-west (planted by the owner)
Pradoo (Rosewood) in the west
Chai ya pruek (Cassia fistula) in the west
Krai (Ficus superba) in the south
Nok yoog (Flame tree) in the south
Two different Lotus in the ponds in the south
Peeb (Indian cork tree) in the pathway
Pradoo (Rosewood) in the library courtyard

Teen-ped-nam (Scholaris) in the lecture hall courtyard
Shanghai silk in the lecture hall courtyard
Lamduan (White cheese wood) in the studio courtyard
C.
Structure, materials, technology
1.
Structural system
The building has a reinforced-concrete post and beam frame system. The load of the roof is, in a few
instances, carried by the undulating brick walls.
2.
Materials
structure: reinforced-concrete columns and beams;
walls: double-layered brick (exterior), painted hollow concrete blocks (interior), glass with steel
frame (exterior);
walkway and courtyard walls: double-layered handmade brick walls;
brick walls: more than 600,000 bricks sized 4 x 12 x 24 centimetres were used in this building.
Bricks were staggered to make a special receding and protruding surface to the wall, with interior
steel supports in horizontal and vertical direction. The double layers have from 90-centimetre to
1.30-metre spaces within them;
floor: epoxy mixed cement floors different colours and patterns for different rooms;
roof: corrugated metal roof with sprayed on insulation inside. Library and administration offices
have reinforced-concrete roofs;
walkway: stone pebbles and blocks make the walkway floor. Width of the north-south walkway is
4.50 metres and the east-west walkway is 2.80 metres.
3.
Technology
Some of the brick makers and masons are trained and come from nearby and from the south of the
country. Jobless people from neighbouring villages were trained in the factory and on the
construction site. The bricks were handmade in the factory which was, prior to this commission,
almost shutting down. Reinforced-concrete construction is prevalent in the province.
D.
Origins of technology, materials, labour force, professionals

The technology of brick construction is a traditional one in Thailand, although only factorymanufactured bricks are used these days, if any. Handmade bricks were something new for both the
contractor and the labour force. Most of the labour force was from nearby villages whereas some
trained people came from the south of the country.
The contractor brought in a local workforce for the reinforced concrete and steel work.
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The brick was manufactured in a factory in a nearby province. 100 people worked in the factory for
24 hours in two shifts to produce the handmade bricks.
Concrete, steel and glass were obtained from Nakhon Pathom and a nearby province.
The architect is from Bangkok. The contractor is local. The structural and other engineers are from
Bangkok.
Landscape design was done by the architect in consultation with local horticulturists.
V.
Construction Schedule and Costs
A.
History of the project

The project was initiated by the chairman of Kantana Group Public Company Ltd, as per the wishes
of his father, who was the founder of the company:
commission of design:
March 2006
research period:
March 2006 March 2008
design period:
April 2008 June 2009
construction period:
August 2009 June 2011
occupancy:
June 2011
B.
Total costs and main sources of financing

Total costs:
Construction area:
The main sources:
C.
1,000,000 USD
2,000 square metres
the Kantana Group Public Company Limited
and the Kantana Foundation
Comparative costs
The cost per square metre was lower than that for an office or institutional building being built in the
area:
Kantana:
500/m2 USD
other similar buildings in the area: 1,100/m2 USD
D.
Qualitative analysis of costs

Cost/m2: 500 USD, including landscaping and site preparations.
E.
Maintenance costs
20,000/year USD
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F.
Ongoing costs
Ongoing costs which are periodical costs of maintenance will not be large compared to other
buildings in the province. The materials and the construction methods make the materials quite
durable:
one time ongoing cost:
1,000,000 USD/50 years
life performance of building:
50 years
VI.
Technical Assessment
A.
Functional assessment
The arrangements of the functional spaces namely, the lecture hall, studio, administration, library
and the canteen are very straightforward, arranged in the four quadrangles produced by the
crisscrossing central circulation walkways. The students get a very special experience when moving
from one place to another through the zigzag-patterned floor and tree-shaded circulation gallery, or
forest.
There is ample diffused daylight coming through the random openings on the brick walls as well as
through the large glass openings. The feeling is of comfort due to the dimness of daylight inside.
As revealed from the interviews of the students and teachers, and from the observation of the
reviewer, the spaces in the classrooms, studio, workshop, animation lab, administration offices,
meeting rooms, canteen and other related spaces function very well. The canteen is a breezy
comfortable space and is multi-use.
B.
Climatic performance
The building takes into account that it is situated in a tropical climate and thus produces shaded
interior spaces for comfort, both physical and psychological. The airspace within the double-layered
brick walls provides insulation from tropical heat for the building and the walkways. This helps in
cooling the various spaces. The daylight is well-manipulated through the openings, which bring an
adequate quantity indoors.
In spring and winter, the rooms can function very well in terms of comfort without air conditioning
by keeping all the windows large and small open. Being a vast open space, the site brings breeze
inside the Institute all year round. The presence of profuse greenery and two water features keeps the
microclimate cool.
C.
Response to treatment of water and rainfall

