Two Case Studies for a Better Life —
Mr. Supawut “Tee” Boonmahathanakorn of Chiang Mai, Thailand
and Earth Us 어스어스 Café in Seoul, Korea
When we speak about landscape architecture, the profession is often simplified—defined only as a service, a decorative finish, or the last step in the engineering process. But for me, design has always meant far more than that. I still remember when I entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1991. One day, Ian McHarg stopped by my desk, looked closely at my small wooden housing model, and said, “The roofline is a little bit dull.”
Those words stayed with me. McHarg—who built a legacy on ecological thinking—reminded me that even in science-driven design, the visual, the poetic, the “design” of things still matter.
Chiang Mai: Meeting Tee and the Spirit of Rewilding
Last fall in Chiang Mai, I had the privilege of meeting Supawut “Tee” Boonmahathanakorn, a widely respected Thai landscape architect and architect.
During our conversation and his explanation of his book, I found myself deeply moved. The graphics in his book were stunning, yes—but what struck me most was his pure, quiet attitude toward nature. Perhaps his architectural studies in India shaped him, but what I felt went beyond academic influence. Tee approaches nature almost as a teacher, a partner. His positioning was not “project-first” or “money-first,” but Nature-first. His work reflects this spirit beautifully:
Trust.org feature: https://news.trust.org/item/20210107063140-gkut6/
Interview in Living ASEAN: https://livingasean.com/tag/supawut-boonmahathanakorn/
Book: Rewilding Garden (Thailand). Listening to him, I felt refreshed—as if encountering a new angle of thought that was both gentle and powerful. His designs speak quietly, but they stay with you.
Seoul: Earth Us Café and a Lifestyle of Zero Waste
The second story comes from a very different place—Seoul, Korea—but with the same heartbeat.
There is a book written by the owner of Earth Us Café 어스어스, a small coffee shop with a big philosophy: a life without waste. Earth Us refuses all single-use items.
Customers bring their own containers for take-out.
Handkerchiefs replace tissues—washed by hand each day.
They hire extra staff to honor this principle.
They could earn more money, but instead they choose to respect the Earth. The owner is young, energetic, and full of conviction. And, like Tee, she shows that design is not only about what we create but also about how we live.
Two Stories, One Attitude
Tee in Chiang Mai.
Earth Us in Seoul. Different nations, different cultures, different fields—yet both share the same core attitude:
Loving the earth. Their work proves this.
Tee’s gardens, shaped by humility.
Earth Us Café, thriving through sincerity. These are not just projects; they are examples of how design, lifestyle, and culture can merge into a single continuous act of care.
A Reflection from Walter Ryu Studio
At Walter Ryu Studio, we try to extend design beyond drawings—into community, culture, and daily life. After many years living abroad and learning from different societies, I have come to believe that our profession must influence how people live, not just how spaces look. Do we have one clear answer?
No, not yet. But we do have examples.
Tee shows us one path.
Earth Us shows another.
If You Travel…
If you ever find yourself in Chiang Mai, I strongly recommend visiting Tee or reaching out to his studio.
And when you are in Seoul, stop by Earth Us Café. Their kindness, sincerity, and attitude toward the world will make you understand everything I have written here.
They are both working hard, in their own ways, to build a better life for themselves, their communities, and the earth.