Boonserm’s work impresses jury with its ‘poetic qualities’

The event was conducted by the UK’s Royal Academy of Arts. The annual award, first granted in 2018 and supported by the Dorfman Foundation, forms part of the Royal Academy of Arts’ increased commitment to architecture. 
Boonserm’s awarding was decided by a distinguished international jury chaired by Royal Academician Alan Stanton, who co-founded the Stanton Williams architectural design practice.
Jury members included artist Phyllida Barlow RA; director of LSE Cities Ricky Burdett; co-founder of Sauerbruch Hutton, Louisa Hutton RA; head of the Graduate School of Architecture at University of Johannesburg Lesley Lokko, and broadcaster Kirsty Wark.
They were joined by last year’s winner of the Royal Academy Dorfman Award, Iranian architect Alireza Taghaboni along with the winners of the Royal Academy Architecture Prize, Elizabeth Diller and Ricardo Scofidio.
Boonserm was one of four finalists, the others being Fernanda Canales (Mexico), Alice Casey and Cian Deegan, TAKA (Ireland), and Mariam Kamara, Atelier Masomi (Niger).
Boonserm’s work impressed the jury with its “extraordinary empathy, originality and poetic qualities.” 
Lloyd Dorfman, a trustee of the Royal Academy Development Trust, entrepreneur and philanthropist, said, “We are excited to see how [Boonserm’s] work develops, in particular how he can apply his inimitable approach to the challenges of urban environments.
“As a foundation, we wanted to help re-assert the prominence of architecture at the Royal Academy, drawing inspiration from its original vision 250 years ago, along with supporting the plethora of exciting emerging global talent,” said Dorfman.
“The finalists, coming from four different continents, reflected the international nature of the awards. We are pleased that they are generating interest all over the world, and now … look forward to this continuing as they move towards their third year in 2020,” Dorfman said.
Kate Goodwin, head of Architecture and Drue Heinz, curator at the Royal Academy of Arts, said all four Royal Academy Dorfman Award finalists had shared immensely impressive projects that demonstrated how inspiring architecture can make a difference to people’s everyday experience. They have highlighted why the Royal Academy Architecture Awards, now in their second year, are one of the most important aspects of the Royal Academy’s architectural activities, they chorused.
“We believe in fostering architectural talent, enhancing discourse across the world and building greater awareness and knowledge of the role architects are playing in shaping our environments,” Goodwin said.
Boonserm said that he did not know who nominated him for the award. But it highlights that Thai architects have the design and qualities to meet the global standard, especially regarding design that is concerned about its use to match with the surrounding community and environment, he said.