Includes indexes.

The architectural and interior design projects showcased in this book demonstrate the exciting possibilities opened up by the growing availability of steel in Thailand in recent years. Without iron ore deposits of its own, Thailand has been unable to manufacture steel products domestically. Architects have had to grapple with the exorbitant transpiration and tariff costs and have used concrete as an economical alternative, even for some of the tallest buildings. In recent years, steel has dropped to a third of its previous level and designers have been suddenly confronted with new and exciting possibilities. Many of the design teams responsible for projects in this book had to grapple with limited practical experience when using the material in an efficient and elegant manner. That these projects show such a fine finish in both structure and detailing is testament to the rapid growth of knowledge. Much remains to be learned, but already there are certain advantages evident, such as the absence of a prohibitive difficulty with thermal bridging, so prevalent in the northern hemisphere. In Thailand this allows for the elegant integration of steel and glass. There remains the persistent challenge of the tropical heat, the monsoon rains and the intensity of direct sunlight, but these too have been dealt with by the designers in various creative ways.