The Institute has its water supply from the municipality corporation.
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The slopes and the materials in the courtyards, veranda and roofs are well designed for rainwater
drainage. The slope along the site also considers storm-water drainage.
The building and the landscaped site are well designed for flood protection.
D.
Environmental response
By planting numerous trees, the building has replaced much more than the amount of green it had
removed through its footprint. The surrounding landscape is designed with grasslands and large and
medium-height trees. With the matured trees, the site will be very green and will have a forest-like
environment all around the building that will help the microclimate and thus the building will be
cooler. The architect wanted to bring the forests back to the site, as his research indicated that at one
time the site was, indeed, a forest.
E.
Choice of materials, level of technology

Brick was the main material for the building, as desired by the architect, and it fits thegoal perfectly
of bringing the traditional Thai material back into contemporary times, and also the goal of reviving
the dying handmade brick industry. Many workers were trained in making and laying handmade
bricks and this construction gave hundreds of people employment. The contractor used local
labourers for the construction of the structure and envelope of the building.
The Kantana Institute combines the technology of past and present.
F.
Response to, and planning for, emergency situations

In the event of fire the building can be easily evacuated since it is single-storey and has openings on
all sides. Besides, there are three systems of fire safety in the Kantana building. There are fire
alarms, emergency lights and emergency exit signs. The building has met all the safety regulations of
the Ministry of Education, Thailand. For increased safety, fire-hose cabinets are placed in the
walkways and the administration offices which, in combination, can reach the whole Institute. In
addition, there are ABC fire extinguishers and CO2 fire extinguishers in every room.
The building is raised 1.70 metres from the existing ground for flood protection. The grounds are
higher than the road level by 60 centimetres. Again, there is an outer earthen dam to protect the area
from a big flood, such as the one that occurred in 2011.
G.
Ageing and maintenance problems

The building has aged and weathered well with time. In the rainy season the wall gets mossy and
becomes partially green which, as desired by the architect, is a welcome colour made by nature. In
summer the brick changes to its natural colour. The floors need washing regularly. As common in
the tropics, dampness might be a problem in some places. All materials are selected to withstand the
weather and should last for at least 50 years without any major problems.
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H.
Design features
The building massing is contemporary and unique. It has a surrealistic ageless, scale-less quality.
Forms are simple and rectangular, yet evoke intrigue. The spaces are well defined by the central
circulation walkway. The walkway is an outdoor space yet gives the notion of a volume because of
the presence of trees and especially the undulating walls on both sides. The walkways are open on all
four sides and students can enter from various directions.
The architecture is well integrated in the landscape of the site. Its red brick complements the
greenery by contrast: the red brick exterior welcomes the green of nature. The walls extend out into
the grass and welcome nature inside.
I.
Impact of the project on the site

As stated earlier, the building replaces much more than the percentage of greenery its footprint had
removed. Students use university transport, motorbikes and cycles. Hence a small parking lot serves
the purpose of all vehicles. The Institute uses the existing road of Kantana Movie Town. Hence it is
seen that there is no negative impact on the site. In fact, buffaloes, sheep and cats from the nearby
village sometimes find their way into the Institute, and roam around in the grounds freely. The
planting of trees has brought birds back to the site.
J.
Durability and long-term viability

Kantana Institute does not reflect a conventional architecture, but sits comfortably on the site,
although in a contrasting way. It is a departure from traditional institutes and is well liked by the
users, critics and neighbours. It has gained popularity among students of architecture and architects.
K.
Interior design and furnishing

The architect believes in recycling and the Institute uses recycled furniture in every space except for
the lecture hall and studio. Both the lecture hall and the studio furniture are simple and locally made.
The lecture hall can accommodate 100 people, and can be divided into two classrooms when needed.
The recycled furniture was obtained from various organisations of the Kantana Group. Some of the
walls in the interior of the building are painted reddish brown, which adds to the dimness and calm
of the spaces.
VII.
Users
A.
Description of those who use or benefit from the project

The students, the teachers and the staff use the building on a daily basis. The environment of the
Institute is such that it enables students to think freely, concentrate, meditate and also interact with
others with ease. The staff and the teachers were found to be comfortable with the environment in
the designated spaces.
14
The Institute is open to visitors from various architecture schools and professions. Students and
architects from various parts of the country come to learn more about a contemporary architecture
built with handmade brick. The brick factory and its workers benefited greatly from this
construction.
B.
Response to the project

