PHTAA merges traditional thai craftsmanship with modern construction for rattan pavilion

bangkok-based firm PHTAA living design merged traditional thai craftsmanship with new age construction to create the rattan pavilion. historically, architects have often designed furniture to complement their buildings, but what if instead the architecture took its cues from the furniture inside? built for the impact challenger asa 2019 in bangkok, thailand, the architects fabricated a temporary pavilion informed by the age-old rattan weave. 

in the pavilion, PHTAA design living combined elements of traditional rattan furniture, thai vernacular architecture, and modern construction. rattan is used in thailand for furniture, baskets and other utilitarian objects. as furniture, it is perfect for a tropical climate as it allows for a free flow of air to cool the user. for the rattan pavilion, this provides cross-ventilation through the walls at all heights. 

the synthetic rattan is woven by both hand and machine, using both a cross weave and traditional weaving style, known as seamless and wicker, to create visually pleasing patterns. to promote ventilation, traditional thai teak houses are raised off the ground and have a single room open plan. the rattan pavilion uses and amplifies these features by using rattan for not only the walls, but all elements- floor, windows, stairs, and roof. 

the designers minimized its structure and made it unobtrusive by using a steel frame system. this, combined with rattan panels, which are singular structural elements, allows for a knock-down pavilion, which can be reassembled as needed. modern constraints and construction with rattan weaving give this design a combination of diversity, handcraft and industrial production, another example of the phtaa’s idea of ‘digital craftsmanship’.

project info:

design: PHTAA design living

project name: rattan pavilion

location: impact challenger asa 2019 in bangkok, thailand

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: cristina gomez | designboom