สังคมและการเมืองในสถาปัตยกรรม : Society and Politic in Architecture

http://www.peace.mahidol.ac.th/th/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=167&Itemid=161

http://www.gotoknow.org/posts/258617

http://www.thai-arch.su.ac.th/?p=highlight&id=2&lang=th

http://www.peace.mahidol.ac.th/th/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=167&Itemid=161

Jak Kree Ma Ha Prasat Palce

http://www.oknation.net/blog/print.php?id=288594

http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/พระที่นั่งจักรีมหาปราสาท

Jacques Derrida : stanford

Jacques Derrida (1930-2004) was the founder of “deconstruction,” a way of criticizing not only both literary and philosophical texts but also political institutions. Although Derrida at times expressed regret concerning the fate of the word “deconstruction,” its popularity indicates the wide-ranging influence of his thought, in philosophy, in literary criticism and theory, in art and, in particular, architectural theory, and in political theory. Indeed, Derrida's fame nearly reached the status of a media star, with hundreds of people filling auditoriums to hear him speak, with films and televisions programs devoted to him, with countless books and articles devoted to his thinking. Beside critique, Derridean deconstruction consists in an attempt to re-conceive the difference that divides self-reflection (or self-consciousness). But even more than the re-conception of difference, and perhaps more importantly, deconstruction works towards preventing the worst violence. It attempts to render justice. Indeed, deconstruction is relentless in this pursuit since justice is impossible to achieve.

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/derrida/#Dec

The Arts & Crafts Movement

The Arts and Crafts Movement was one of the most influential, profound and far-reaching design movements of modern times. It began in Britain around 1880 and quickly spread across America and Europe before emerging finally as the Mingei (Folk Crafts) movement in Japan.

It was a movement born of ideals. It grew out of a concern for the effects of industrialisation: on design, on traditional skills and on the lives of ordinary people. In response, it established a new set of principles for living and working. It advocated the reform of art at every level and across a broad social spectrum, and it turned the home into a work of art.

The Movement took its name from the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society, founded in 1887, but it encompassed a very wide range of like-minded societies, workshops and manufacturers. Other countries adapted Arts and Crafts philosophies according to their own needs. While the work may be visually very different, it is united by the ideals that lie behind it.

This was a movement unlike any that had gone before. Its pioneering spirit of reform, and the value it placed
on the quality of materials and design, as well as life,
shaped the world we live in today.

The origins of the Movement

In Britain the disastrous effects of industrial manufacture and unregulated trade had been recognised since about 1840, but it was not until the 1860s and 1870s that architects, designers and artists began to pioneer new approaches to design and the decorative arts. These, in turn, led to the foundation of the Arts and Crafts Movement.

The two most influential figures were the theorist and critic John Ruskin and the designer, writer and activist William Morris. Ruskin examined the relationship between art, society and labour. Morris put Ruskin's philosophies into practice, placing great value on work, the joy of craftsmanship and the natural beauty of materials.

By the 1880s Morris had become an internationally renowned and commercially successful designer and manufacturer. New guilds and societies began to take up his ideas, presenting for the first time a unified approach among architects, painters, sculptors and designers. In doing so, they brought Arts and Crafts ideals to a wider public.

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/the-arts-and-crafts-movement/

ARTS OF THE KINGDOM, BANGKOK

Her Majesty, Queen Sirikit was kind enough to have her order to open the school of crafts Jitlada in 1979, Aiming to be the center to train for students which got accpeted by Her Majesty, Queen Sirikit from the Farmer's family, pauper and whoes are disable to have job. 

For the past 30 years, the training center, Jitlada have trained to its highest level of craftsmanships which can be compared to the Royal Crafts or 'the craftsmen of Rhatanagosin'. They are Golden niello ware craftsmen, golden and silverware craftsmen, Antique craftsmen, wooden carve craftsmen, embroiderer and etc. 

The institute of Jitlada have selected the works which stands for the beauty and precious, to be an object art of the kingdom to be shown to the public at Ananta Samakhom Throne, in Bangkok.


Here are some of my favorite art works that is now showing at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall.

The room of Jewel Beetle's wings

The room was an interior decoration, the hi-light of the room is the decoration of the Jewel beetle's wings. The wings from the beetle that were used are the beetle that died in their nature life cycle, because of this; makes the wings very strong and give a beautiful emerald green color which sparkle. 

The decoration of the interior took 40 days and 38 craftsmen to be complete. 

Petcharath Tale 

Patcharath Tale is a Carving craft on the golden teak, the teak was made in three layers. The background of the teak is the tale of 'Petcharath' about the meeting of angles about creating something to protect the human world.

