Challenging status quo can entail adapting past innovations to modern needs

An example of such creativity is Villa Savoye, which I visited in France. Designed by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, it was constructed at a time when French residences were still built according to traditional methods, with thick load-bearing walls relieved by tall, narrow windows that left interiors relatively dark. 

Villa Savoye revolutionised how people thought and how they designed homes. Using pillars and beams, the architects carved out new functional spaces and created a new aesthetic. The lower floor, which was not completely enclosed and was partially hidden by the shadows of the upper floors, made the upper structure appear as if it floated above the green lawn. The villa’s bedrooms also had ensuite bathrooms, which were considered a great luxury at the time. 

Spaces were carefully divided into open and enclosed areas. The innovative installation of horizontal windows that ran around the entire building, letting in ample natural sunlight, made the house feel comfortable, open and airy. While this design is regarded as commonplace today, it was considered novel and ultra-modern for 1931.

By clearly understanding the ways of thinking and design principles of each era, we can follow the development of design through paintings, sculpture, or architecture. For example, we can see the art and architecture of the Gothic period from its churches, while the works of famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo reflected important ideas of the Renaissance period. 

We can similarly trace the development of various designs and their influences in examining the later movements from Art Deco, Art Nouveau and modern art. If we carefully study breakthrough ideas as well as innovations that were built upon pre-existing ideas in each era and period, we will see that the root of these distinct designs was in how designers thought. 

Today, design development and innovation continue unabated. However, I have observed that most of these changes are premised on Western designs. We have asked ourselves why Eastern-style or even Thai architectural design, which has a long history as evident from countless temples and housing styles, has stopped innovating, when it can be updated to a more modern appearance by applying new knowledge and more technologically advanced materials that will appeal to the masses.

This superficial application and understanding of design is addressed in “Asian Renaissance”, an oil painting by Thai artist Khun Natee Utarit. This work is an important example of art that is clearly revolutionary in an Asian way. His work points out that although the core of Asian concepts about beauty has long been forgotten, they possess a latent power superior to European concepts of beauty. 

I think that designing residences today requires us to get to the root of the matter by seeking to understand the whys and wherefores of each design element. We should create an architectural design that has a clear and distinct character, rather than just incorporating and pasting accents and motifs here and there, and declaring the project to be of a certain style. The latter leads to shoddy work that is lacking in interesting content. 

After studying designs throughout the ages, we should combine these elements with lifestyles of people today and modern technological innovations. Focusing on relevance to modern life as the foundation of our designs will lead to results that are different and thought-provoking, and elicit a positive response from people. 

This may sound easy, but it is truly one of the most difficult challenges that designers face. It is also why there are so few critically acclaimed artists and designers in the world. Consequently, I too want to see a Thai designer capable of offering products developed on the basis of Thai roots that are accepted and acknowledged around the world.