Client
Jareuk Kaljareuk: I am full of admiration for the main idea behind the design and the completed
project. I wanted someone to fulfil my fathers dream of an Institute that will inspire students by
interaction with nature and with themselves. That the building helped revive the lost art of handmade
bricks is a major contribution to the society, and the students can get inspiration for doing good for
society from this example. Kantana films have always left a good moral message for the society and
the students should continue doing so. The building comfortably serves the number of students, 60 in
total.
BBK Brick Factory, Owner
Suriya Visitsophia: I was very happy to get the order for handmade bricks, and to know that
someone was interested in reviving this industry. I learned brick making in my childhood. Some
trained brick makers came from the south and others from nearby. I employed 100 people. It was like
a big family, and I felt like a mother to this family. People from whole families worked; children
played in the grounds near the factory. The parents and grandparents of these people had worked in
this factory a long time ago. I am amazed at the Kantana Institute; my bricks made such a creation!
Now I am getting orders for handmade bricks from other architects too.
Contractor
Polkrit: I was a bit scared in the beginning. Handmade brick is to be dealt with like handicrafts; my
workers had to carefully place them, like they did in the ancient times. The engineering of the brick
walls are fascinating the steel support of the brick walls. I brought my engineer and contractor
friends to see this building during and after construction. I employed 70 people for this construction
and I am very proud to have built this building. I would like to work on more handmade brick
buildings, and possibly with the same architect.
Structural Engineer
Preecha Suvaparpkul: I have been working with the architect for the past 15 years and there is
always good synergy between us. So this work, although very innovative and daring, went fine.
Before starting the project, the architect and I had a lot of discussions about the undulating wall.
With the steel supports in two directions, it was easy to stagger more to get the effect demanded by
the architect. Steel came from SIAM steel, the largest steel company in the country. Many types of
15
staggering or undulating patterns were tried out with brick. I like the final product: the architect has
here, as always, designed something new and challenging.
Professor, Audio Production
Asadej Lintrakarn: I am a city boy, so this building looks very different to me, starting from the
entry gate. Here one can relax and think. Students are lucky that they have the classrooms
everywhere, in the walkways and outdoor landscapes full of sounds of nature. After just a year of
training here, students become much more focused and skilled than in any other institutions I have
taught. Students can focus on their work because of the remoteness created by the architecture.
Lecturer
Xaroj Phrawong: This building is an experimental type of work; it has an unfinished look, or a nonmachine-made quality. That architecture can create careers for so many villagers has been proven by
this project. Now others are interested in this brick and it seems that handmade brick is back in
business circulation; this somewhat confuses the students, so then they remember, they meditate. My
architect friends want to study the daylighting of this building, and employ similar strategies in their
designs.
Students
Annop: Kantana has a peaceful, quiet environment. It reminds me of something of the past.
Nature helps me think. The lecture hall has multiple use we use it for acting, lectures, watching
films, New Years party.
View: The walkway has a tactile quality. Sitting on the openings of the walls is nice, different.
The walkway is breezy. To me, at a first look, it seemed as if it has many stories hidden behind
the walls.
May: On my first visit, from outside, it looked small for an institute. But when I walked around
inside, I got lost in the crisscrossed walkways, and found that the spaces were large. When stuck
with not getting ideas for projects, I come and walk through this walkway and surroundings and
get ideas. I would not study at any other institute. We are only 60 students like a family here.
The environment helps bind us together.
Students of architecture from other universities in Bangkok
Pariniya: It is so very different from the pictures I saw in the books. It gives me a feeling of an
ancient tropical building. But after looking at it in detail, I can see that the technology is very
different. As opposed to traditional classrooms, you can study anywhere here inside, outside,
library, classroom, canteen, walkway, studio. The corridor/walkway is not just for way finding
but for freedom the freedom of thinking.
Chamaiporn: To me this seems like the articulation of an ancient type of architecture in a new
way. Functions are properly arranged no chaos. This building has created a new order.
16
Suchanas: The feeling I got from standing in the walkway between the two walls is it inside or
outside? I was very curious about discovering all the spaces of the institute. I got a feeling of
vernacular architecture here. We have done a case study of this building in our class.
1.
What do architectural professionals and the cultural intelligentsia think about the project?
It was revealed from interviews with architectural and art critics that Thai architects are now
interested in brickwork, after seeing this building. Again, this has created an immense interest among
the students of architecture from all over the country.
Editor, art4d and Art Critic
Pratan Teeratada: This building emerges as a challenge for the architectural profession it shows
that the architect could do something new and different using a traditional medium. I come from
central Bangkok, and to me entering into the realm of this place, I felt lost. And I think this is the
most important achievement of this project. This is a very modern building yet reminiscent of
ancient monuments in terms of feeling. This environment has been extremely influential for the
students. This is reinterpreting tradition in a contemporary way the courtyards, walkways. Many
architects now love this place.
Journalist
Suriya Garudabandhu: Stunning architecture. It is inspiring students of architecture in Bangkok.
This is very different from other institutional buildings. Materials, spaces, have their own language.
Although contemporary, it provokes us to think about the past. That the studio is dimly lit, works
fine for the function film production. Brick is handled in a very special way, which gives me a
feeling of ruins such as Ayutthaya or Sukhothai. In architecture, a pitched roof represents Thainess, but this building without having a pitched roof is very Thai, in an abstract way.
Photographer and Architectural Critic
Pirak Anurakyawachon: Here, people and building have a special relationship. Circulation can
arouse curiosity in the students. Spaces are poetic. The suns work on the walls shade and shadow
is wonderful. Nature here supports the building. Every time I put my tripod in a place, it has a
different view, different colour, mood created by the sun and the tree and the wall. After rainy
seasons, the moss gives a tactile quality to the walls. Papers on this project in various journals have
created a special interest among architectural professionals to use brick in their architecture.
2.
What is the popular reaction to this project?

