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ASA Journal 12/2023

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ECO ARCHITECT<br />

131<br />

“When I interview someone, certain responses let me know whether the person<br />

shares the same vision and direction as me or not, which plays a significant role in<br />

my decision to ask them to join our team.” The work they have done serves as the<br />

initial filter, although it does not completely determine the choice I make. We may<br />

not be able to work effectively together even if someone has an excellent portfolio<br />

but has an altogether different attitude or philosophy, which is usually expressed<br />

during the interview.”<br />

Working on Eco Architect entails working closely with Khamron. One staff member will<br />

be in charge of three projects, each of which will take 1-2 years to complete. Seniority exists<br />

despite the flexibility of the work system, and everyone looks out for one another. While<br />

everyone has their own tasks and duties, the senior members of the team will show the<br />

younger ones the ropes.<br />

13<br />

บ้านลอยลม ภูเก็ต<br />

14<br />

แบบจาลอง บ้านลอยลม<br />

ภูเก็ต<br />

13<br />

Eco Architect’s work method splits employees into two teams: production and design. The<br />

design team starts the work process, while the production team works on all the details to<br />

develop working drawings. The building process begins with the design team supervising and<br />

ensuring that everything is done according to plan. Members of the design team must keep<br />

their eyes on a project’s complete overview, from architecture to interior and landscape design.<br />

Despite the fact that we have architects and interior designers on our team, no clear line is<br />

drawn between the scopes of work. The members of the design team must be able to work<br />

on the architecture and interior design while overseeing the overall look and feel of landscape<br />

architecture. Details that are more complicated or require special expertise typically involve<br />

collaborating with outsourced landscape architects. But each design team is responsible for<br />

a project from inception to completion, from client presentations to finishing and handing over<br />

the completed work.<br />

“I try to teach my staff about every aspect of the job because our approach encompasses the<br />

design of both architecture and the ecosystem, and the works are like these unified creations<br />

of these two components that are interconnected and inseparable.” Despite having their own<br />

tasks and duties, every team member helps ensure that the jobs get done properly. This implies<br />

that while working in different locations, members of the two teams will always be in the loop.<br />

These factors keep Eco Architect in unison, much like the great works they create.<br />

14<br />

A house that breathes the same air as nature.<br />

Almost throughout their decade-long career, Eco Architect has built a client base, with half<br />

of their clients being in Phuket and the other half being owners with projects around the<br />

country and beyond. Their most distant project to date is a restaurant in Malta that they codesigned<br />

with another architect from New York, as well as a project in Seim Reap, Cambodia.<br />

While the quantity of their overseas projects has declined owing to a variety of constraints,<br />

the majority of their clientele in Phuket are predominantly expats. The Bangkok branch, on the<br />

other hand, only has Thai clients. As a result of this distinction, the portfolios of the two offices<br />

vary. Projects in Phuket and other areas outside of Bangkok where nature is still a dominant<br />

element and weather conditions are still relatively good tend to have styles that differ from<br />

those in Bangkok, where spaces, neighborhoods, and several limitations and factors must<br />

be considered. Nonetheless, 80% of Eco Architect’s projects are domestic, with the basic<br />

principle of the design being “a house that breathes the same air as nature.” Meanwhile, in<br />

other projects such as hotels, resorts, restaurants, and cafés, “comfort” remains at the center<br />

of every design, from living to dining and resting spaces.<br />

“We create works to improve people’s quality of life; to allow them to take a<br />

full breath of fresh air because we want to design a house that shares the same<br />

breath as nature. That is the area in which we wish to excel.”

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