Infinity Ground : Thailand and Taiwan Contemporary Architecture

The Glass Temple
with an alternating cascading pattern, creating
‘translucent’ effect that reveals the interior
space whilst allows ventilation and light from
the outside to enter within.
The challenging question is probably whether
this building is of Thai architecture. The Glass
Temple (the meditation hall) is arise from
columns that are cascading in layers, reveling
Lord Buddha statue in a vague appearance,
in the similar articulation that May found in
Indonesian’s Borobudur stupas. The 3 column
layers structure also support 3 typology of
roof structure layers. Each typology is modeled
from different original Thai temple proportions.
For architects, it may in doubtful conversation
to call this building a Thai architecture since
its architectural structure is not a stereotype
traditional. This might not be the representation
of Thai traditional architecture but still influenced
by Thai architecture and to endure the modern
vocabulary in due time.
Shifted Columns Layers
The idea of translucent-transparent is the key
for architectural wall of the building.
The 3 layers of wood articulated pillars includes
the first layer of pillars define the proportion
of the building inspired by Thai temples. The
second and third layer columns are arranged
This translucent effect derived the name of
Glass Temple that express the analogy of
glass without using the material.
The Scandinavian pine wood was used at that
time since it was the only secured supply of
manufacture forestry that guaranteed the
non-reduction carbon footprint of the natural
wood usage. Once it was used, it will be replanted
in cycle and ensure the green house
gas absorption is sustained from the atmosphere
while it lives. The natural way of wood
usage reflect very much to the traditional
way of Thai.
Thai Articulations from A Modern
Vocabulary
To create this Thai temples, the architect
chose and draw the roof structures from 3
Thai traditional temple ‘Viharas’, from provinces
of Thailand. The selection was made
through their perfect proportion. Then, each
proportioned structures are overlayed on
the cascading columns grid and creates a
complex articulation of the room structure
that binding coherently with the cascading
column layers grid.
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