The project attracts many visitors, especially architects and students of architecture. There is a
general feeling of awe and amazement. Some stay for the whole day discovering spaces, maze-like
walkways, undulating brick walls, trees, landscapes and the functional spaces.
17
3.
What do neighbours and those in the immediate vicinity think about the project?
The people from the film industry of Kantana Movie Town want to make it a film set.
The officers from the municipal corporation office visited the Institute and were very impressed; and
now they have requested the architect to design two of their new buildings in the same province.
Neighbouring villagers come to see this building often and they are welcome here. They are mostly
impressed by the brickwork, and want to know if there will be other projects like this, and where the
factory is located.
VIII.
Persons Involved
Architect:
Project team:
Structural engineer:
Mechanical engineer:
Sanitary system engineer:
Electrical engineer:
Contractor:
Brick manufacturer:
Client:
IX.
Boonserm Premthada
Ittidej Lirapirom
Piiyasak Mookmaenmuan
Preecha Suvapabkul
Tanete Chaiyaphong
Tanete Chaiyaphong
Wittaya Nakasan
Deco Decorate and System
BBK Brick Factory, Angthong Province
Kantana Group Public Company Ltd
Bibliography
Brl, Tyler (ed.), Candy Eye: Thailands Landmark Buildings, Monocle, issue 54, vol 06,
London: winkontent, June 2012, p. 034.
Chainarongsingha, Wongthanong (ed.), Behind the Bricks, A Day, 140, Bangkok: Daypoets,
April 2012, pp. 100101.
Leonardi, Nicola (ed.), Kantana Film and Animation Institute, The Plan, 061, Bologna: The
Plan Art and Architecture Editions, October 2012, pp. 104116.
Ponganutree, Mongkon (ed.), Brick Drive, Art4d, 188, Bangkok: Corporation 4d., Dec 2011
Jan 2012, pp. 5459,112.
R. Angkura,Chaiyong (ed.), Imagined History, Wallpaper, 78, Bangkok: Media Expertise
international (Thailand), February 2012, pp. 104109.
R. Angkura. Chaiyong (ed.), Stripe House, Wallpaper, 84, Bangkok: Media Expertise
international (Thailand), August 2012, pp. 138139.
Royal Institute of British Architects, Storytelling Boonserm Premthada, Whats on Architecture
for Spring 2012, London: RIBA, 2012, p. 8.
Slessor, Catherine (ed.), Film Institute, The Architectural Review, 1378, London: Emap,
December 2011, pp. 4249.
18
Suprukpanich, Nuanwan (ed.), Kantana Institute: Starting with Imagination, Room, 109,
Bangkok: Amarin Printing and Publishing, March 2012, pp. 190193.
Tjokrosaputro, Denise (ed.), Bit by Bit, Surface Asia, 10, Singapore: New Media Investments
(Asia), 2012, p. 21.
Torricelli, Maria Chiara (ed.), Kantana Film and Animation Institute, Costruire in Laterizio,
148, Rome: Associazione Nazionale degli Industriali del Laterizio, June/July 2012, pp. 4043.
Urik, Susanne (ed.), Tegllabyrint Kantana, TEGL, Copenhagen, September 2012, pp. 4045.
Wongrinthamethee, Vongmethee (ed.), Boonserm Premthada, B1, 59, Bangkok: Cypher
Communication, August 2012, pp. 120123.
Archinesia, Jakata, Indonesia, 2013.
Arquitectura Viva, issue 151 Poetic Materials, Arquitectura Viva SL, Madrid: 2013.
Website publications
www.architectural-review.com/boonserm-premthada
www.inhabitat.com/tag/boonserm-premthada
www.architecture.com/whatson/talk/EmergingArchitectureBoonserm
www.globalstylesyndicate.com/Boonserm
www.archdaily.com/Kantana-Institute-Bangkok
www.baunetz.de/boonserm
www.ad-Magazine.de/2012/01/Mehr-moderne-in-die-ruinen
Zainab Faruqui Ali

