HOUSE / Living ASEAN - Inspiring Tropical Lifestyle

A Rooftop House with a Wonderful Panorama of Old Bangkok

By livingasean
November 17, 2016
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Tawan / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul /

In the midst of stunning skyscrapers and the hustle and bustle of city life, there exist serene temples and communities in the old part of town. This is where Jason M. Friedman has chosen to build his rooftop house.

Rooftop House — Spacious glass walls open to take in the view of old Bangkok. The neighborhood boasts a comfortable lifestyle that Friedman has always wanted, and for good reason.

At first, Friedman had planned on buying a condominium within the prime business district. But then he discovered a vacant penthouse unit on the seventh floor. He gave it a serious thought, and the rest was history.

“I was fortunate to have discovered this place. The home with a 360-degree surround view is nestled in the heart of old-town Bangkok. So I changed my mind and immediately got down to the business of remaking it into a residential home,” Friedman recalled.

An al fresco sitting area provides outdoor comforts and a 360-degree view of Old Bangkok. A sky garden filled with thriving houseplants adds green urban space to the top of the building – frugal ideas to reconnect with nature.

Utilizing the vantage point to the maximum benefit, he positioned all the rooms in a way that afforded a beautiful view of the city. Plus, they are conveniently connected to one another.

He put in large wall openings to bring the great outdoors into the home, creating a passive cooling system for everything from the reception area to dining room, to kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and the balcony.

Inside, some of the most eye-catching elements include the exposed brick walls that add rustic Industrial charm to the guest reception area and dining room. Furniture crafted mostly of intricate woodwork dominates the interior living spaces.

Decorating materials, most of which obtained through years of extensive travels, convey a lot about his love for Oriental art and culture. They are placed on display silhouetted against the brownish orange hues of surrounding brickwork, while plenty of natural light shines through the generously sized glass wall.

The kitchen is custom-built since Friedman is particularly fond of home cooking. He usually buys fresh produce and does his own grocery shopping. The room comes well equipped and spacious enough to meet his specs. It’s like putting an entire hotel kitchen in a home setting, so to speak.

For the most part the floors are tiled in black and white, arranged in the chess design pattern to blend harmoniously with nearby exposed brick walls. The bottom line is they are easy to keep clean.

The kitchen is spacious and custom-built to the specs created by Friedman, an avid home chef.

The bedroom boasts clean line design that’s easy on the eyes with furniture speaking to a passion for Oriental style. Awake or asleep, panoramic views of old Bangkok are always there, thanks to large windows glazed with clear glass on all sides.

The food preparation area features a spacious kitchen island table and a backsplash tiled in white for easy cleaning.

While the city continues to grow and face new challenges that come with an expanding economy, one must not forget that Bangkok is where old neighborhoods coexist with new skyscrapers.

There is rustic charm to the beautiful culture and lifestyle that cannot be found anywhere else. This Western gentleman is fortunate to have found happiness in his rooftop home, and is loving every minute of it!

This stylishly chic bathtub is custom-made. The rim comes wrapped in genuine leather for firm grips and safety precautions. — Decorating materials are taken from sentimental collections that Friedman has kept for many years. Imperfections, scratches, and dents tell stories of their journey through time. The same applies to pictures mounted on the wall and the antique hanging lamps.

Sharing his slice of paradise, Friedman said: “Living the best of life is not necessarily about being in a well-appointed home, rich in elaborate design and expensive décor. To me, a happy home is one in which you feel relaxed. It is nice to wake up fully rested and enjoy tranquil sounds of Old Bangkok, its lifestyle, and a culture that is so unique.”

Twin antique bathroom mirrors come in wood frames adorned with Chinese calligraphy. Its traditional look complements the natural finishes on the wooden dressing table.

Owner/Decorator: Jason M. Friedman

Visit the original Thai version…

Rustic Industrial ผสมผสานในสไตล์ไทยและตะวันออก

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10 Inspiring Modern Tropical Houses

By livingasean
November 15, 2016
HOUSE,LIVING

LivingASEAN has selected our favorite houses in the ASEAN for 2016. Of course, all of them present practical solutions for living in the hot and humid climate of Southeast Asia. Check them out!

Modern Tropical Home in Indonesia

Designers’ Eco-friendly Dream Home

Concrete and Steel / The Combination of The Modern House

Countryside Home in the Eyes of Architect

Nature Meets Concrete House

Enchanting Thai Style Home

The Warm Half Concrete Half Wood House

Simple Reinforced Concrete Structure House

Comfy Minimalist House

Modern Tropical Bamboo House

Taking a Look inside an Artist’s Studio Home in Chiang Mai

By livingasean
November 14, 2016
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Chiang Mai, Thailand /

/ Story: Warapsorn / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Sungwan Phratep /

An artist’s house is never just a place to live. It’s a collection of creative spaces. Let us now turn to the studio home of Chamnian Thongma, one of the country’s most famous artists and sculptors. Many prefer to call him just “Thongma.” The artist is widely known for having produced many life-size figurative sculptures. His works are soft and sweet with a little bit of rawness to them, the likes of which aplenty right here at this chic studio home.

