Patrick Keane, an Australian architect who relocated from New York to Thailand, is pioneering a groundbreaking shift toward sustainable construction methods across Asia. His Bangkok-based firm, Enter Projects Asia, has become a driving force behind what he calls a "plant-based revolution" in architectural design, moving away from traditional concrete and synthetic materials toward natural alternatives like rattan, bamboo, and other organic substances.
Keane's transformative journey began in 2018 when he moved his family to the Thai island of Phuket. Coming from a background rooted in traditional New York architectural firms, he was immediately struck by Asia's abundant use of natural materials. "Asia turned on all the lights," Keane explains. "Everywhere I looked, I saw things made of natural materials: bamboo, rattan, thatching." This revelation led to his first major project using sustainable materials – a small Vikasa yoga studio in Bangkok in 2019, which became the foundation for his innovative approach.
The environmental benefits of Keane's approach are substantial, particularly given that concrete production accounts for approximately 30% of global CO2 emissions. Beyond the ecological advantages, Keane notes that clients worldwide are increasingly seeking alternatives to plastic and synthetic materials in favor of natural, organic options that offer both beauty and sustainability. His signature philosophy challenges conventional architectural wisdom with the motto: "A right angle is the wrong angle," emphasizing curved, organic forms that seem to pulse with life.
Keane's most impressive achievement to date is his work at Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, India. This massive project features 12,000 square meters of space covered with 12 kilometers of rattan, creating circular retail huts that provide both warmth and airiness to the facility. The project, completed as part of an overall design by U.S. firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, prompted world-architects.com to question whether Kempegowda could be considered "the most beautiful airport in the world." Fittingly, Keane has personal connections to Bengaluru, where his great-grandfather designed important buildings in the late 19th century and his Anglo-Indian mother was born.
Bill Barnett, founder and managing director of C9 Hotelworks, a Phuket-based property and hospitality consultancy, praises Keane's innovative approach. "They threw away the rulebook... with a little bit of madness... [and forged] a new language of design born from the earth, built for the soul," Barnett observes. This philosophy extends across Keane's award-winning portfolio, which includes the dramatic Spice & Barley restaurant at Bangkok's Anantara Riverside hotel and the undulating roof elements of the private Chiang Mai Gallery in northern Thailand.
The architect's international recognition includes multiple Interior of the Year prizes in the U.S.-based Interior Design Awards and an INDE Best of the Best award from InDesign Media Asia Pacific. His current projects span the globe, from a striking lobby and striated ceiling at the sustainability-focused South Palms Resort and Spa Panglao in Bohol, Philippines, to retail outlets in Belgium, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Future projects include wild, undulating forms designed to shade poolside swimmers at a projected hotel in Malaysia and storefronts for brands like Spain's Massimo Dutti that want to emphasize their commitment to sustainable initiatives.
Keane's impact extends beyond individual projects through Project Rattan, a 4,500-square-meter fabrication site in Nonthaburi, located an hour north of Bangkok. This facility employs around 300 Thai craftspeople intermittently, with many farmers "coming and going by the season." The operation supports artisans whose skills have been passed down through five generations, with up to 60 craftspeople at a time working on large plant-based structures using traditional methods involving soaking and heating of materials.
The architect emphasizes that rattan and other native reeds are particularly abundant in Bali and the Philippines, where traditional workmanship is experiencing a revival. Rattan, derived from the climbing stalks of a palm common in Southeast Asia, has long been used for chairs, baskets, mats, and canes, though it faces threats from deforestation. The word itself is of Malay origin, reflecting the material's deep cultural roots in the region.
While Enter Projects Asia was originally launched in 2005-06, Keane notes that his approach was considered "niche" until the COVID-19 pandemic stimulated greater interest in architectural methods that "went back to nature and brought tactility into commercial environments." He now finds himself part of a broader trend in the hospitality sector toward community-based materials that are "less about bling and showing off." Keane is particularly critical of Western architectural techniques such as poured concrete and drywall construction, which he likens to "selling a car from 1954."
Despite their organic appearance, Keane's complex designs rely heavily on cutting-edge computerized technology. "Since my days of 3D gaming," he explains, "I have used visualizations to creatively emulate natural phenomena. Powerful software applications pre-test the strength of all our organic forms that do the work of concrete even though they are so much lighter." This combination of ancient craftsmanship with modern technology allows him to create structures that are both beautiful and structurally sound.
Looking toward the future, Keane envisions even larger applications for his sustainable approach, expressing interest in building "columns for a metro station" or other major infrastructure projects using natural materials. His ultimate goal is to prove that sustainability can be combined with practicality on any scale. Above all, he sees his future firmly rooted in Asia, where people "are always prepared to improvise" and maintain the knowledge to manufacture materials "with high levels of detail and craftsmanship" – even when working with some of humanity's oldest available resources.