April 2013
19
The main objective was that the architecture has to be a source of inspiration for the students while they
study in the Institute for four years.
The building is set within vast grasslands that complement the colour and appearance of the brickwork
and create a perfect setting for the architecture.
The Institute, by being placed in the rural context,

was surrounded by trees, fields and farms. The
architect wanted the students to be close to
nature, amidst the farms, grasslands, animals
and birds. This is why the architecture is open to
nature of all kinds.
The single-storey complex is arranged around

two prominent axes that serve as the main
circulation walkways or, as defined by the
architect, the forests.
Kantana Institute uses brick to its fullest beauty. Form is of simple rectangles but the bounding walls are
of undulating, double-layered brick walls that give them their very special look.
The library has, in its centre, an open courtyard

or a light-and-air well.
The daylighting in the library is superb due to the presence of its courtyard and the people can also hear
the sounds of nature from it.
The canteen, situated at the end of a pathway, is open towards the south, which gets a good amount of
breeze all year round. The openness or the non-room quality of the space also makes it a multi-use
space.
The walls create a meditative mood for users. The windows and the carved-out spaces in the walls are
similar and are apparently randomly placed in them. These different-size recessed openings pierce the
walls at irregular intervals, bringing light and air into the building.
The cut-outs closest to the ground create

quiet corners for reading, relaxing and
meditating in the shade of the trees.
4193.THA
Add the Project code number HERE
Document B
ARCHITECTS RECORD
2013 AWARD CYCLE
1.
IDENTIFICATION
[Name of project. If the project has been known by a different or previous name, please indicate this in brackets. Please provide
the actual street number or location of the project, even if the correspondence address is different.The longitude and latitude are
required so the project can be documented on Google Maps.]
Project Title: Kantana Institute (Kantana Film and Animation Institute)
Street Address: 999 Moo 2, Klong Yong, PUTTHAMONTHON
City: NAKHON PRATHOM
Country: THAILAND
13
51'48"N
Longitude:
Latitude: 100 16' 19" E
II.
PERSONS RESPONSIBLE:
A.Architect/Planner
[Name and address of architect(s), architectural firm(s), or other person(s) responsible for the project; for joint projects, be sure
to indicate the name of the principal designer(s) at the end of this section. (Other project staff should be listed as project affiliates
in section C of the record.)]
Name : Bangkok Project Studio
Mailing address : 192-193 SOI SAHAMITR, RIM KLONG PRA-PA ROAD BANGSUE
City : BANGKOK
Postal code : 10800
THAILAND
Country :
Telephone : +6681 8128224, + 6681 836 8224
Facsimile : +662 9104603
Email : bangkok_project@yahoo.com
Principal Designer. BOONSERM PREMTHADA
Website : www.Fecebook.com/bangkokprojectstudio
B.Client
[Name of the individual, company or institution who commissioned the project. If the project owner is different from
the client, or if the current users of the building are not the client, please note their name(s) as project affiliates in
section C. If the main client is the local, regional or national government, please indicate the responsible
government ministry or department. Where known, please indicate the name of the individual responsible within the
ministry or department.]
Name : Kantana Institute

Mailing address : 999 Moo 2, Klong Yong, PUTTHAMONTHON
City : NAKHON PRATHOM
Postal code : 73170
THAILAND
Country :
Telephone : +6634240361-4
+66
3424
0365
Facsimile :
Email : kantanainstitute@hotmail.com
C.Project Affiliates/Consultants
[Please list the other key people involved in the project and indicate their roles and responsibilities, e.g. engineers,
consultants, contractors, economists, master craftsmen, technicians, site supervisors, other architects, clients, etc.
who have played a significant role in the project. Please cite their addresses and contact details on a separate
sheet.]
Name
Ittidej Lirapirom
Role
Architect
Piyasak Mookmaenmuan
Architect
Preecha Suvapabkul
Structural Engineer
Tanete Chaiyaphong
M&E Engineer
Deco Decorate and system
contractors
4193.THA
III.
TIMETABLE
[Please specify year and month for both commencement and completion of each step in the design and construction
processes. For large projects, or for those completed in phases, indicate the dates for the first phase and for each
subsequent phase, and clearly note which phases of the project have been completed.]
March 2006
A.Commission
B.Design
Start March 2006
Completion June 2010
C.Construction
Start August 2010
Completion June 2011
D.Occupancy
June 2011
Remarks:
IV.
AREAS AND SURFACES

[Please specify in square metres.The total combined floor area should include basement(s), ground floor(s) and any
and all upper floors. If you wish to provide details for any particular elements within the overall project, please use
and attach a separate sheet.]
A.Total site area
B.Ground floor area
16,000 SQUARE METERS

2,000 SQUARE METERS
2,000 SQUARE METERS

C.Total combined floor area
(Including basement(s), ground floor(s) and all upper floors)
Remarks:
V.
ECONOMICS
[Specify the amount, currency and date of transaction. Please indicate the amount both in U.S. dollars and in the local
currency, along with the exchange rate used.]
Amount in local currency
Amount in US dollars
A.Total initial budget
30,000,000 Thai baht
1,000,000 USD.
B.Cost of land
333,333 USD.
C.Total actual costs

