Presentation of the Holcim Foundation Awards Gold 2014 for "Protective Wing: Bird sanctuary, Chiang Mai, Thailand" (l-r): winners Nattapong Chumkesorn, Chak Cherdsatirkul, Singh Intrachooto, Jariyawadee Lekawatana, Felix Baroux, Pacharapan Ratananakorn, and Sorawut Kittibanthorn.
Presentation of the Holcim Foundation Awards Gold 2014 for "Protective Wing: Bird sanctuary, Chiang Mai, Thailand" (l-r): Daniel Bach, Holcim Area Manager South East Asia; Patrachant Krairiksh, Siam City Cement Thailand; winners Singh Intrachooto and Jariyawadee Lekawatana; Ian Thackwray, Holcim Exco Member Asia Pacific; and winners Chak Cherdsatirkul, Felix Baroux, Sorawut Kittibanthorn, Pacharapan Ratananakorn, Nattapong Chumkesorn.
Presentation of the Holcim Foundation Awards Gold 2014 for "Protective Wing: Bird sanctuary, Chiang Mai, Thailand" (l-r): winners Nattapong Chumkesorn, Felix Baroux, Chak Cherdsatirkul, Pacharapan Ratananakorn, Singh Intrachooto, Jariyawadee Lekawatana, and Sorawut Kittibanthorn (front).
Winners of the Holcim Foundation Awards Gold 2014 for "Protective Wing: Bird sanctuary, Chiang Mai, Thailand" (l-r): Chak Cherdsatriku, Kaomai Lanna Resort, Chian Mai; Jairyawadee Lekawatana, Architectkidd, Bangkok; and Singh Intrachooto, Kasetsart University, Bangkok.
Jariyawadee Lekawatana from Architectkidd sees how the project considered the bird as the client to be the strongest element of the Holcim Awards Gold winner from Asia Pacific. “Protective Wing: Bird sanctuary” in Chiang Mai, Thailand serves as both an educational facility and a bird rehabilitation center including a small hotel and bird viewing tower, in a site that simulates the natural habitat.
Bird rehabilitation facilities: Abused birds require time to recuperate. The rehab facility provides three protected habitats for injured water birds, small birds and birds of prey. The size of each protected area is designed with regard to three requirements: flight suitability, recapturing readiness and visitor visibility.
In northern Thailand, a proposed sanctuary offers a second chance to thousands of birds rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. Each year, roughly 10,000 birds are smuggled across the country—many dying in captivity while awaiting court proceedings.
By Singh Intrachooto - Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand; Chak Cherdsatirkul - Kaomai Lanna Resort, Chiang Mai, Thailand; Jariyawadee Lekawatana - Architectkidd, Bangkok, Thailand and
This conceptual project reimagines the system with dignity and care: a place where endangered birds can heal, fly, and eventually return to the wild—while also creating an educational destination for people to reconnect with nature.
Project authors
Kasetsart University
Thailand
Kaomai Lanna Resort
Thailand
Architectkidd
Thailand
Architectkidd
Architectkidd
Architectkidd
Architectkidd
Architectkidd
Architectkidd
Architectkidd
École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture et de Paysage de Bordeaux
Architectkidd
Architectkidd
Architectkidd
Architectkidd
Conceived as a holistic rescue and rehabilitation centre in Chiang Mai, the Bird Sanctuary was designed to house and support birds confiscated as evidence in wildlife trafficking cases. The facility is divided across two interconnected sites: one providing permanent refuge and public learning spaces, including a bird clinic, library, and auditorium; the other focused on rehabilitation, preparing birds for release into the wild.
Designed to simulate a natural habitat, the sanctuary incorporates local materials such as palm fibre, which acts as an insulating, moisture-retaining façade and a regenerative food source for native bird species. While prototypes were developed and the concept received critical acclaim, the full project was not realised.
Principal, Architect Kidd
Thailand
Architect, Kasetsart University
Thailand
Business Owner, Kaomai Lanna Resort
Thailand
The jury greatly values the project’s political message on the devastating impact of bird trafficking on endangered wildlife. The author’s ideological stance aligns closely with the principles of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), particularly its influential Red List of Threatened Species, which guides global conservation policy and action. Treating architecture as a tool for activism, the project establishes a powerful link between political intent and built form—combining architectural quality with conservation, education, research, and eco-tourism in a complete and compelling way.
The “Ecology Skin” integrates natural fibres into building enclosures to enhance environmental performance. Palm fibre is used for its abundance, insulating and moisture-retention properties, and compatibility with nature. This architectural skin serves four functions: thermal insulation, acoustic buffering, food generation, and animal habitat. By allowing seeds to grow and offering shelter and nourishment, it contributes to local biodiversity. The system is replicable in other buildings, particularly in urban settings where energy efficiency and ecological value are increasingly vital.
Bird smuggling threatens biodiversity, with wild birds captured for their appearance or songs, then held in cages for years as legal evidence—many do not survive. The Chiang Mai Bird Sanctuary (CBS) confronts this cruelty by offering a space that fosters empathy, public awareness, and coexistence between humans and birds. It highlights the dignity of nature’s flying creatures and promotes environmental stewardship for future generations.
Urban expansion has displaced wildlife habitats, especially in flat lowland areas. CBS proposes to regenerate failed land parcels and adapt existing structures for new ecological uses. More than five million tons of palm fibre are discarded annually in Thailand; this project repurposes that waste into building envelopes. Palm fibre offers excellent insulation, moisture retention, and biocompatibility—making it ideal for low-impact, energy-efficient construction.
The sanctuary supports a growing eco-tourism sector, complementing the adjacent green hotel and attracting travellers seeking meaningful, nature-based experiences. With integrated spaces like a bird hospice and library, CBS doubles as an educational centre and permanent refuge for rescued birds. The project also aligns with increasing corporate interest in CSR initiatives and could secure long-term support through partnerships, research funding, and public-private sponsorship.
Combining brick and palm fibre, the sanctuary’s architecture resonates with the local landscape while blending seamlessly with its natural surroundings. Towers and pavilions are designed to evolve over time, integrating with the habitat and forming a gentle, ecologically rich architectural expression.
Project Update
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Exhibition
Zurich, Switzerland
4th Holcim Awards Competition
Zurich, Switzerland
4th Holcim Awards Competition
Zurich, Switzerland
Video – Project Author
Jakarta, Indonesia
Holcim
Jakarta, Indonesia
“Sustainability? Looking at the birds as our customers” – Jariyawadee Lekawatana
“Sustainability? Looking at the birds as our customers” – Jariyawadee Lekawatana
Protective Wing: Holcim Foundation Awards Gold 2014 - Asia Pacific
Protective Wing: Holcim Foundation Awards Gold 2014 - Asia Pacific
