The Making of A49
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The Making of A49
49 & FRIENDS Creator Community United For District Development
“Phrom Phong” is a new district that features more urban liveliness in this year’s Bangkok Design Week. In this economic district located at the heart of the city, a creator community by the “A49” or ‘Satapanik 49’ co., Ltd (literal translation; Architecture 49) disguised themselves in the soi Sukhumvit 26. Having celebrated their 40 years anniversary in 2023, the A49 is inspired to share their stories and experiences, along with other studio friends, by holding a “49 & FRIENDS” activity in this year’s design week.
Improving Life Quality By Design And Technology
The A49 executive director of A49 company and regional manager of A49 Khonkaen, Dr. Narongwit Areemit (Golf), revealed the overall idea of their project with Bangkok Design Week 2023 that what A49 has been doing amid the changing social context is to use technology to improve life quality in various aspects. This year’s design week theme of Urban‘NICE’zation resonates with what A49 has been doing, it is a great opportunity and timing to collaborate.
“I think our company and Bangkok Design Week’s visions align. Our collaboration would definitely attract people to urban development more. If we do this alone, the impact probably would not have been big. But, in the design week, there could be diverse views and ideas which can broaden our perspectives on things. Apart from 49 Group Office, there are more talented designers from many more studios around an area called Warehouse 26 in Soi Sukhumvit 26. We brainstormed on how to make Phrom Phong a better district than it already is.”
Warehouse 26 consists of offices, studios, showrooms, and restaurants renovated out of old warehouses. But since it is a workplace for designers, tourists or other people outside of the design circle barely get to experience the lifestyles of people around Warehouse 26. Bangkok Design Week is like a welcoming invitation to get to know our creator community through various activities such as exhibitions, seminars, open houses, and a tour. This could be a starting point to ignite the creator community to a more sustainable creative district in the future.
Improving Street Lighting For A More Livable Soi
Another experimental project on how creativity and design can contribute to a more livable district is called 49 & FRIENDS: LUMINOUS 26. Soi Sukhumvit 26 is well-known for its pleasant vibe with the tree-lined street. However, during the night time, the street becomes dark and quite desolated because the lighting system was not designed to fit with the huge trees so the shade covered the street with barely any light.
“If you have ever been to Soi Sukhumvit 26, you will see the differences compared to the other neighboring soi. This soi is lined with trees, so people called it a tree tunnel. The tree’s tunnel is the unique identity the community wishes to preserve. However, as the branches grow, so do the shades, making the area too dark for the nighttime. By saying it is ‘too dark’ we use an empirical method to measure the lights into quantifiable numbers as we believe in facts.”
“The point is how can we make the lights brighter. Most people say we can just simply install the lighting. But, as an architecture company with a technology team, we are aware of other cautions as well. For example, if the lights are too bright, it might irritate drivers’ night vision and possibly cause accidents or if we keep the lights on all night long, it could be a waste of energy. So, we came up with a goal to install a system where the lights will light up only when people walk past and make the lights follow people’s steps. This way the lights would not irritate people’s vision. The technology used here should also be an energy-saving choice too.”
“With that idea in mind, 49 & FRIENDS: LUMINOUS 26 is developed into a Tracking & Object Recognition which is a lighting system that ensures the safety of passersby and cars during the night. The lighting system will be installed under the shade of the trees. When they sense people passing by, cute characters will appear and accompany them, functionally and aesthetically.”
“Designing a footpath is not just about safety but also about the clean atmosphere and the scenery. What we are doing may not be a direct solution for the government but it could be set as an attempt to solve community issues by using the design. This could be developed further. We have to collect which information is already settled and which one could be improved. Then synthesize that information and use it to solve the problem holistically.”
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Bangkok Design Week 2023
urban‘NICE’zation
เมือง-มิตร-ดี
4 – 12 FEB 2023
#BKKDW2023
#BangkokDesignWeek
#urbanNICEzation