This background golden teak was made in order to present to the King Phumipol, Rama II, in his Majesty 60th Anniversary and 80th birthday.

This Carving golden teak took 96 craftsmen, 10 months and 3 days to be complete. 

The Mimic of Sri Supanahong Royal yacht 

This mimic of Sri Supanahong Royal yacht was a mimic from the actual yacht that was built in the time of the King Rama I. The body of the yacht was made of silver with golden niello surfacing, decorated the designs with enamel. 

The eye and teeth of the head of the yacht was decorated with daimonds.

This Royal Yacht took 2 years and 9 months with 108 Craftsmen to be complete.  

Related Source: 

http://www.artsofthekingdom.com/th/index.php

http://www.matichon.co.th/news_detail.php?newsid=1349749851&grpid=03&catid=03

Arwut Ngenchooklin, Air Chief Marshal(ACM)

Arwut Ngenchooklin, Air Chief Marshal(ACM) is one of Thailand's National Artist in Visual Art Area with Architecture Field. He is an ex chancellor of Thailand's fine art department.
Arwut Ngenchooklin is one of the most important person in Thailand's Fine Art, in this case; Thailand's Traditional Architecture. With his expertise experience, serving with the Navy for 9 years in Architecture field, learning with seniors and conserving national architectures with national's fine art department.


With his point of view in Thai Architecture, he says that it is different from other architecture, Difficult to be working right after graduated, learning with seniors and teachers are crucial.

Sending off plan blueprints to construction is almost impossible, to be accurate the plan have to enlarge to its original scale, with all the decorations, design lines have to also be its original scale, ready for the craftsmanship to work on.
Arwut Ngenchooklin stated that in all of his work, there is nothing completely perfect, still some mistakes, even though other people may think that it is perfect, this due to the lack of experience.

One of the most satisfy work of his is the Rama IX Kanchanaphisek temple. The temple was a required from the King phumiphon Rama IX, aiming the temple to be an original sample for other temples. The Temple were to be small and simple. Arwut Ngenchooklin says it is also very changeling. In the design process he also have to think of the material that will be used, adapting the original and traditional to modern and functional which do not lose its Thai-ness. This may not be one of the greatest architecture that he have done, but it is to be one of his most proud of, and very satisfy.





"I think that anything that stays still, won't last. Same goes to Thai architecture, it will die if only to remake just to look like originals. How can Thai architecture survive? how can we bring modern material into Thai architecture?"













Related Source :
http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/อาวุธ_เงินชูกลิ่น
http://www.go6tv.com/2012/04/blog-post_9723.html
Article 'ทัษนะการทำงานด้านสถาปัตยกรรมไทย ของอดีตอธิบดีกรมศิลปากร' by sonsupan
90 years of Fine Art Department of Thailand,Arwut Ngenchooklin, Air Chief Marshal(ACM),Bangkok, รุ่งศิลป์การพิพมพ์ 1977

Deconstruction and Frank Gehry by Leonard Folgarait YOUTUBE

Deconstruction and Frank Gehry by Leonard Folgarait, professor of the history of art at Vanderbilt University

Deconstructisivm

Deconstruction Architecture 
"If not everybody loved, but people will give a chance to see it", Leonard Folgarait

Many Philosophies and Philosophers always searching for the 'core of the meaning' for life, what are the purposes.


Jacques Derrida have another approach to finding the answer, He says there are no central core of meaning, instead of trying to find one he says to go right of the edge instead of the core, and then jump off that edge, you will see how it is(things) flying away from us, it is objected to philosophies.
Derrida says we can't find those core meaning of life because who we are, are the state of Dynamics, the dynamics that are constantly changing and moving chaotically.

"Paradox between deconstruction and construction" Derrida







Back to Frank Gehry again, as He is one of my favorite architecture which I am heavily focus on in this thesis journal and my studio work.

Frank Gehry's Residential

While looking and criticism at architect's works, it is very interesting to also look at their own residential or house, where and when they are their own client and architect. 

Frank Gehry bought a very ordinary house in  a ordinary area; Santa Monica in California. While refurbish or re build the whole house, he took an approach of deconstruct his house, He built another materials cover the original house, like steel wall, wooden beam and chain linked fencing.

When putting something that at somewhere that is unusual, you start to sees it, and questioning of why is it there? is it functional? Blows apart all the assumptions of how materials and designs was constructed in architecture. Gehry deconstructed the house that the original house become invisible.

