How long has it been since we stopped questioning the things around us, and instead let ourselves be swept along by societal discourse and the values that people impose?
This year’s Architect’26 features the theme ‘SATI WISDOM PROMPT – Mindfulness and Wisdom Ready,’ inviting you to experience using mindfulness to ‘question’ the world as it is, the life you live, and to understand ‘material innovation’ in a world where technology and artificial intelligence are integral to life.
This will be explored through the futuristic Thematic Pavilion, a collaboration between Supermachine Studio, a studio with a distinctive design signature that emphasizes questioning societal trends, and TODĀ, a leading brand of decorative materials and furniture passionate about designing, researching, experimenting, and developing alternative materials for the future.
This futuristic and powerful-looking pavilion, reminiscent of the Allianz Arena, has a fascinating origin and concept. Let’s talk to Jack-Pitupong Chaowakul, the architect and founder of Supermachine Studio, the company behind this masterpiece.
Artificiality is the New Reality
A new truth from human wisdom.
“We aim to communicate TODĀ’s vision as a brand that researches and develops alternative materials for the future world—whether artificial leather, flooring materials, or interior films—under the concept ‘Artificiality is the New Reality,’ meaning that what will become our future reality is, in fact, something artificial or non-natural.”
Jack explained the initial design concept, which is presented through a contemporary lens. The boundary between ‘what is created by nature’ and ‘what is created by humans’ is becoming increasingly blurred due to advancements in technology, environmental changes, and evolving times. This shift is redefining the meaning of ‘alternative materials’ from what it used to be.
Today, what is “man-made” has become the new normal—widely present and integrated into everyday life. It is no longer labeled merely as a “substitute,” as it once was, but instead exists as a material with its own character, value, and unique properties. It fulfills functional needs, delivers aesthetic quality, and contributes to reducing long-term resource impact.
TODĀ artificial leather products designed for architectural and design applications
Simply put, today you may choose artificial leather over genuine leather not because it is a substitute material, but because it better fulfills ethical considerations, functional performance, and ease of maintenance.
TODA ARK
The Curator of Artificial
From an abstract concept to a tangible design outcome, Supermachine Studio integrates TODĀ’s philosophy and material innovation with a strong fascination for sci-fi aesthetics. This fusion results in a built architectural expression titled “TODĀ ARK”, or the “vessel.”
TODĀ ARK is a pavilion that imagines TODĀ’s spacecraft as a mechanistic organism. Its exterior is wrapped in petal-like metallic surfaces, while the interior creates a striking contrast with natural wood-like textures, evoking the feeling of being inside a massive wooden vessel.
The structure carries curated material innovations that reinterpret narratives of evolution through the lens of four fundamental natural materials long used in the construction industry: animal hide, wood, stone, and earth—presented in an installation-like spatial composition.
“We named it TODĀ ARK, or a ‘vessel-ark.’ The idea comes from combining two words: vehicle and container, because it functions as something that carries things. The pavilion resembles a large bowl—metallic on the outside and wooden on the inside.”
| Behind the concept of this “vessel-ark” lies inspiration rooted in TODĀ’s dual philosophy of being both “advanced” and “profound”: • “Advanced” – representing TODĀ’s direction in developing material innovations for the future and technological progress. This is expressed through a sci-fi perspective, forming the imagination of a “spaceship” preparing to travel from Earth to a new planet. • “Profound” – connecting the brand’s sustainability philosophy with the idea of Noah’s Ark and ancient flood myths from the Epic of Gilgamesh. This symbolic reference highlights the meaning of the “ark” as a vessel of survival and hope—serving to preserve biodiversity and knowledge in times of global crisis. |
Metallic petal elements made from reflective glossy film are installed on the pavilion structure in a way that allows them to be dismantled and reused (left image), alongside samples of TODĀ’s wooden film featuring a variety of wood textures and characteristics (right image).
On the construction side, the pavilion is designed as a large structural lattice framework that envelops the space, with access openings on three sides. A total of 860 petal-like modules are then applied to the structure. These modules are finished with TODĀ’s interior film materials, including reflective glossy film and wooden film.
