Showcase of Valuable Modern Heritage in Thailand – 2025.09.15

Join us for an insightful evening with guest speaker Arch. Pongkwan Lassus, in a conversation moderated by PhD Arch. Rui Leão, on September 15, 2025, at 6:45 PM.
This lecture is part of the DOCOMOMO series “Revisiting Modernism and its Impact on Asia”, and will take place at the Rui Cunha Foundation, 749 Avenida da Praia Grande, GF, Macau.

About the Speaker

Pongkwan Lassus is a Thai architect, researcher, and heritage conservation activist based in Bangkok. She studied architecture at Silpakorn University in Bangkok and later in Paris, where she earned her Diploma from the French Government (D.P.L.G). In 1989, she co-founded the studio Neovista in Paris with her husband, French architect Antoine Lassus. Their early works included the Thai Airways International Pavilion on the Champs Élysées and the renovation of the Royal Thai Ambassador’s residence.

In 1994, they relocated to Bangkok and established Neovista International, focusing on architecture and interior design. Pongkwan has worked since 2002 with the Architectural Conservation Committee of the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (ASA). She edited the ASA’s publications Architectural Heritage in Thailand Vol. 1 and 2, documenting over 360 buildings, and is now preparing Volume 3. A passionate member of Thailand’s conservation community, she is active in ICOMOS Thailand, SCONTE, and was a founding member of DOCOMOMO Thailand in 2014. She contributed to the mASEANa Project and hosted the 6th mASEANa Conference in Bangkok in 2018. In 2020, DOCOMOMO International formally recognized DOCOMOMO Thailand as a working chapter, with Pongkwan serving as Chairperson.

About the Lecture

Since 1982, the ASA Architectural Conservation Award has recognized outstanding efforts to preserve Thailand’s architectural heritage. In a country where few modern buildings are legally protected, the award helps raise public awareness and appreciation, and has even helped prevent the demolition of important structures. The lecture will highlight selected award-winning modern buildings that exemplify good conservation practices, including some honored by international bodies such as the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards. These case studies not only showcase architectural value but also serve as educational tools, contributing to ongoing efforts for legal protection, public engagement, and future research.

Admission is free.
For Macau, Further and Higher!

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