The project Chiang Mai Bird Sanctuary meets the needs of birds and humans alike – thereby expanding the scope of sustainable construction to include a feathered dimension.

The architects and Chak Cherdsatirkul worked together to develop the Chiang Mai Bird Sanctuary (CBS) project. It includes two sites: the hotel premises and the natural area. The focus of the project is twofold: the birds, both wild ones and those confiscated from traffickers, and people, who are bird enthusiasts. It is planned that ten of the remaining tobacco barns on the hotel site shall be turned into permanent aviaries for birds that have been injured through captivity and are no longer able to survive in the wild. These birds will be able to be observed up close. One of the tobacco barns is to be converted into an auditorium, still others into libraries.

Project architect Jariyawadee Lekawatana from Architectkidd explains: “As an architect, we usually work for people, but here our clients are the birds. The measures we are implementing on the hotel grounds must suit both the birds and the people – but the park focuses primarily on the needs of birds.”

Read feature interview in 4th Holcim Awards 2014/2015 (flip-book)