When first established in 1995, IMPACT Arena was designed by Design+Develop in what proved to be a highly challenging project. The concept called for combining a sports venue with multipurpose facilities while simultaneously creating an urban landmark. The result was a building envisioned to serve not only its functional needs but also as a defining symbol of Muang Thong Thani.

‘It always was a big project. I mean, you don’t realize the kind of spans and the volume you have in a building like this. I think Muang Thong Thani needed this building to be of a civic scale. I’m a modernist, and my love of modern architecture comes from the honest use of materials. And in this building I wanted to have the feel that you get from classical architecture, but obviously we had to address the available to us. And I want the people who come here to see it.’

‘There are lots of cultural and historical influences. I mean like the huge staircase, the grand staircase here, it’s a great place just to sit. What I tried to do was create some counterpoint with the building where you’ve got small spaces so you can be part of the crowd or quiet and clam in a small corner. That’s one side of building that as a designer I’m very pleased about.’