HHNFT established a Drop-In Center as an initial center to provide help and support to homeless and underprivileged children and collaborates with embassies and private sectors in emergency cases. This center is the initial place where lost and all kinds of children victims can request help. It provides protection and rehabilitation, both physically and mentally, for children with food, clothing, and medical care. Drop-In Center has established the ASEAN Education Center to provide a safe shelter for migrant children. It operates as a daycare to empower them with knowledge of necessary life skills, morals, ethics, discipline, Thai, English, Math, and their native language.
Within a modest budget and tight timeframe, the new Drop-In/ ASEAN Education Center addresses the urgency of needs by using site situation and materiality to their best potential. The translucent facade facing the main street maximize floor area and flexibility, opening up the front plaza as a new learning community, and engaging the site surroundings through observations via a series of carved balconies. The design expresses materiality and construction detail to promote the migrant and local workers' skills who may be parents or guardians of the students. Low budget materials such as operable corrugated translucent sheet facade reveal activities inside, filter daylight, and provide sufficient ventilation to reduce energy consumption.
Location: Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand.
Area: 1,200 m2
Partner & Lead Architect: Jaturon Kingminghae
Project Leader: Yanyadech Phornphong
Team (A-Z): Montira Panpleewan, Ponsury Saksin-Udom, Sirinya Wutthilaohaphan, Thadcharin Suttapom, Thanawan Dolchalermkiat, Thrissawan Phonglamjiak, Vitchapol Taerattanachai,
Mural: Vitchapol Taerattanachai (Character Design), Thadcharin Suttapom (Head of Painting), Athimet Chairattanti with Yanyadech Phornphong, Thanawan Dolchalermkiat, Panisa Taweewattanapong, Sikharin Deemee
Client: Human Help Network Foundation Thailand
Year: Completed 2021
Engineering: CA Consultant Co.,Ltd.
Images: Creative Territories ltd., Illustrations On Demand (Thailand) Co, Ltd.
Photography: Jaturon Kingminghae, Wisitsan Disyawongs