Museum of Emotions #8 competition Honorable mention winners - Kunnapat Wongthavornman and Lonsai Kangkhao

We’d like to take the opportunity to introduce you to the Honorable mention winners of our Museum of Emotions #8 competition – Kunnapat Wongthavornman and Lonsai Kangkhao from Thailand!

Kunnapat Wongthavornman and Lonsai Kangkhao from Thailand

Please tell us about your company (when it was founded, where it is based, how many employees, etc) Alternatively, if you do not have a company, please give us some insights on your own professional/academia background.

This competition is a collaboration between DARE - Design Arena + Research and Plan1661 Co., Ltd. by Kunnapat Wongthavornman and Lonsai Kangkhao, respectively. We are Bangkok-based architectural firms, whose works explore the relationship between human behavior and spatial design, pushing the boundary beyond tradition. Our work is driven by curiosity and an open mindset, looking at the world through fresh perspectives that welcome risk and experimentation.

Brief information about the projects that you/your company have been involved with. For instance, what scale have you focused on/preferred, any significant projects where the company/ individuals have been Involved?

From small, insignificant buildings to residential design and urbanism, we work across multidisciplinary fields to push our potential and discover new challenges. A part of Plan1661's commitments includes HARC volunteer, which is a learning and knowledge-based organization for historical, architectural, anthropological, and cultural arts that supports sustainable tourism and heritage conservation. At DARE, our previous works include Reborn House, a private residential renovation, which is published across various medias and platforms, and participation in the Senegal Secondary School competition by Archstorming.

What does architecture mean to you and what is the role of an architect in your society?

Half of our life is spent indoors, making the built environment an essential part of everyday life. To us, architecture is not only about providing comfort and functionality but also about shaping human behaviors. Every space that architects create shapes how people think, move, interact, and experience. Rooted in research on materiality, craftsmanship, and space, our work also reflects a deep respect for users, communities, and the environment, while daring to provoke, question, and reimagine architecture’s role today.

Why do you participate in architecture competitions?

Exploring design apart from our everyday context is what drives us to take on these challenges. Competitions offer a unique opportunity to step outside our conventional routine and break free from familiar design habits, while creating an architectural conversation among societies. Beyond sharpening our problem-solving skills, they push us to engage with architecture through a boundaryless, global lens.

What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture competitions?

Beyond the result, this journey is truly about overcoming our fear of failure. It’s an opportunity to grow, push our limits, and learn through collaboration. It is better to put our worries aside and get started.