(Without land)
1,000,000 USD.
D.Actual cost
(Per square metre)
15,000 Thai baht
Remarks:
500 USD.
1 USD = 30 Thai baht
4193.THA
VI.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
[Describe the nature and function of the project. For example, how did the project come about; what was the initial
brief from the client; what is the guiding idea behind the project; were there any major constraints on the development
of the design? How do you move through the building and how does it relate to its surroundings?]
Kantana film and Animation Institute is established for building up the young Thai Artist in the area of film and animation
production in a rural area of Thailand. It is a one story building which combines perfectly with natural environment that
surround it.
The building has an Inserted forest with a linear pathway with the north-south axis and the east-west axis. The
pathway divides into four blocks with different functions.
There are five different area : An administration office, A lecture room, a workshop, a library and a canteen. These
areas are all linked by an Inserted forest in the shape of a long pathway. The pathway is made out of grey stone and
the walls are made from hand made bricks. The 8 methers high wall is a background of the sun, a tree, and a man when
they are connected by each others shadows. This space is designed in order to stimulate the concentration of the
student during the cautious walk to the classroom.
The Administration office is a multi-function space containing a chairpersons office, program office and general office.
They are connected to the courtyard. The sunlight makes this a very pleasant area. The lecture room is a quiet area
surrounded with a brick wall and outdoor living wall. This is the ideal space to relax in between or after lectures. It is a
free standing wall without borderline. The workshop is a good example of the interior character darkness. It creates the
feeling of a dream at night time. It helps the student to feel peaceful and to focus while producing their film or animation
projects. The library is a place where the natural sunlight from above, the sound of nature and the darkness that
surrounds the courtyard, come together in unison. This room consists of a book walls, a meeting room, a librarian
counter, and multimedia area in the center of the room. The canteen is an open air building. It is at the end of pathway.
To make this a multifunction area for different activities, this space is a non room.
In regards to materials used : This building is designed on the return to basics construction. It is based on natural
craftsmanship. A brick is an everyday material for common cultural heritage of Thai society. The simplified form of the
brick is transformed into a universal geometric space. It goes beyond both light and wind which is simple aesthetics
sense. It is and easy to understand building where the brick wall does not give the sense of solidity but it gives the
surface homogeneous of sunlight.
4193.THA
VII.
MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY

[Describe the principal materials used and indicate the basic construction technology. What are the innovative
features of the project, if any?]
In the past 10 years, it is rare to find a construction with brick which is due to the belief in a research that a brick is a
material which stores heat at most. Based on this, the brick is not considered to be used in any major construction
impacting the work forces in this area to become jobless. They are forced to turn to work in various industrial estates.
In this project, the architect would like to present a different idea from the incomplete research. He uses the handmade
brick which size is doubled than the normal one in order to demonstrate the quality of simple but more than 700-year
consumed material, human power, diligence and knowledge transfer among generations.
The space is surrounded by more than 600,000 handmade bricks and reveals the surface of each individual handmade
brick which is one of its kind after they had been kept beneath the whitewash for a long period of time. The reduction of
wall heat is done via the air space within the brick itself which helps reduce the heat flow from the brick to the building.
This design indeed depicts the aesthetics which is simply missing in the architectural research.
The innovation from the combination of engineering and arts is the focus point of the architect in this project. It is
constructed by building with calm representing bricks, underlining with various sizes of complex steel structure including
the overlapping level of bricks and gravity. The workforce for laying bricks is from the jobless neighborhood and they are
taught based on the prototype by the skillful worker. Making the impossible to become possible for constructing the wall
structure creates the challenge and passion amongst the engineers, builders, blacksmiths and brick builders. They all
play a major role in building up this particular architecture.
The use of the brick and the innovation through the construction method are the beginning of lifestyle change from the
jobless to become the knowledge seeker. This construction can be treated as a breath keeping action of the local
knowledge from the past prior to its extinction. What they get is not only the wages but also the opportunity that they are
neglected from the society. The architect also realizes the use of mind and the worthiness of hand.
The simplicity of the material represents the modesty, tenderness, elaboration and patience. The dimness in the buildings
through small skylight on the wall gives the night time mood during hot weather throughout the year.
4193.THA
VIII. PROJECT SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT

[How would you describe the projects significance? Describe the project as it is today who uses it and how is it
used? Describe the aspects of the project that represent a particular achievement (e.g. a technical, economic or social
achievement or the projects response to culture, climate etc.)]
Today, Kantana Film and Animation Institute is opened Since June 2011. There are a students of 49 who study in the
programs
Kantana Film and Animation Institute has opened since June 2011. There are students of 49 who study in two
programs. They are trained to be leading young animator and Film maker with a Thai cultural spirit under reserving the
environment, local lifestyle and culture by architecture.
The building itself is designed with the reflection of tranquility, natural landscape and human beings with the linkage of
practical usage, forms, materials, construction method, lifestyle and culture.
The one storey building with a massive form will protect the users and trees for safety while the windstorm come in the
rain season. The various open space of all zones are used as an outdoor classrooms for example, the long pathway is
use as an outdoor film shooting and outdoor cinema to show the movie for the end of studio project. However the area is
still the circulation where used as a meditation space so as to remind them to concentrate where they are doing or
moving from place to place. The courtyards are relaxing spaces for lectures and students after their finished class. The
opening walls are become to a private room where is the creative space.
In social way, the Kantana project can be treated as a breath keeping action of the local knowledge from the past pior to
its extinction what they get is not only the wages but also the opportunity that are neglected from the society. The
architect also realize the use of mind and the worthiness of hand. The tranquility which is a root culture within Thai
society is intentionally relayed to these building. The wall, shadow, roof and trees generate the peace in mind which is a
source of wisdom and new imagination towards the students and the lectures. For this reason, there are many students
and lectures in architecture field from other universities, architects, artists, critics, journalists, and editors have visited to
this place as a case study. In critic view, Kantana compose of three valuable characters : Connectedness to place,
appropriate use of materials and technology, and the cultivation of environmental and social responsibility.
The critic admired the way the plan broke down and humanized a large institution, creating a socialable network of
enclaves and courtyards, to nurture and stimulate student interaction. The architects inventive use of brick, a traditional,
everyday material, to articulate a distinctive architectural language was also noted. And as a confidently handled example
of a large and complex project by young architect, it clearly stood out as a valuable social architecture. All of the above, It
is to confirm that.
A Brick is not only an architecture, but It is the Future as well
4193.THA
Permissions Form*
Copyrights Permissions and Confidentiality
Following review by the master jury, the presentation portfolios and submitted materials (including any
drawings, images and other materials) will form part of the permanent Award library and are generally not
returned. All information will be kept strictly confidential until the announcement of the 2013 shortlisted
projects, and may later be used for research purposes and publications or for wider dissemination by the
Award.
If you do not wish that any particular item of the submitted material be made available, please notify us
accordingly. In addition, if you would like any item returned to you, please indicate this when submitting
materials.
The project nomination and the identity of the project nominator remain strictly confidential.
Architects and clients are specifically requested to refrain from making any public announcement
that projects with which they are associated have been nominated for the Aga Khan Award for
Architecture.
***
I, the undersigned copyright owner of the Materials contained in, and submitted with, the Architect's
Kantana Film and Animation Institute, Thailand
Record, for _______________________________________
[name of project] hereby grant the Aga Khan
Award for Architecture non-exclusive, royalty-free rights and license for the duration of the legal term of
copyright (and all rights in the nature of copyright) to display, reproduce, use, copy, distribute, modify and
create derivatives of the Material or licence the reproduction of the same throughout the world.
Name (please print)
BOONSERM PREMTHADA
__________________________________________________________________
9 NOVEMBER 2012
Signature___________________________________________Date_______________________________
*Please note: All candidates for the Award must sign, date and return the Permissions Form to the Award
office; the submission of this form is a prerequisite to candidacy for the Award.
Kantana Film and Animation Insitute

Nakhon Prathom, Thailand
Architects
Bangkok Project Studio /

Boonserm Premthada
Bangkok, Thailand
Client
Kantana Institute
Commission
Design
Construction
Occupancy
2006
2006 - 2010
2010 - 2011
2011
Site
Ground Floor
Total Floor
16'000 m2
2'000 m2
2'000 m2
Costs
US$ 1'000'000
Programme
Massive 8-metre-high
handmade brick walls with
undulating geometric profiles
characterise this
undergraduate college. They
are supported by a steel inner
structure, the cavity between
inner and outer skin affording
protection against heat
transfer. The complexs five
different areas administration office, lecture
room, workshop, library and
canteen - are all connected by
an inserted forest in the
form of a greystone and
concrete pathway punctuated
by trees, running centrally
along a solid east-west and a
broken north-south axis.
Where this extends beyond
the confines of the functional
buildings, openings in the
walls provide relaxation
spaces and a link with the
green landscaping beyond.
Building Type
2013 Award Cycle
Higher Education Facilities

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Exterior view 7
Exterior view 8
In progress01
In progress02
In progress03
In progress04
In progress05
In progress06
In progress07
In progress08
In progress09
In progress10
In progress11
In progress12
Interior 1 corridor
Interior 2 teacher court
Interior 3 library
Interior 4 library
Interior 5 mutipurpose
Interior 6 canteen
Interior 7 intersection
Interior 8 lecture
Interior 9 studio court
Interior 9
Interior 10 studio corridor
KTN51
KTN52
Model1
Model2
Model3
Model4
Model5
Model6
Model7
Model8
Model10
Model9
Thailand Kantana (1)
Thailand Kantana (92) - Copy
Thailand Kantana
4193.THA
Document C
MATERIALS IDENTIFICATION FORM