They are installed using a dry installation process, simply inserted into the main structure in a manner similar to placing a postcard into a slot. The modules are arranged with intentional spacing and gaps, allowing for a see-through effect that visually connects the interior and exterior spaces.
Sustainability Misleading
“Greenwashing” the idea of being ‘eco-friendly’
What truly defines sustainability? The key question embedded in TODĀ ARK is an invitation to rethink and critically examine the concept of sustainability itself—not as a superficial, one-dimensional judgment, but through a deeper understanding of the “life cycle” of materials and how they interact with human behavior and context.
“Today, the word sustainability has been used so often that it has almost become diluted. Everyone talks about being eco-friendly without much reflection. A clear example is the reusable bag. When people label a cloth bag as ‘eco-friendly,’ it can create a misunderstanding of what sustainability really means.
When we started this project, one of the shared perspectives between Supermachine and TODĀ was the idea that ‘reusable bags are not necessarily environmentally friendly.’ In the Thai context, distributing cloth bags is often not truly an eco-friendly action, but rather the creation of additional waste, because people rarely bring them back to reuse in everyday shopping situations. It is not part of daily behavior.
At the same time, plastic bags are not inherently seen as pollution either—if reused consciously, they can actually help reduce waste. The core of sustainability, therefore, is not just about the material itself, but about how it is used.”
“Through this way of thinking, TODĀ ARK is not designed as a pavilion for selling materials. Instead, it aims to deliver a deeper message rooted in the brand’s philosophy. Its highlight may not be something immediately understandable at first glance.
We intentionally designed a space that invites people to pause, reflect, and collectively question: how will we truly coexist with the world in the future?”
Intellectual Humility
“A new kind of intelligence, practiced with humility—not resistance”
“In your perspective as an architect, how do you see the use of AI?”
“Do you think humans will eventually be replaced by AI?”
These are two questions we often ask architects we meet. Each person gives different insights and approaches. However, the conversation with Supermachine Studio went much deeper and further than expected, touching on broader structural issues.
It may even feel slightly uncomfortable or provocative, because one of the biggest barriers to learning and adaptation lies in the illusion that we are already ‘smart enough.’
“In our country, people often say that we are capable but not given opportunities. I grew up here, but I don’t fully agree with that. If we instead say that Thailand has many ‘unskilled’ people—including myself—I think that might actually be more useful. It places us in a new mindset where we collectively challenge ourselves to think: how can we become more capable?
Whether through using AI, leveraging technology, or improving education, both individuals and society can grow smarter together.”
We still struggle, in many parts of society, to accept our own limitations. The architecture profession is no exception. A simple example that is rarely discussed is automated parking ticket machines. We already have them, yet we still need staff to stand and operate them—because without human supervision, traffic gets stuck.
When I graduated and worked in Singapore, automated ticket machines had already been in use since 1997 without any staff required. We need to acknowledge these realities and observe how other countries solve similar problems. In China, for example, barrier gates are no longer used in many places. Instead, license plates are scanned automatically and payments are deducted instantly.
So why can’t Thailand fully adopt systems like automated parking or queue ticketing machines? It is worth researching. In more developed societies, people might already be thinking about replacing these systems with AI entirely. But here, we often still choose to place a person next to a machine instead.
Perhaps we should start asking: how should we really approach this?
WELCOME to TODA ARK
When natural materials may no longer be the only answer for the modern world, perhaps the answer to tomorrow begins with stepping inside this vessel—and allowing yourself to explore and question.
“We would like to invite architects, designers, and even the general public—everyone—to come and experience this vessel of imagination. It will carry us from the present into the future.
Inside this vessel, you will encounter ideas that spark curiosity and encourage questions. If we consider natural materials such as stone, earth, wood, and animal hide—what will come next to replace them, or perhaps exist alongside them in the future?”
From 28 April – 3 May 2026, join the journey aboard the vessel of ideas at Architect’69: SATI WISDOM PROMPT, Challenger Hall 1–3, IMPACT Muang Thong Thani.
