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Architects: VaSLab Architecture
- Year: 2009
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Photographs:Spaceshift Studio
Text description provided by the architects. The project site is located on Praditmanutham Road in Ladprao, Bangkok, Thailand. This new Bangkok vessel has brought in many low-rise commercial projects for recreation and leisure to the neighborhood. The main sculptural concrete forms were inspired by the motorcycle’s “hugging the curve” transition, which represents the winning moment of racing motorcycles on the racing track. Two boomerang shapes engaged one another in plans and sections. The first one vectors its circulation from main entry through café at ground level, then elevates to showroom, retails, education zone, and descends to warehouse. The other directs its path from mezzanine lounge/conference, then descends via offices and canteen at first level, service center and workshop at ground level.
With the use of cast-in-place concrete as the architecture’s main element, the building's masculine finishes flows from exterior to interior spaces presenting a continuos surfaces throughout the building. The fluid interior circulation is designed to follow the same dynamic characteristic of its outer shell.
One of Honda’s campaigns, “Honda Think Earth”, becomes another aspect of this building’s design criteria. The use of concrete, as eco-friendly and sustainable material, is applied throughout the project. Since Bangkok is known for its hot and humid climate, bare concrete texture is preferred over the typical paint-on-concrete texture which needs to be repainted every three years Bare concrete texture with environmentally friendly clear silicone-base coating endures the weather up to ten years.
The first level showroom is elevated not only for a better view but also for preventing the ground level’s direct humidity. This design aspect also helps the building’s energy savings on an air-conditioning system. Near the showroom’s entrance, a solar cell is installed at the outdoor foyer, which produces electricity for most of the building’s exterior lighting. Honda Big Wing might be just another building with completes the function requirements of its owner; however, this architecture proves that it's not just a building, but a structure composed with poetic space, form and art. Not only the design is functional, but the meaning of its corporate identity is well represented.