Provide a full list of all material being submitted (CD, DVD, Books, etc.)
Description
No.
Remarks
TWO Main A-3 presentation panels
Hard copy
TWO Main A-3 presentation panels
DVD1
A-3 Image Identification panels
19 panels (hard copy)
A-3 Image Identification panels
DVD 2
Curriculum vitae and references
Hard copy
Curriculum vitae and references
CD3
A-3 Additional pre4sentation panels
5 panels (hard copy)
A-3 Additional pre4sentation panels
DVD 4
Videos presentations
DVD5
Publications Summary
hard copy
Publications Summary
DVD 6
Publications
9 ISSUE (hard copy)
Architect's Record
hard copy
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
4193.THA
Document D
IMAGE IDENTIFICATION FORM

For each digital image/slide listed below, specify the name of the photographer and the date of photography. In the space designated
Caption , provide a description of the image in English or in French. Also specify any copyright restrictions in the space designated
Copyright . You may substitute this form with your own as long as the required information is included.
Filename
Caption
Photographer / Copyright
Date
4193
THA-001
The multi-opening on the thick wall is as a relaxing space after

lecture class.
Boonserm
Premthada
August 2011
4193
THA-002
Walking over greystone and random concrete slab reflect to a

spiritural nature and inspiration from a tranquility place.
Boonserm
Premthada
August 2011
4193
THA-003
A view of Inserted forest at the north-south axis.

This place is a symbolic of meditation for students.
Boonserm
Premthada
August 2011
4193
THA-004
A view of the west-east axis. Lead an eyesight to an outside

panorama at the end of the wall.
Boonserm
Premthada
August 2011
4193
THA-005
A corner of administrations office with inserted forest from the

north and the east
Pirak
Anurakyawachon
October 2011
4193
THA-006
A panorama view from the west, taking a greenery ground,

Pirak
Trees, wind, sunlight, bricks, geometric form and opening come Anurakyawachon
to be the simple and honest character of space.
October 2011
4193
THA-007
The darkness surrounds the sunlight court in library. It feel like

living between Interior and exterior atmosphere.
Pirak
Anurakyawachon
October 2011
4193
THA-008
The open air canteen as a multifunction for different activities.
Pirak
Anurakyawachon
October 2011
4193
THA-009
A view of 2 dimensions studio with a dimness interior space.
Pirak
Anurakyawachon
October 2011
4193
THA-010
More than 600,00 handmade bricks reveals the surface of each Xaroj prawong
individual artisan.
September 2012
4193
THA-011
An entrance of film and sound editing studio
Xaroj prawong
September 2012
4193
THA-012
A pre-workshop is a small courtyard where separate between

studio and restrooms.
Pirak
Anurakyawachon
October 2011
4193
THA-013
A courtyard of Lecture room entrance
Xaroj prawong
September 2012
4193
THA-014
A horizon view of the outside of the Library. The semi-opening

court is composed of the greenery terrace and the sky.
Pirak
Anurakyawachon
October 2011
4193
THA-015
The north entrance
Wallpaper
January 2012
4193
THA-016
A view of the Deans office
Wallpaper
January 2012
4193
THA-017
A view of Lecture room entrance and courtyard
Pirak
Anurakyawachon
October 2011
4193
THA-018
An administration offices entrance
Pirak
Anurakyawachon
October 2011

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2013 On Site Review Report

by Zainab Faruqui Ali

Kantana Film & Animation Institute

Kantana Film and Animation Institute

Brief historical background

Local architectural character

Immediate surroundings of the site

History of the inception of the project

How were the architect and the specialists chosen?

General programme objectives

16,000 square metres

Evolution of design concepts

Response to physical constraints

Response to user requirements

Purely formal aspects

Pradoo (Rosewood) in the library courtyard

Structure, materials, technology

Origins of technology, materials, labour force, professionals

Construction Schedule and Costs

History of the project

Total costs and main sources of financing

Qualitative analysis of costs

Response to treatment of water and rainfall

Choice of materials, level of technology

Response to, and planning for, emergency situations

Ageing and maintenance problems

Impact of the project on the site

Durability and long-term viability

Interior design and furnishing

Description of those who use or benefit from the project

Response to the project

What is the popular reaction to this project?

Zainab Faruqui Ali

The Institute, by being placed in the rural context,

The single-storey complex is arranged around

The library has, in its centre, an open courtyard

The cut-outs closest to the ground create

Name : Kantana Institute

Deco Decorate and system

Start March 2006

Completion June 2010

Start August 2010

Completion June 2011

AREAS AND SURFACES

16,000 SQUARE METERS

2,000 SQUARE METERS

A.Total initial budget

30,000,000 Thai baht

10,000,000 Thai baht

C.Total actual costs

30,000,000 Thai baht

15,000 Thai baht

1 USD = 30 Thai baht

MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION AND TECHNOLOGY

VIII. PROJECT SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT

Copyrights Permissions and Confidentiality

Name (please print)

Kantana Film and Animation Insitute

Bangkok Project Studio /

Higher Education Facilities

Brick making process01

Brick making process02

Brick making process03