Chamnian Thongma Studio Home — His art studio is constructed based on a simple design. The exterior walls are crafted of exposed brickwork. The most charming feature is the door shutter that has a classic antique feel to it.

Not affected by the passage of time, the studio home boasts the simplicity of exposed brickwork on the exteriors. Among other things, the most attractive feature is the door shutter with a classic antique feel.

The place is nestled at the heart of an old housing development just off of a major thoroughfare in Chiang Mai. Thongma came across it while working on a decorating project at the home of a friend of his, which happened to be right next door.

A human head bust on display inside the studio home has a raw, rugged look to it.

When he first bought the place, the one-Rai (1,600 sq.m) land was teeming with long tall grasses. After all the clutter was hacked out, it was a beauty just like it had been when the project was completed many years back. It took him just four months to build this new home from start to finish.

Thongma started out with simple design with the work studio occupying the front section facing the highway. The residential wing is at the rear looking out over a small stream where the soothing sounds of water flowing in the background can be heard night and day.

The home plan consists of three one-story buildings looking very much alike but serving entirely different functions. They all have simple gable roofs.

The studio’s main entryway sports a different kind of appeal with the door shutters showcasing classic antique design. Next to it stands the residential section, which consists two white buildings.

The fasciae covering the ends of roof rafters are made of reclaimed wood boards. Together they add a country rustic charm to the home. The two residential buildings connect to each other via an unpaved courtyard at the center of an L-shaped floor plan.

The living room in one of the residential buildings boasts the simplicity of sloped ceilings crafted of reclaimed timber. Along the wall, potted Cordyline plants thrive beside other interior décor, also in bold shades of red.

The first residential building houses Thongma’s bedroom, while the second is reserved for guest accommodations. Both of them possess a full array of wall openings to let natural light shine through in all directions.

They double as engine that drives natural ventilation keeping the interior living spaces cool and comfortable all day. Plus, they reduce the harsh appearance and irregular surfaces of the exterior walls.

The house interior is bedecked with décor items from Thongma’s collections. They consist of old furniture from France arranged and utilized in ways that embrace the natural appeal of a European country home.

The L-shaped house plan keeps the bedroom separate from the sitting room without using any kind of solid room divider. The bed itself is an antique item combining intricate woodwork with woven rattan crafts.

On open-concept interior design, Thongma humbly said he felt more content with a simple way of living. “It’s good enough as a shelter protecting him from the elements. It’s warm, inviting and enjoyable here, thanks to plenty of chic décor ideas.”

The unpaved center court covered in pea gravel provides easy access to all parts of the property. Houseplants, including cactus, thrive on the edge next to the exterior walls.

It came as no surprise that Thongma preferred spending time in the open air to being indoors. The natural beauty of the environment was just irresistible. It has all the features to take him straight to nature – the stream, the mellifluous sounds of leaves rustling in the trees, and the lacy canopy of fully grown trees.

[Left] The guest bedroom boasts the beauty of antique French furniture. / [Right] A sundeck with rattan furniture is designed for relaxation at the water’s edge. It is set on a pea gravel patio with retaining walls crafted of brickwork.

The building set aside for guest accommodation has a huge window that lets natural light shine into the interior. It’s made of steel and glass panes. Thongma’s very own residential unit can be seen in full view from here.

Thongma wrapped it up nicely. “Nature and our lives are inextricably linked. It is cool to be able to live in a nature-inspired environment in order to create works of art.”

And that’s exactly what he’s been doing from the start. The studio home best describes who he is and what he is about.

Owner/Designer: Chamnian Thongma

Visit the original Thai version…

บ้านทรงสี่เหลี่ยมหลังคาจั่ว จุดเริ่มต้นของความพอดี

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Flexible Condo Living

By livingasean
November 10, 2016
HOUSE,LIVING

Time changes, things change. People who stick with stability in life may find the fact troublesome but not Anirut Kittithichot, the owner of this flexible condo. To him, change is certain.

/// Thailand ///
Story: Mone /// Photos: Damrong /// Style: Phakhawadee /// Owner/ Designer: Anirut Kitthichot

Shelves in this large built-in cabinet can be reassembled to maximize a storage space.

Setting the teak dining table against a mirrored wall makes the table looks longer. Laminated white-oak surface on the cabinet blends with the surrounding and gives an uncluttered feel.

Anirut was a marketing executive at Cotto. He left the job and signed up for a scholarship in business design at Domus University, Italy. Currently, he returned to Bangkok to work in marketing full-time again.
“I like things and got bored of things easily. To me, designing new works is a fun challenge.” Anirut said.

For a single young man like him, this 46-square-meter condominium room is not too small. The space is more than enough to apply his creativity. The empty room was gradually turning into a private kingdom reflecting his personal taste and individuality.

