TYIN - Designing for a Purpose

Especially in the field of design and architecture, it can sometimes be easy to get caught up in the glamour of the job and the excitement of creating spaces that wow and impress. I will admit that one of my favorite things to do is to explore and "travel" to these grand spaces, whether it be a fancy hotel or boutique store, and hopefully through these posts I have ignited a spark of creative inspiration and love of design for you. At the very least, I hope I have given you a glimpse of one of my passions, that would not be accurate without showing the most important reason that I love design and the potential it has to improve life. To illustrate this reason, let me introduce you to a firm that I feel encompasses this spirt of using their talents to serve people who need quality design the most.

TYIN tegnestue is a Norway firm that uses their abilities to make "significant contributions to humanity" above all else. Their projects range from sleeping huts to training centers to libraries, and their team has completed projects in Norway, Thailand, Uganda and Indonesia. One of my favorite aspects of their projects is that their designs not only serve the final users, but they involve the community and use all materials from nearby sites or local merchants.

The Klong Toey Community Lantern is located in Thailand serves one of the "largest and oldest areas of informal dwellings in Bankok." The project's main function of creating a football court and public playground, but it also has a long term goal of improving some of the social challenges of the area, which can be attributed to "lack of public services like healthcare, affordable education, sanitation and electricity." The structure is unique as it was designed and built within three weeks after a year of preparation.

Another project that TYIN has completed are the Soe Ker Tie Houses or Butterfly Houses located in a small village on the Thai-Burmese border. These houses serve as shelter and "a place to call home" for refugee children, and every part of their design serves these users. Some of these design decisions include the specially shaped roof, which provides natural ventilations and potential for rainwater collection and storage for dry season, and the raised foundations, which prevent moisture or rotting problems.

TYIN's design of the Old Market Library in Thailand addressed the refurbishment of the library and also the desire to "strengthen the passion in the neighborhood." The team worked with the community throughout the whole process to solve the challenges of flooding and rising water during flood season, and made it a goal to use local and reused materials

While TYIN has won well-deserved awards for their designs, these awards are insignificant in comparison to the impact that their spaces make for populations in need around the world. Especially as a designer, it is easy to criticize little imperfections in the places that I encounter daily, but seeing how solutions like these can improve life excites me and motivates me to be searching for opportunities outside of my bubble to use my passion and degree to serve others.

Be sure to read more about TYIN's projects on their website or watch some of their videos on their YouTube Channel!

via TYIN Architects