HAS Design and Research wins 2025 Bauhaus Design Award: A first for Thai Architecture

 Friday, December 19, 2025

In a historic achievement for Southeast Asian architecture, the Thai-based practice Jenchieh Hung + Kulthida Songkittipakdee / HAS Design and Research has been named a 2025 laureate for two of the design world’s most prestigious honors: the Bauhaus Design Award and the Ideal Architecture Festival’s Annual 100 Pioneer Architects. This milestone marks the first time a Thai firm has secured these specific accolades simultaneously, signaling a shift in the international architectural landscape toward “The New Natural”—a philosophy that prioritises ecological harmony and material honesty over mere aesthetic spectacle.

The awards recognised a portfolio of work that exemplifies a future where living spaces coexist with nature rather than consume it. Three standout projects were central to the firm’s recognition:

1. Khaoyai Mountain Grounded Villa (Thailand): This project draws inspiration from the fluid silhouettes of the Khao Yai mountain range. With the help of earth-tone materials and integrating the structure into the existing terrain, the villa blurs the lines between man-made shelter and the natural environment.
2. KMITL Department of Architectural and Design Intelligence (ADI): A forward-thinking educational space at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang. The design emphasises “Design Thinking” and “AI integration,” creating a workspace that is both technologically advanced and bioclimatically sensitive.
3. Simple World: An experimental project that strips architecture back to its most essential forms, emphasising the use of local materials and low-impact construction techniques to reduce the overall ecological footprint.

Founded by Architects and Professors Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee, HAS Design and Research operates at the intersection of academic rigor and professional practice. Their approach—often termed “The Improvised” or “Chameleon Architecture”—looks for “new nature” within the urban fabric. By selecting materials that sequester carbon and age gracefully within their specific context, the firm ensures that its buildings contribute to the long-term health of the social and natural environment.

“Our work transcends physical form,” the founders stated. “It is a cultural dialogue that interweaves place, memory, and people. Architecture at its best is human, poetic, and responsible.”

Beyond their award-winning practice, Hung and Songkittipakdee are influential educators. They serve as visiting and adjunct professors at elite institutions, including:

• Tongji University (China)
• Chulalongkorn University (Thailand)
• King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT)
• Kasetsart University

Their expertise has led to their appointment as jurors for the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for the Asia Pacific Awards 2025, further cementing their status as thought leaders in the global design community.

The recognition of HAS Design and Research highlights a growing demand for contextual awareness in architecture. As the world grapples with climate change and urban density, the firm’s ability to create “peaceful, human-centric spaces” offers a viable path forward.

By rejecting “spectacle” in favor of “meaning,” their projects affirm that the future of design lies in sustainability. For the woodland and timber industries, firms like HAS are essential partners, as they provide the architectural vision needed to turn renewable raw materials into the high-performance, culturally significant structures of tomorrow.

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Tags: Bauhaus Design Award Winners 2025, Eco-conscious Architecture Southeast Asia, HAS Design and Research Awards 2025, Ideal Architecture Festival Pioneer Architects, Jenchieh Hung Kulthida Songkittipakdee, Khaoyai Mountain Grounded Villa, Sustainable Architecture Thailand