A Glimpse into Community Architecture: My Experience as a Robotics Student
Published:
Before diving into my experience, it’s essential to understand the context. As a robotics engineering student at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), it’s easy to become engulfed in the world of machines, codes, and automation. However, an assignment in my third year brought me to a different realm of work, one that resonates deeply with me.
In our third year at KMUTT, robotics and automation engineering students were mandated to take a class named LNG 103 English for Workplace. One of the tasks was to produce an English-language interview video discussing a specific profession in Thai society. Entrusted with the leadership of a team of four, I guided my group to the doors of Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts. Here, we had the honor of interviewing two seasoned community architects: Ms. Jantrarat Jantaratippaluk (Nuke) and Ms. Kitiporn Promted (Pang). This unique institute is a place for talented architects and designers who are expert at community development projects.
Atmosphere during the interview: Pang (left), Nuke (center), and myself (right)
I had personal reasons for selecting this profession. Before my journey into robotics engineering, my dream was to be a community architect. I’d attended open house sessions at Arsom Silp twice during high school and had been deeply moved by their commitment and collaboration with local communities in Thailand. Four years had passed since my last visit, and my longing for the institute and its mission had only grown. My primary aim was to introduce my friends to a world where jobs extend beyond machines to embrace life, community involvement, and social concerns.
To no one’s surprise, my peers were taken aback. Most are familiar with architects as those who design houses or skyscrapers, yet here were professionals actively partnering with communities to create designs tailored to their way of life. I felt a sense of achievement in showing my engineering colleagues the significance of community participation in fostering innovation and addressing real-world challenges.
Reflecting on this experience, I realized how much it meant to me. While I’ve enjoyed and excelled in my three years in engineering, I’ve always felt a void, a sense that something was missing. Revisiting Arsom Silp and meeting Nuke and Pang have rekindled my interest in blending engineering skills with community-driven initiatives.
Watch the interview here:
Behind the scenes 📸😃
Our team and another two community architects (Ta and Yingyong) who helped us contact Nuke and Pang
The time has finally come! I’ve arrived at TU Delft as a master’s student in the Engineering and Policy Analysis program! Delft and TU welcomed me with open arms, especially during the Introduction Program, where I met incredible new friends. It’s inspiring to be surrounded by people who share the same drive for self-improvement and the belief that we can create meaningful change through engineering, science, and interdisciplinary approaches.
Have you ever heard of or used IELTS Liz ? This post is about Liz, the owner of IELTS Liz. It’s an IELTS guide platform that has helped me develop my academic English skills. Even though I learned English through many platforms and teachers, her website was actually helpful, especially for writing—the skill I spent most of my time improving. I read almost every tip, trick, and free example given on her site. …
On November 22nd, 2023, I had the opportunity to attend the Cleveringa Lecture 2023 on the topic Notion of Social and Ecological Justice for River and Canalside Communities and for Nature at the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Thailand. This event, a collaboration between the embassy and the Urban Futures & Policy Research Unit of Thammasat University’s Faculty of Architecture and Planning, was more than just an academic gathering for me. It represented a fusion of my personal passion …
In recent years, it’s become clear that some of our most cherished traditions have unintended consequences on the environment. The Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand is a prime example. In 2022 alone, 572,603 krathongs were set afloat in the rivers of Bangkok. While 95.7% were made from biodegradable materials, the remaining 4.3% consisted of foam blocks that could be in our waterways for up to 400 years if not properly managed. Even materials like …