STUDIO7
A New Dimension of Woven Facades with Shinkolite
Located at a prominent intersection in the heart of Chiang Mai, this site naturally captures attention from both passing traffic and pedestrians. The building therefore functions almost like a billboard—communicating the brand’s identity to a wide audience. For Studio7, the facade becomes more than just an exterior surface; it is a memorable architectural expression that blends brand identity with a contemporary interpretation of local Lanna character, designed by ALSO design studio.
The key design brief from Studio7 was to achieve a modern aesthetic while retaining the essence of Lanna identity. The architects translated this idea through graphic patterns inspired by traditional Lanna motifs—simplified and adapted into a contemporary visual language. The architecture begins with a corner-box commercial building, enhanced by a three-dimensional facade that draws its curved forms from the brand’s logo. The surface is created through a woven pattern that follows these flowing curves. The design process involved extensive testing and development to achieve a result that works both aesthetically and practically. Ultimately, the material that best fulfilled both design intent and functionality was Shinkolite acrylic sheets in the Shade series, Pearl White color.
The key design brief from Studio7 was to achieve a modern aesthetic while retaining the essence of Lanna identity. The architects translated this idea through graphic patterns inspired by traditional Lanna motifs—simplified and adapted into a contemporary visual language.
The architecture begins with a corner-box commercial building, enhanced by a three-dimensional facade that draws its curved forms from the brand’s logo. The surface is created through a woven pattern that follows these flowing curves. The design process involved extensive testing and development to achieve a result that works both aesthetically and practically. Ultimately, the material that best fulfilled both design intent and functionality was Shinkolite acrylic sheets in the Shade series, Pearl White color.
“In the early stages of design, the architectural team experimented with a wide range of materials and pattern systems to explore possibilities for a large-scale facade. The chosen pattern needed to clearly express the intended form when expanded to an architectural scale, maintaining both visual clarity and strong communication.”
“During material exploration, transparent acrylic sheets were tested by layering and weaving them into patterns, resulting in interesting visual effects—especially in how they respond to natural light passing through. This experimentation became the starting point for the facade concept and led to the search for an acrylic material suitable for real-world facade applications.”
The design approach was straightforward: to find a material that is both visually compelling and practical. Considering the facade spans up to 4 meters in height and length, the material needed to be translucent, strong, and flexible enough to bend and weave according to the design. Structural considerations were equally important—the supporting system had to enhance the lighting effects while remaining as lightweight as possible for installation.
“Once the material direction was defined, the next key factor was light. As the building is exposed to sunlight throughout the day, interior brightness and heat became concerns. The selected material needed to create a visually appealing exterior while diffusing and softening light from the inside—maintaining a comfortable level of natural light and helping reduce interior heat to some extent.”
Due to the large panel sizes, both design and installation required precise calculations in all directions—horizontal, vertical, joints, and intersections—to ensure a seamless, unified surface. From design to fabrication and installation, the project was the result of close collaboration between the architects and Shinkolite specialists. By leveraging the material’s thermoforming capabilities alongside on-site assembly techniques, the facade was realized as intended.
Through this collaborative process, the team developed a technique of cutting the material into smaller pieces, approximately 15–20 cm in size. This allowed better control over curvature. While not achieving 100% of the original design, the result reached about 95% accuracy—particularly in vertical curves, which performed well. Horizontal curves presented some gaps due to material limitations, requiring careful adjustment of spacing—especially in curved areas—to achieve the closest possible match to the design.
“This project represents how architects can actively contribute to evolving material applications. The collaboration between designers and material developers became a process of exchange—opening opportunities to explore new possibilities and understand how far the material can be pushed. It also demonstrates how Shinkolite acrylic can go beyond its conventional limits. Despite the challenges, the project moved forward successfully through the combined efforts of all parties involved.”
The final architectural outcome is a dynamic facade that interacts with light throughout the day. Natural light enhances the woven pattern through shifting highlights and shadows, while surrounding tree shadows add a layer of movement. At night, integrated lighting transforms the facade into a glowing landmark at the intersection. Shinkolite facade materials unlock the full potential of light in architectural design—creating a visually striking effect in every dimension.
From the architect’s perspective, transparency will play an increasingly important role in shaping the character of future architectural design. As material technologies continue to evolve, they will offer greater flexibility and become a key driver in pushing architecture beyond traditional limitations—both in form, construction, and design interpretation.
