Architecture

The Exhelon Of Excellence

November 5, 2021

Learning is a lifelong process and the hallmark of a person who wants to consume knowledge throughout their life is when they are open to learning from people of all walks of life and Duangrit Bunnag fits the bill. He feels watching, listening, and learning from the fellow architects or even the new generation might be eye opening or even prove to be a breakthrough.

Currently one of the hottest talents in the architecture arena, Duangrit’s design firm, DUANGRIT BUNNAG ARCHITECT LIMITED or DBALP established in 1988 is a professional architectural design firm that works on commercial projects including retail, offices, hotels, resorts and even an international airport project. Before founding his own firm, Duangrit who’s best known for revamping old buildings for the city’s urban development worked as an architect and project desiger at A49 for 9 years. 

A conversation with the personable and affable, Duangrit easily leaves one starstruck for he is a man who puts one completely at ease by a simple sharing of his all-encompassing architecture journey. Talking about his firm, Duangrit explained that inspiration comes to him in many forms and everything can be inspiring if one paid closer attention. With a special affinity for natural and authentic material such as wood, concrete, glass and steel, Duangrit believes that his works are a result of endless intuition, created by possibility within the context.

To be boxed into a signature style is the least of my interest. We are familiar with all modernism and contemporary architectural vocabulary and we are keen to use them wisely. There is no ‘style’ attached to my architecture, at least not in the idea,” explained Duangrit. 34 THE ECHELON OF DUANGRIT BUNNAG ARCHITECT LIMITED (DBALP) EXCELLENCE | www.dbalp.com The conversation invariably steers in the direction of his iconic works and The Naka Phuket wins hand down as an icon of his practice. The winner of a multitude of international awards, The Naka Phuket raises the bar of Phuket’s tourist industry. This 95 pool villa resort is perfectly located in Kamala Bay, and is possibly the only resort on the island to offer two natural settings where an exclusive beach meets with an unspoiled hillside. The resort is only accessible via an isolated mountain road making it the perfect location for those seeking to experience the ultimate feeling of seclusion, but as the resort is only 10 km away from Phuket’s bustling nightlife area of Patong, it is also the ideal choice for travelers who seek a true city experience.

Besides winning the ‘Building of The Year’ Award from ARCASIA in 2015, working on this project has been adventurous from the beginning. From climbing every hill to adjusting the location of each villas to the final challenge of constructing elements in severe weather condition, the firm learned a lot from this project. The finished product received a lot of compliments, both from the client and customer. He visits the project regularly and still finds the experiece enthralling as always.

Concluding the interview, Duangrit explains that every project that comes their way is an opportunity to discover new things and these opportunities then become his achievements that gradually becomes the catalyst that changes his life.

“I learn as I work. My life cannot be a narrative of turning points but it is still an exciting life for me. We recently entered a partnership with the largest architectural design company in Japan, NIKKEN SEKKEI, to establish NIKKEN Thailand together. We are looking forward to this collaboration to bring out the best of both practices for certain projects in Thailand and beyond,” concluded Duangrit.

For more information please visit dbalp.com

One of the hottest commodity in Thailand’s architecture sphere is none other than  Duangrit Bunnag who has for the longest time created his signature with chic yet unconventional buildings and resorts. The architect from Bangkok graduated from Chulalongkorn University with an Architecture degree in 1989 then went on to obtain a Diploma in Design from London’s prestigious Architectural Association School in 1995. He worked in different firms before finally founding his design firm DBALP in 1998.

AFTER HOURS

What’s your poison?
My current favourite is called ‘Dirty’. Simply put a crafted espresso shot into a very small amount of fresh cold milk and voila it’s ready. Gin used to be a close contender.
Favourite hangout spot?
Ideally to get my camping gear and escape into a quiet mountain or a beach. The next best option is The Jam Factory or the sofa in my house under the shade of a tree on windows.
The place to go for authentic local cuisine?
There are few good new places I discovered recently in Yaowarat China Town. Besides that, Bantadtong Road is also a new promising area of street food from ‘fish soup with boiled rice’ to ‘pork congee’ and 100 other dishes.

THE JETSETTER

Most memorable stay?
A private urban villa, VIPP Loft, in Copenhagen comes to mind as well as a stay in La Granja Ibiza, a 10-hectare farmstead.
Biggest splurge?
My Harley Davidson V-Rod Muscle, a 1,250cc engine motorcycle co-designed by Porsche.
Your holiday fashion?
A nice comfortable sneaker with a pair of round sunglasses.