California Aerospace built in 1987, Designed by Frank Gehry

While in normal aerospace museum, you will often see an airplane on the pole in front of the museum or inside, Frank Gehry decided to put the main jet on/in front of the building, suppose the place were flying glancing near to the building, with an effect to the building. 

The construction of the building from the outside not only looking like its tipping but also look like there are three different buildings smash together, due to the different of materials used. But on the inside is one single building, which in this case the shape of the outside fooled the interior of the building. This museum of Gehry's work also one of good example of deconstruction approach; cramp together, with an appearance of unstable, this makes up the curiosity of which, what is normal? what is this?

I would like to talk more about Gehry's work, and again the famous 'The Dancing House'

One of the most well know building in Prague, Designed by Frank Gehry, The deconstruction architecture. If looking right in the front of the building, there are two circular construction which come forward, both resemble each other, but one to be twisted, curving with an appearance of fragile and movement. The windows are placed not in orders, with a installation look, the frame that are very three dimension away from the building. 

The Dancing House is to look like it have some damage to it, and in which as it looked like it open for all modifications. The details which not in the norm, make in questionable. It is clear at this point that Gehry's work always have the intention to make the apprance of the construction unstable.

Peter Eisenman 

Peter Eisenman is an American architect which his works often referred to as Formalist, Deconstructive, high-modernist etc. however he never says or write that his works are deconstruction.He believed in transformation of president.  

Peter Eisenman, IBA Social Housing at Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin - Germany 1981-85

The building was designed to have an unstable elements, The second top floor was to be bigger than the body of the construction, giving an appearance of 'heavy top', with a glass window wall at the ground floor, as we all know that glass is a fragile material in construction, giving the contrast to the 'heavy top' the affect that state the deconstruction. 

This work of Peter Eisenman was a mixture of politic and architecture, The building was built just two years before the Berlin wall collapse, The massage behind the body language of this construction were that the construction is unstable and can collapse. 

Related Source :
http://www.itaproject.eu/TTU/2/abstract-context.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Derrida
http://www.archdaily.com/67321/gehry-residence-frank-gehry/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ_VIyEE92M
Derrida for Architects by Richard Coyne

Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunic: Dancing House, Prague Youtube

Picture : http://minimalisthomedezine.blogspot.com.au/2011/06/dancing-house.html

Dancing House, Prague, Czech Republic

The Dancing House or Fred and Ginger, was designed by Frank Gehry in 1992 and completed in 1996. The original site was the location of a house which was destroyed by U.S. bombing.
There's was a controversial at the time being due to its unusual shape and non-tranditional design which was very stand out among other building surrounded in the area of Gothic and Art Nouveau style.

Czech President, Vaclav Havel who lived nearby who supported this project and hoping that the building will become a center of cultural activity.
Behind Gehry's design concept is that to let the form of the building 'be the thing' which he means by let the form to replace the decoration to getting the passion and feeling into the building.
The glass wall which is a shape of twisting  structure of metal, resemble the movement like 'dancing', the way he chosen the material is that he did not want to have any decoration, but when the light hit the material, the material itself shows three dimensional shapes.
The architecture is one of those deconstructionist.

Related Source :
http://www.pragueexperience.com/places.asp?PlaceID=651
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dancing_House
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh5K47Yic3g

The Sketches of Frank Gehry (Apuntes de Frank Gehry) Youtube

Part 1

Part2


Part3

Part4

Part5

Part6

Part7

Part8

Part9

Temple of Chonapod Suburb, Khon Kaen

While I was visiting the Chonapod Suburb, which is about 400km. away from Bangkok to research about the famous 'Mud Mee' Silk, I've found this temple of the village by accident. its surprised me on how rich the decoration, color and quality of craftman is even though the village is far from all the technology and resources.

All Photos taken by myself

'mud mee' silk Youtube Video in Thai

The Process and Story of making the 'mud mee' silk from Chonapot, Khon kaen, Thailand.

GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM YOUTUBE;

the 23 Frank Gehry The Bilbao Guggenheim Museum

Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain by Frank Gehry

Moving into western modern Architecture.

Frank Gehry, one of the most famous and influential architecture in the world. His work lies in the deconstruction era with Deconstructionism stye; or to be refer as post-structuralist. His work changes a lot of thing in the industries, being a study model etc. Gehry often working with a form that are chaotic land unexpected shapes, playing with materials such as steel and metal.
Styled his work to be sometimes unfinished, or crude, The art work that sometimes criticism of culturally inherited givens such as societal goals and functional necessity.

