The work of Enter Projects Asia (EPA) is globally recognised and one of its most spectacular projects, Terminal 2 Kempegowda International Airport Interiors (in collaboration with SOM), was named the Best of The Best winner at the INDE.Awards just last year. 

Following on from this and other successes for a variety of projects over the preceding 18 months, EPA’s latest completed commission is a study in design and delight that again showcases Patrick Keane’s working material of choice: natural rattan. The EPA Founder and Director says that it “is an important renewable material and, in many ways, a ‘gentle rebellion’ against the plastics and synthetics that have become commonplace in contemporary retail environments. It possesses an extraordinary combination of strength, flexibility and warmth, allowing us to create spaces that feel both deeply human and connected to nature.”

For Hermès at ICONSIAM’s flagship store situated on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand, Keane has again conceived a design for an interior installation that is breathtaking in its realisation. With his team of expert craftspeople, Keane has designed an architectural intervention that pays homage to place and material yet perfectly aligns with the luxury brand of his client.

Hermès is known for its unparalleled artisanship and the timeless designs of its products, where attention to every detail in making anything from leather goods and saddlery to high-quality textiles is paramount. Keane too is an advocate of invention and perfection; the curves and folds of the form of this project makes an indelible visual impact.

As a continuous rattan installation, the design was conceived, designed, developed, fabricated and installed by EPA, which also happens to have its head office and factory in Bangkok. 

“The design process was a dialogue between advanced digital technology and traditional craftsmanship,” reflects Keane. “Through parametric modelling, prototyping and full-scale testing, we were able to push the material beyond its conventional applications while remaining faithful to the knowledge and techniques that have been refined by craftspeople over generations.”

Through this advanced digital modelling that informed traditional weaving techniques, the structure envelops shoppers while also staking its place on the retail floor. As one of the oldest materials used in human construction, rattan is raised to exalted levels through EPA’s concept that favours the plant-based rather than industrial systems.

Related: More rattan from EPA

“Hermès has always sought to situate its stores within a local cultural context, and that ambition aligned closely with our own approach. Both organisations are continually evolving, responding to changing markets, places and moments in time.

“The installation unfolds as a continuous architectural landscape that guides visitors through the store while acting as a showcase for the products themselves. By combining advanced technologies with an age-old natural material, rattan becomes more than a finish or decorative element – it becomes the defining architectural feature of the space. The project demonstrates how traditional materials can be reimagined to create contemporary luxury environments that are authentic, innovative and rooted in place.”

Utilising rattan in such an elevated form, the installation complements the Hermès products through authenticity. Southeast Asia’s traditional material meets finely crafted French Hermès product and together they create a language that they can both speak.

EPA’s commitment to the research and development of designing with rattan is unwavering and the results are obvious – a sustainable material that sees traditional weaving techniques and digital intelligence work together to achieve the extraordinary.

Commenting on the collaboration between EPA and Hermès, Keane concludes: “Hermès does not simply arrive in Bangkok – it becomes part of its cultural fabric.” 

Enter Projects Asia
enterprojects.net

Photography
Marie Taillefer