The upcoming Architect’26 exhibition next year is breaking new ground. For the first time, the selection of the event chairman was conducted through an Open Call, inviting all qualified individuals to apply.
Amidst a pool of standout candidates, all eyes were on who would land the role and what direction they would steer the exhibition. To answer those questions, we visited the Association of Siamese Architects (ASA) to introduce you to the Chairman of Architect’26, ‘Deaw Jaturon Kingminghae, and share his perspective.
MEET THE
CHAIRMAN – SHARE MAN
Jaturon Kingminghae is the founder and architect of Creative Territories. His career spans over 20 years of experience both in Thailand and abroad. He previously served as Chief Architect and Managing Director for Thailand at Büro-OS Group, an international architecture firm, where he contributed to numerous significant projects during the company’s expansion into Southeast Asia. In 2018, having accumulated extensive experience and reaching a point where he wanted to pursue his own creative direction, he established his studio, Creative Territories.
Deaw explained that becoming chairman wasn’t his initial goal. It was a natural progression from his volunteer work with the ASA, driven by a desire to contribute to the greater community beyond his private practice. After co-designing and curating the ASA ALL MEMBER : Collective Practices and the 90th Anniversary of ASA exhibitions at Architect’24, he recognized the potential for the content to be further developed. Fueled by a passion to tell more of the story, he immediately applied when the open call for the chairman was announced.
“After that event, we saw the potential for this subject to go further. Part of it was developed into the 90th Anniversary ASA book. At that time, I wasn’t thinking about the Architect Expo yet. Then, last year, I heard the association was accepting applications for the chairman. I wanted to bring the story we had started and build upon it, looking ahead to the near future when the ASA celebrates its centenary (100 years)—which is a huge deal. So, I took the opportunity and applied.”
EXPECTATION: EXPO + EXPERT + EXPERIENCE
When it comes to the exhibition’s goals, Deaw intends to elevate the show’s profile to be regionally significant—a space that sparks creativity and highlights the essential role architects play in driving the economy, society, and quality of life, alongside showcasing the latest building technologies and products.
“The current tagline, when you search for us, is ‘The ASEAN’S Largest Building Technology Exposition,’ which focuses on the Expo part. I want to clearly introduce a stronger element of Creativity. In English, I’d like it to be ‘The Most Influential Architecture Exhibition in ASEAN,’ because the Architect exhibition is fundamentally defined by these two things.”
CONCEPT:
SATI : WISDOM : PROMPT
The theme is inspired by a desire to look forward, establish a foundation for adaptation, and overcome volatile factors—from trade wars and economic shifts after Brexit and COVID to the disruptive development of AI, which has everyone asking if it will replace human roles.
“Will AI take over the role of humans? This question is directed at the architectural profession, and others too. It’s similar to something we found when we worked on the 90th Anniversary ASA Exhibition, from the book ‘Siamese Architects: Fundamentals, Roles, Works, and Concepts (1932-1994)’ by Professor Pusadee Tiptas. In an interview from that book, she asked whether computers would replace people in an architect’s office—a question posed 30 years ago. Now, a similar question has looped back. After three decades, humans have successfully coexisted with and utilized computers. I believe this is a critical time for us to ask these questions and examine the factors disrupting our lives, work, and society to find a shared path forward.”
“We’re calling this year’s theme SATI : WISDOM : PROMPT in English. We want to prompt people to talk about the future while simultaneously understanding our present, our identity, and our roots,” Deaw explained.
“SATI : WISDOM : PROMPT is literally meaningful. ‘SATI’ means being mindful—to pause, reflect, question, and explore what we are and what we excel at. This leads to ‘WISDOM,’ which covers two aspects: Human Wisdom (what we possess) and Artificial Intelligence (a new body of knowledge). The word ‘PROMPT’ refers to the command sets given to AI for processing, but also the Thai word ‘Prom,’ meaning prepared and together.”
The deliberate choice to use the Pali/Sanskrit transliteration ‘SATI’ without an English translation is meant to engage an international audience, prompting them to inquire and follow the story—which inherently leads them to the content. This linguistic play is a creative way to communicate the event’s intent, avoiding pre-determined answers, much like an author or filmmaker leaves room for the audience to interpret and build upon the ideas themselves.
‘Ask’ KEY ‘Tect’: Asking the Architect, Gauging the Direction of Architecture
With the exhibition’s direction set, what’s next for the architectural industry and the architect? The insight from the new chairman, which we’ve gathered here, may offer ideas for you to re-orient yourself if you feel lost.
“The direction is really diverse, but what I’ve observed recently is a renewed focus on Local. We are maximizing our potential and knowledge, blending both traditional wisdom and local materials for presentation on a global stage. Furthermore, current economic factors have diversified the scale of work. The presentation of ideas is no longer limited to the size of the company or solely to mega-scale projects. Small firms or new architects can demonstrate their potential and creativity just as well, and today’s platforms are enabling everyone to present their concepts.”
For the new-generation architect, Deaw offers three key recommendations:
Be a Global Citizen: Recognize that we are part of the world community—a wider context than our local society—and that our actions and ideas impact fellow global citizens. This includes mindful consideration of environmental impact and creating sustainable work that affects the broader society.
Develop Skills in Technology and Language: These are the keys to accessing information, which can then be analyzed, developed, and used to discover new, high-potential elements for any project.
Cultivate a Collaborative Attitude and Readiness to Adapt: Flexibility, embracing differences, and understanding diversity are essential for efficiently navigating every context of change.
“I sincerely invite everyone to join us for Architect’26 from April 28th to May 3rd, 2026. Our theme is broad enough to appeal to diverse groups, including children and adults—not just architects or those involved in construction. I believe this event will inspire everyone to question their coexistence with this ‘New Wisdom,’ while also learning how the foundations and knowledge we already possess can be built upon and taken forward,” Deaw concluded.
Get PROMPT! We look forward to seeing you next year. Come discover ideas, find solutions, and get the first look at the latest construction trends at Architect’26, “SATI : WISDOM : PROMPT,” held from April 28 – May 3, 2026, at Challenger Hall 1-3, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani.