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao of Spain is one of Gehry's most well know work.
The museum is a modern and contemporary art, it is built along side the Nervion River which runs through the city of Bilbao. The building has been hailed as a 'signal moment in the architectural culture', because it represents 'one of those rare moments when critic, academics, and the general public were all completely united about something.

The building shape is chaotically designed with an abstract look and materials used. surface structure were made out of titanium. The hybrid area of the building is the atrium, which designed to look as it is in-between outdoor and indoor, the wall made out of class with steel structure mixing with limelight stone and bricks. The material confront in contrast.
South of the museum facing the city, which designed to have the same dialog with the city, in the other hand, the North which facing the river, have the fluid shapes with titanium sheet  emphasis of  movement of the river.

Inside are rooms that do not resemble each other, with square sand curves, uses different materials within the shape.

The museum itself becomes one of its sculpture.

Related Source :
http://www.guggenheim.org/bilbao/about
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guggenheim_Museum_Bilbao
http://www.guggenheim-bilbao.es/en/the-building/inside-the-museum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Gehry

One of the very old footage documentary of Phrasrisatana Sasaram Temple in Thai

Part 1

part 2

Wat Phra Kaeo or Phrasrisatana Sasaram Temple

Phrasrisatana Sasaram Temple or we call it in short cut as 'Wat phra Kaeo', It is where the Emerald Buddha were placed inside the main palace temple which was built in between 1784 to 1786, The temple were to be the temple of the city and country, a heart and soul of Thais believes and religious.

Phrasrisatana Sasaram Temple only consist of ritual ceremony area which do not allowed any monk to stay inside the its border.
The temple is within the Palace territory, located in the northeast. Between the area of the palace and the temple were clearly divided with balcony fence, each of every temple palace will have its own balcony fence to indicate the area surrounded.

The gates inside Phrasrisatana Sasaram Temple were guarded with a six meters high couple of giant statues. All of the giant statue were made from a believe that they will be guarding the temple from all the bad spirits, These 12 giants which guarding six gates were to be estimated built in the time of King Rama III.


For example
'Suriyaphop' guarding the front gate, an imaginary being of human form but of superhuman size, or giant.
'Sahassadeja' The white giant was guarding the right side gate
The most well know 'Thosagan' the king of all giants, has greenish complexion, 'Thosagan' is guarding the back door.

The beautiful arts and decoration of Phrasrisatana Sasaram Temple not only visible from the outside, The wall around balcony are the painting story of the tale 'Ramakien' (รามเกียรติ์). it is to be the longest painting wall in the world. 

Phrasrisatana Sasaram Temple is one of the most beautiful temple in the world, I find its decoration to be very fascinated, very detailed and thoughtful. I cannot imagine on how much time and effort that has been putting in building the temple, I feel very lucky that I decided to visit the temple as part of my research journey, This makes me wanted to learn more about my beautiful cultures and to pass on these heritage and massage to others. 

Related Source:

http://www.palaces.thai.net/vt/vtgp/

http://www.crs.mahidol.ac.th/news/2554/areramloung/001.pdf

http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/วัดพระศรีรัตนศาสดาราม

http://www.paiduaykan.com/province/central/bangkok/watphrakaew.html

http://www.thaigoodview.com/library/studentshow/st2545/4-5/no06-15/wat/watprakwaew4.html

Photos are took by myself

Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles

Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles was a special emphasis on the textiles of, and related to, the royal court and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, located inside the Grand Palace. 

The museum separated into four rooms with three exhibitions. 

The first room exhibited the modern costumes which design by famous foreigner and Thai designers for her Majesty the Queen Sirikit, The collection was designed for her world trip visiting many countries in order to build the relationship with other nations. Her vision of wearing Thai silk were very strong at at time. She said that she is the represent of Thai women and Thailand.
In this room also shown the trip documentaries of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit alongside on how to wear Thai costumes. 

The second room exhibited 30 dresses with eight style of Thailand's national costumes for Thai women, Which named after the palace house in the palace. 



For the third and fourth room, exhibiting the work that Her Majesty Queen Sirikit have devoted to the country, showcasing the story of Thai fabric.













The exhibition is worth a visit, not only for people who in fashion or textile industries, but also Thai citizen too. The exhibition to me really capture our beautiful fabric and how important it is to continue and pass on these heritage of Thailand.

Related Source:

http://www.queensirikitmuseumoftextiles.org/

http://asemus.museum/museum/queen-sirikit-museum-of-textiles/

http://www.thaiticketmajor.com/ข่าวท่องเที่ยว/พิพิธภัณฑ์ผ้าในสมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์-พระบรมราชินีนาถ-1526-en.html