A commitment to sustainability is integral to every decision we make.
The use of rattan highlights the beauty and versatility of natural materials while underscoring our commitment to environmental sustainability.
Being a naturally renewable palm, it provides a perfect solution for the environment: no synthetics or plastics are used when we work with rattan, thereby not adding to the global crisis of plastic oversupply.
Our Sustainability Pillars
Our core initiatives are centred around three pillars.
1. Materiality
In a reversal of industry norms, we are committed to using locally sourced natural materials. Unlike bamboo, rattan stems are not hollow, providing increased durability and fire resistance; they are also lightweight, flexible, and suitable for outdoor use. The lightweight nature of rattan is an important feature of our prefabricated designs, which are shipped worldwide for a fraction of the cost and environmental impact of standard building materials.
2. Craft
Rattan making in Thailand dates back millennia, yet in recent years, this ancient heritage craft has suffered almost to the point of extinction due to the growing demand for cheap plastic furniture. Project Rattan has been integral in preserving and resuscitating the Thai rattan manufacturing industry. The commercially viable and culturally sensitive employment we provide ensures younger generations are being trained in the craft, thus ensuring its legacy.
3. Culture
The artisanal Thai communities we work with still live traditional village lives, which balance craft work with tending to the land. We are committed to ensuring these rural communities can secure culturally meaningful, well-paid work, while preserving the long-established rhythms of indigenous country life.
"Sustainability for us comes in three flavors: design performance, arts and crafts & local materials."
Patrick Keane, Director EPA
Our Sustainability Pillars
Traditional Craftsmanship
Developed through generations
Mr Samran
Traditional Artisan Craftsman
Highlighting the beauty and versatility of natural materials
The use of rattan, coupled with cutting edge architectural design, highlights the beauty and versatility of natural materials, while underscoring our commitment to environmental sustainability.
Sustainability Pillars
Our core initiatives are centred around three pillars.
1. Materiality
In a reversal of industry norms, we are committed to using locally sourced natural materials. Unlike bamboo, rattan stems are not hollow, providing increased durability and fire resistance; they are also lightweight, flexible, and suitable for outdoor use. The lightweight nature of rattan is an important feature of our prefabricated designs, which are shipped worldwide for a fraction of the cost and environmental impact of standard building materials.
2. Craft
Rattan making in Thailand dates back millennia, yet in recent years, this ancient heritage craft has suffered almost to the point of extinction due to the growing demand for cheap plastic furniture. Project Rattan has been integral in preserving and resuscitating the Thai rattan manufacturing industry. The commercially viable and culturally sensitive employment we provide ensures younger generations are being trained in the craft, thus ensuring its legacy.
3. Culture
The artisanal Thai communities we work with still live traditional village lives, which balance craft work with tending to the land. We are committed to ensuring these rural communities can secure culturally meaningful, well-paid work, while preserving the long-established rhythms of indigenous country life.
Sustainability
Enter Projects Asia is proud to have received the ‘Most Sustainable Architecture Practice in Thailand’ award in 2021 from industry magazine, BUILD.
Bio-degradable natural rattan
Grown in abundance across SE Asia
Naturally grown rattan
A truly sustainable material
In-house fabrication
In collaboration with our factory partner, Enter Projects Asia has developed a 300-squaremeter factory on the outskirts of Bangkok.
Six years ago, when Enter Projects Asia commissioned our first largescale rattan project, we struggled to find artisans or a factory to work with. In light of the growing demand for plastic furniture, rattan factories had been closing on mass, almost to the point of extinction.
Since then, in collaboration with our factory partner, we have developed a thriving factory that has grown tenfold and now employs between twenty to sixty traditional artisans at any time, depending on the season and workload.
The factory, whose output is almost exclusively Enter Project Asia’s designs, is equipped with cutting-edge technology and provides a safe and comfortable environment for our skilled workers. There is constant dialogue and a feedback loop between the factory, the craftspeople and ourselves with expertise and knowledge sharing evolving designs and driving collaborative and creative problem-solving.
The majority of Enter Project Asia’s designs are realised through modular, prefabricated sections, which are tested and checked within the factory setting before being shipped to our clients.
In-house fabrication
Originally, it was hard to find a company that would be able to build our designs. Very quickly, we decided to take over the entire production cycle — from design and fabrication to construction
Complex wireframe
Developed in-house
Mr Samran Chaona
Traditional Artisan Craftsman
Project Rattan
Our ‘Project Rattan’ initiative focuses on sustainable upgrades, blending local craftsmanship with international design to produce bespoke rattan spaces, lighting and furniture.
At Enter Projects Asia and by extension at Project Rattan, we believe that architecture has the power to shape a better future. Our designs are not merely constructions; they are statements of sustainable living, thoughtful craftsmanship, and cultural respect.
Every project we undertake emphasizes the use of eco-friendly materials and processes, ensuring that our designs harmonize with their surroundings and enhance the well-being of the communities they serve. Our 'Project Rattan' design philosophy is deeply rooted in sustainability, adaptability, and respect for local traditions.
We believe architecture should not only serve functional purposes but also foster a connection between people and their environment. Our meticulous selection and processing of rattan embody this philosophy, reflecting our dedication to traditional Thai craftsmanship. Rattan, abundantly found and sustainably harvested in Thailand, lies at the heart of our creations.
Our designs, crafted by skilled Thai artisans, embody generations of knowledge and expertise. Each piece is not merely functional but also a work of art that tells a story of cultural heritage and innovation.
The use of rattan highlights the beauty and versatility of natural materials while underscoring our commitment to environmental sustainability.
"Sustainability for us comes in three flavors: design performance, arts and crafts & local materials."
Patrick Keane, Director EPA
Project Rattan
Traditional Craftsmanship
Developed through generations
Mr Chitipat Phokha
Traditional Artisan Craftsman
