“A sacred place surrounded by nature where people and nature are harmonised. Here, we live to celebrate, we celebrate for nature and we celebrate with the finest crafts. This is The Palace of the Celebrations. Our palace is assembled of golden branches reaching upright surrounded with delicate red petals, each fold and unfold, fall and bloom, never repeating its form.”
Inspired from Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino, this thesis speculates on an ideal place which evolves from true cultural references. The three Thai traditional celebrations Bun Bang Fai (Rocketfire), Loy Krathong (Floating basket), and Yee Peng (Lantern) festival originate from the spiritual importance given to sky, land, and water in Thai mythology and belief.
Each of the three events is celebrated with the making of Bang Fai (rocket), Krathong (basket), and Khom (lantern). This thesis focuses on the folding techniques of the Krathong making process, which is developed into the architectural fragments of the palace. The existing folding techniques of the basket were further developed through multiple digital tools, allowing intuitive handling of the model as well as complex operations. By using the digital tool, it develops a new architecture which represents Thai culture without repeating conventions of the past.
Here, we craft to celebrate
Here, we cook to celebrate
Here, we perform to celebrate
And here, spectacles happen
Boon Bang Fai - Skyrocket celebration
Beginning of planting season
Worshiping Vassakarn (god of rain)
We beg for plenty rain
Full moon night of Loy Krathong,
We float the baskets
Made of banana leaves
Decorated with flowers
We made lanterns,
We decorate our palace
We fly them into the sky
We worship the Lord Buddha
