Project author Singh Intrachooto presented the Holcim Awards Silver winner for Asia Pacific in 2011, Urban Farm Urban Barn, at the 9th Green Forum organized by Green Architecture Advocacy Philippines (Green AP) held in Manila on September 7/8, 2012. The forum brings together local and regional experts in green technology to share opportunities for innovative solutions in the face of the challenges of climate change.

The Thai Urban Farm Urban Barn project was praised for its creative response to the detrimental consequences of urbanization at the international Design Research Society conference hosted by Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. A reception in recognition of the Global Holcim Awards Finalist was a feature of the DRS+Holcim = Sustainable Development workshop, organized in cooperation with Siam City Cement and the Holcim Foundation.

The projects that received Holcim Awards Gold, Silver, or Bronze in each of the five regions of the world were automatically qualified to compete for the Global Holcim Awards 2012. The more extensive submission on the Urban agriculture and factory conversion for the global phase of the competition can be found here:

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Winners of the Holcim Awards for sustainable construction projects and visions from Asia Pacific have been announced, bringing the regional phase of the 3rd International Holcim Awards competition to a close. A total of USD 300,000 was presented to twelve groundbreaking projects at a ceremony in Singapore. The winning projects show how sustainable approaches to infrastructure for communities and innovative architecture can improve the built environment and enhance quality of life.

The jury commended this project for demonstrating an innovative way to respond to the detrimental consequences of urbanization in a rapidly-growing metropolis. Industrial wasteland, usually scarring the urban fabric, is re-cultivated and moreover becomes a local point of attraction, providing a number of social and ecological benefits.

Located in a mixed use urban zone in central Bangkok, the Urban Farm Urban Barn aims to return green areas to the booming city. A former textile factory and abandoned farmland on an adjacent block shall be transformed into a 1.4ha agricultural production site and retail outlet. The atrophying rural economy is reactivated in the context of modern urbanity, and elaborated in a remarkable way. The factory building is converted into an eco-supermarket, additional buildings, such as a restaurant and marketplace are integrated into the crop production by becoming agricultural structures themselves.