Foundry Royal Thai Navel Dockyard

Engineering Precision: The New Foundry of the Royal Thai Naval Dockyard

The Foundry of the Royal Thai Naval Dockyard is a facility that specializes in manufacturing bronze propellers for naval vessels. Completed in October 2023, the foundry spans approximately 2,300 square meters. Initially located at the Thonburi Naval Dockyard in Bangkok, the need for relocation led to the establishment of the new facility at the Phra Chulachomklao Naval Dockyard in Samut Prakan province.

This relocation to a more suitable location minimizes its impact on the local community, environment, and neighboring structures a significant improvement over the challenges faced by the former site amidst highly urbanized residential areas. In this project, the architects used metal sheets for both the roof and the walls because the main function of the building is a factory where the construction required high and wide column spans so the choices of roofing and walling materials are quite limited. This leads to metal sheet, which is lightweight and easy to install.

This aligns with the architectural design direction in the details where steel sheets are used on the walls and the roof. One of the persistent issues faced by the old foundry was insufficient lighting, despite attempts to enhance natural light with electric lighting. This is coupled with the users’ requirement to utilize sunlight as the main source of interior illumination. The building also accommodated the furnace inside, which causes high heat. These factors necessitated the design team to comprehensively understand wind and light directions before orienting the building accordingly. Considering the need for optimal interior illumination and ventilation, the rectangular architectural form was realized to facilitate efficient space management for machinery placement and accommodate potential future expansion.

In light of these factors, the design aimed to create openings that allow just enough natural light to enter. To minimize direct exposure of sunlight to the interior functional spaces and users, triangular openings were strategically placed instead of adding openings to the sides of the building. The design also aligns with the concept of simplified wave patterns caused by rotating propellers, resonating perfectly with the context of the project as a vessel propeller casting factory. The openings were positioned to bring in soft, diffused natural light from the north, creating a gentle ambiance within.

Additionally, the design of the building’s angled walls were carefully calculated and louvers were installed to help with interior ventilation while efficiently controlling the amount of natural light. These components prevent intense glare and heat from the afternoon sunlight coming from the west. Meanwhile, the skylights reduce the need of artificial lighting inside the building during the day. The louvers also contribute to the building’s appealing visual dynamics, beautifully harmonizing with the consistent presence of metal sheet throughout the entire architectural structure and fostering a unified aesthetic