2015 TALA Awards — Excellence Award Winners

We take a closer look at who finished on top in the 2015 TALA Awards. A few weeks ago, Landscape Architects Network announced the finalists in Thailand’s 2015 TALA Professional Awards competition, and now we are excited to announce the six projects to win Awards of Excellence. These projects were recognized at an awards ceremony March 21.

2015 TALA Awards

In no particular order, they are: 1. General Design — Residential Complex: Parkland Srinakarin, Bangkok, by Landscape Architects 49 Limited The design for this project was inspired by the notion of transforming the natural form into something playful, artful, and functional. Landforms and changes in topography were utilized to subdivide the spaces to accommodate individual uses and to provide privacy when needed, while plants were used to reduce the heat island effect and provide the feel of a sanctuary for residents. The firm also worked to design an underground pipe system to deal with excess stormwater runoff from the parking areas. The system deposits that runoff into a natural stream and pond.

2. Design — Hospitality: Pillars House, Chiang Mai, by P Landscape The 137 Pillars House, formerly known as Baan Borneo, is a 30-suite boutique hotel situated on two acres near Chiang Mai’s Mae Ping River in Northern Thailand. Since opening in 2012, the hotel has won numerous awards for both the careful planning and for landscape design, which have allowed the property to maintain its historic value. The design team found inspiration in this, so they took extra care to preserve existing architecture and trees, leading them to the final design. The narrative of the design is meant to take guests back in time and allow them to interact with the landscape, which is reminiscent of a traditional village. Elements include an iconic green wall and dense patches of native vegetation meant to protect the enclave from further development. 3. Institution: Thai PBS Headquarters, Bangkok, by XSITE Design Studio The biggest priority for this design is that the space had to accommodate the thousands of visitors the facility expects each year. The design team accomplished this and also managed to create a space that reflects the corporate image of Thai PBS, promotes the wellbeing and health of the employees, and is environmentally friendly. See more Thailand Based Projects:

• Residents Get Luxurious Garden and Pool Project in Thailand
• The Garden of Hilton Pattaya by TROP : terrains + open space
• A Greener Housing Solution Reducing The Impacts in The Neighbourhood

4. General Design — Public Space: Ming Mongkol Green Park, Saraburi, by Landscape Architects 49 Limited The goal of this project was to create a socially and ecologically sustainable project that would serve as an educational refuge. Designers did this by combining social comforts such as restrooms and refreshment stands in a park-like atmosphere that would preserve the existing trees. In addition, they chose plants that the general public considers weeds to show that natural beauty should not be overlooked, but instead should be valued and preserved. Finally, the designers chose natural forms of energy, including wind and solar power, to produce electricity for the lighting and to power the turbine for the waterfall. 5. Master Planning & Design Guidelines: Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, Phetchaburi, by Landscape Planning The Sirindhorn International Environmental Park has had a long history, starting out as a natural area and later becoming a military training camp, which failed to accommodate the ecological and hydrological systems of the past. With the latest project, the design team came up with three phases: ecological restoration, contribution to local communities, and learning and traveling. The park is now one of Thailand’s most famous attractions, and still works to teach conservation to its visitors. 6. Community Service/Workshop: Buddhadasa Indapanno Archives (Suan Mokkh Bangkok), Bangkok, by XSITE Design Studio BIA is a Dharma educational and entertainment center built to help people attain Nirvana. The center is also home to a collection of original written works by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, founder of Suan Mokkh Chaiya in Surathani. The design team created a space that would be suitable for meditation, lectures, discussions, and exhibitions, all while maintaining its status as a hub for mutual understanding. The site is located at the far northern end of Suan Wachira Benchathat Park and is adjacent to a large pond. – These projects and their designers are a reminder to the world that Thailand is the country to watch for innovation and creativity in landscape architecture. The awards were meant to inspire and encourage future generations of landscape architects, not only in Thailand, but also around the world, and they most certainly accomplished this goal. Recommended Reading:

• Site Engineering for Landscape Architects by Steven Strom
• The Artful Garden: Creative Inspiration for Landscape Design  by James van Sweden

Article by Erin Tharp Return to Homepage

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