Est. since 2009, Bangkok
ดัก (Trapping the Flows), 2567/2024
400 x 400 x 600 mm, in total 2250 units
area 400 sq.m. material steel wire, PE fabric
Thais believe a sai (a fish trap) is not just a tool for catching fish in the river, but a symbol that draws in good fortune, wealth, and prosperity. These beliefs manifest in homes and shops, where a small sai is installed in the front, to act as a charm, inviting customers, luck, and riches, much like fish caught within its weave, unable to escape.
‘Trapping the flows’ is a roof sculpture of fabric and wire, spanning 400 square meters, gracefully embracing the sky as a roof at the entrance of Jim Thompson Farm. Inspired by the sai non (a long fish trap) a traditional fish trap that can be collapsed and stretched to 20-30 meters long and glides through powerful currents, this structure hangs beneath the existing steel structure of the farm which traces the meandering form and flow of the Mekong River.
all(zone) carefully studied and reinterpreted the form of the sai non, composed of rigid wire frames intertwined with netting, offering both strength and flexibility. The structure is light, bending with the wind, yet strong enough to resist pressure. Working closely with local artisans, the team experimented with various forms to achieve a harmony between resilience and grace. The result is a gently flowing canopy that casts moving shadows and becomes a striking landmark at the entrance—symbolically “trapping” the good things that flow into the farm, warmly welcoming all who arrive.
With its high flexibility, this structure can be dismantled and reassembled, ready to bring its shade and capture the spirit of prosperity wherever it goes.
Founded in 2009, all(zone) is a Bangkok-based studio deeply inspired by the ever-changing mega tropical metropolises that give form to their everyday life. Their observations are always captured by contemporary vernacular design solutions leading them to create built environments where all could feel ‘at home’ in the world. all(zone) has explored architecture that embraces lightness—using fewer materials, lightweight construction, and minimizing consumption—guided by a spirit of experimentation and playfulness.
In 2016, all(zone) completed MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum in Chiang Mai, the first of its kind in Thailand, which won the Best New Museum at the Asia Pacific Awards in 2017. Domus magazine named all(zone) one of the 100+ Best Architecture Firms in 2019, and Monocle included one of their projects in the Top 50 Best Design Awards in 2021. all(zone) was also commissioned to design MPavilion 2022 in Melbourne.
The studio’s international presence spans across exhibitions and collaborations at prestigious venues such as the Guggenheim Museum, New York; Chicago Architecture Biennial 2015; Vitra Design Museum 2017; Triennale di Milano 2018; Echigo-Tsumari Triennale 2018; Sharjah Architecture Triennial 2019; La Casa Encendida, Madrid 2022; Thailand Biennale Chiang Rai 2023; and the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, Riyadh 2024.