Khon Kaen University’s Faculty of Architecture Welcomes Delegates from Lao PDR to Exchange Knowledge on Architecture and Creative Economy

29 September 2026
14:26

The visit showcased design innovations and local wisdom, with the aim of strengthening cross-cultural collaboration and expanding international networks within the creative economy.

Delegates from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) visited Khon Kaen University for a knowledge exchange session with the Faculty of Architecture. Held on 28 September 2026 from 13:30 to 15:30 at the Multipurpose Building (Sim), Faculty of Architecture, Khon Kaen University, the event fostered dialogue between the two nations on architectural design and the creative economy.

To welcome the delegates, the Faculty of Architecture organised a programme of three main sessions. It opened with a ‘Dean’s Talk’ by Associate Professor Kitapatr Thapalabutr, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, who outlined the vision, policies, and strategic plans for driving the creative economy through design innovation under the APDS KKU initiative.

The programme continued with the ‘Academic’s Talk’, featuring a range of research presentations by the faculty’s teaching staff. Assistant Professor Chamnan Boonyaputthipong, PhD, presented on Isan religious buildings, followed by a lecture on “Vernacular Architecture Heritage: Knowledge to Drive Communities” by Associate Professor Noppadon Tangsakul, PhD. Assistant Professor Warin Boonyaputthipong and Assistant Professor Chanatsada Chullasthein, PhD, then co-presented their research, entitled “From Intellectual Heritage to Contemporary Value: Local Woven Fabric Research and Driving the Creative Industry”. The academic segment closed with a business case study by Mr Kemchat Somjaiwong, Chief Executive Officer and owner of the Rachawadee Resort and Hotel in Khon Kaen, who showed how local wisdom had been applied in the interior design of the hotel’s Blue Restaurant and Reception Hall.

In the ‘Professional’s Talk’ segment, the spotlight turned to industry practitioners. Assistant Professor Nattapong Prompongsatorn, PhD, explored artistic innovation in a lecture on ‘ISAN Cubism’. Turning to real-world business applications, Mr Thonnawan Phumisaenkhot, a master’s degree student at Khon Kaen University and founder of the Thonnawan Museum of Art & Dress, shared his experience of integrating formal design education into entrepreneurial ventures.

During the event’s closing remarks, the Dean expressed sincere gratitude to the visiting delegation from Lao PDR. The Dean emphasised the prospect that this inaugural exchange will serve as a foundational step toward strengthening academic relations and paving the way for forthcoming joint initiatives bridging Thailand and Lao PDR.

Prior to concluding their visit, the delegation partook in an institutional tour to study the creation of applied and commercialised designs. Their tour included the Fashion and Textile Shop, where they observed contemporary fabric weaving and fashion creation processes, alongside the Ceramic Shop, focusing on the Faculty’s intricate approaches to creating original ceramic artworks.

This reception of delegates from Lao PDR inherently reinforces the enduring role of Khon Kaen University, specifically through the Faculty of Architecture, as an instrumental hub for generating knowledge in architecture and design. Additionally, the exchange aligns smoothly with the university’s mission to bridge international academic and cultural networks, seamlessly promoting the development of the creative economy founded upon invaluable local wisdom.