design qua is a Bangkok-based architecture and design firm that takes an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to design.
In our projects the architecture, interior space and landscape are considered fluid parts of an interconnected whole. This holistic approach allows inside and outside spaces to relate in balanced and meaningful ways.
We believe in the power of design to shape our built environment, and in its role to conserve nature and culture for future generations. We believe it is our responsibility to do our part in ensuring the built-world is healthy and sustainable.
We believe that good architecture is rooted in place – climatically and culturally. Our project sites vary greatly but most are situated in the hot tropical zones of South East Asia. We have cultivated expertise in keeping our buildings cool through passive cooling strategies and smart site utilization.
We embrace nature and local materials whenever possible, and we understand that all buildings and homes have a lifespan. We employ refined design strategies that are sensitive to the inherent beauty of materials and allow them to age gracefully and patina with time.
Team
Malina Palasthira
Founding Partner
Malina is a Thai-Italian designer who gained her professional training as an architect in Los Angeles.
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Malina Palasthira
Founding Partner
Malina Palasthira is a Bangkok-born Thai-Italian architect who co-founded design qua, a Bangkok-based architecture and design firm in 2005. Before entering the field of design and architecture, Malina earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Economics (BSc Economics) from the London School of Economics in 1992. Soon after which she decided to change fields and started her design education at the Architectural Association in London. Malina later went on to complete her architectural education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. She also branched out into urban design and city planning while at MIT and earned herself a Master of Architecture degree (M Arch), a Master of City Planning degree (MCP) and an Urban design Certificate from MIT. Malina’s first formative years as a practicing architect were spent in Los Angeles where she worked for various local architecture firms over a period of 5 years. She met her husband, partner and co-founder of design qua, John Erskine, while they were both working at the notable architectural firm, Marmol Radziner and Associates in Los Angeles.
After moving back to Bangkok in 2005, Malina was a part-time architecture instructor at the School of Architecture and Design at King Mongkut ‘s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) for 2 years. Malina and John also taught at Chulalongkorn University’s International Program of Design and Architecture (INDA) until 2011. These day she still gets involved by being a regular design critic at students’ studio presentations.
John Erskine
Founding Partner
As a Design Associate he led several design teams and spearheaded the design of many high-end residences throughout the United States and in New Zealand.
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John Erskine
Founding Partner
John knew when he was very young that he wanted to be an architect and when he spent a year living in Florence as an exchange student that sealed the deal. While practicing architecture in Los Angeles, John worked extensively on well-crafted, California-modern homes. Prior to founding design qua with partner Malina Palasthira, he worked for the award-winning firm of Marmol Radziner and Associates (www.marmol-radziner.com). As a Design Associate he led several design teams and spearheaded the design of many high-end residences throughout the United States and in New Zealand. He also worked for Gensler in Santa Monica (www.gensler.com) where he gained experience in large-scale projects.
John received his Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University and was awarded the Henry Adams Medal by the National American Institute of Architects for excellence in design. He taught architectural design at both the School of Architecture and Design at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi and more extensively at INDA (Chulalongkorn University). He was also a thesis committee member at the School of Architecture and Design at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi from 2013-2016. John is an avid traveler who loves good music and often DJs for the enjoyment of his family and friends.
Titinart Tan Thumchuchaorat
Partner
Tan joined design qua 4 years ago and became a partner in 2017. Tan also has an avid interest in photography, building technology and loves to go trekking.
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Titinart Tan Thumchuchaorat
Partner
Tan graduated from the B.Arch Program at the Faculty of Interior Architecture, Chulalongkorn University in 2011. He started working on architectural scale projects soon after his graduation and received his Thai architectural license several years later. Tan joined design qua 8 years ago and became a partner in 2017. Tan also has an avid interest in photography, building technology and loves to go trekking. He is now getting a formal training in real-estate investment as well.
Tawiporn Tip Thawornjaturawat
Associate
Tip is a licensed Thai Architect who enjoys traveling around the world to learn more about design and architecture.
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Tawiporn Tip Thawornjaturawat
Associate Architect
Tip is a Chiangmai native who holds a B.Arch from the Faculty of Architecture Chiangmai Univerisity. She joined the design qua team in 2017. Tip is a licensed Thai Architect who enjoys traveling around the world to learn more about design and architecture. She also lived in the Czech Republic and India as an Architect volunteer.