Thai Modern Architecture as Learning Ground: Case-Based Construction Studies and Reflections on Heritage

Abstract

This abstract reflects on an ongoing construction studio for third-year students (2023–2025), where six buildings are analyzed annually, totaling 19 case studies of structures built between 1930 and 1980. The aim is to understand early industrial construction methods in Thailand and the conditions that shaped them. How can we learn from the making of Thai modern architecture, and why does it matter? The learning process begins with analyzing architectural drawings at different stages – preliminary design, design development, and construction documentation – allowing students to track changes over time. This is followed by site visits to the built works to observe any discrepancies or defects. Where possible, archival photographs from the construction phase support this analysis. From these investigations, students form hypotheses about each project’s design logic, innovations, and construction constraints. These are later verified through interviews with relevant parties (where possible), though most original architects have passed away. Students then produce analytical drawings and detailed physical models that present their findings. A central finding across all case studies is the consistent presence of on-site improvisation, experimentation, and breakthroughs. Although industrial materials and techniques were imported, they were seldom integrated seamlessly into the local building context. Thai architects, engineers, and contractors had to adapt these foreign technologies to local labor conditions and limitations. Ultimately, the students distilled these findings into structural analyses, detailed drawings, and models – resources that will be essential for future building restoration.