By putting a sticker of his favorite quote and a black frame in, the service door is hidden in plain sight.

The room is relaxing and friendly. Chilling music is playing, while its Scandinavian décor sets an easing mood. “Maybe the relaxing atmosphere comes from a good portion of light color. If I’d used birch wood instead of teak, the rooms would look even more Scandinavian. But I picked a teak table because of its future value. One day I might got bored of it, But I can still adapt it into something else.

Wooden-like ceramic tiles give a rustic feel to the pantry wall while protecting the surface from humidity.

Always falling in love with new things, Anirut chose to mix and match his interior decoration. He also likes the challenge of hunting for rare and interesting items. Some of his furniture took a long journey from Milan. Some are from his trips. Some are from trade fairs, and some are his own creation made by his favorite furniture maker in Bang Po. The most outstanding pieces among these are antlers and furs, which give the room a rustic feel.
Anirut has a clever way of utilizing the space. He avoids installing fixed furniture in case of future changes except for built-in closets to keep little items (which seem to be a classic problem for every condominium dwellers) in some corners.

A hanging lamp is used instead of a bedside table due to space limitation. A sticker on the glass wall is removable. So, Anirut can change it as often as he wishes.

“I like having parties with my friends and having many people come over. But their working hours are odd. So, there are only 3-4 dropping by at the same time. To create an illusion of having many people and also to make the room appears larger, I installed a mirror at a dining table.”

The 2-unit wardrobe has a metal frame instead of a door, since Anirut likes to see clothing inside the cabinet. /// A mirror cabinet in the bathroom adds more space for small items. Lighting is enhanced both above and below the cabinet to reduce glares.

personal style is much loved by friends and acquaintances. Many asked him to design their houses, which Anirut gladly agree to help. His place may be a flexible condo, but for his friends’, he advises differently to each. “I don’t want to walk into their place and like it too much. That would mean it’s my place, not theirs!”

A Concrete House Embraces the Charms of Oriental Culture

By livingasean
November 9, 2016
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Ekkarach Laksanasamrit / English version: Peter Montalbano /

/ Photographs: Sitthisak Namkham / Styliing: Phakhawadi Phahulo /

The architect and owner of Volume Matrix Studio Co., Ltd., Kasin Sornsri, and his wife Maiko Ishimoto have agreed to live in Thailand. Together, they incorporate Thai and Japanese influences in the design. The result is a calm and peaceful orchard home that embraces the charms of Oriental culture.

Oriental Appeal House — The house-on-stilts design is ideally suited for coastal areas in tropical climates. Situated on a piling foundation, the Oriental-style home provides outstanding outdoor space, good natural ventilation and precautions against flooding.

Blending two cultures together may seem to be hard, but good communication and understanding guide them through. “If you look closely, you’ll notice a hint of Japanese atmosphere mixing in the house,” Kasin said.

“The stilt floor is open, making it suitable to sit and relax on traditional Japanese furniture with a square latticework in the background. The floor is lower down on the side and covered with pebbles like a Zen garden. A 7-tatami-sized Japanese room is on the second floor.”

Kasin continued, “For comfort and utility, we use concrete flooring in some areas. It is easier to clean than a mat floor. I also designed some spare rooms for my wife’s relatives. Most are empty, equipped only with a bathroom, in case there are many guests at the same time.”

Poured concrete window frames that extend outward add artistry to the building both inside and out.

The house is situated in a tiny peaceful street on a property of nearly 16 acres. It once had four small houses surrounded by a mango orchard. The owner kept most of the orchard and didn’t cut any tree down.

The posts of this concrete balustrade alternate with gaps in between to keep them from being opaque. The stairway design is simple and strong.

This house with Oriental appeal was built right up against the fence to avoid disturbing the orchard. It has three levels that collectively act as a fortress hiding the orchard from the outside and enhancing privacy.

Each component of the house is humble and harmonizes with the natural surroundings. To accomplish a simple and uncomplicated look, the owner used pillars and beams and, at the same time, tried to keep equal thickness for all beams to cut the cost of wood.

An interesting surface of a building can be created by pressing faux wood against the wall. But make sure to choose a beautiful grain for this.

Most floors were constructed of prefabricated concrete, except bathrooms, balconies, and decks, which used poured concrete. Polished concrete walls were chosen because the material was easy to work with, suited for environmental conditions, and easy to find.

“I used foamed blocks instead of red bricks. The material is lighter, anti-heat, easier to construct and lowering overall weight for the house.” Kasin explained.

“Normal glass is preferred, not UV-filtered ones. So, natural light can enter. Box-like flaps were added to screen the light. They also act as ventilation pipes to draw fresh outdoor air into the home.

“For a little differentiation, I added a small amount of black color into polished concrete walls. It also blends well with mango trees in the orchard.”

Overall, the appeals of the Orient are in the details. Some parts of concrete walls are marked with patterns made by pressing a faux wood against the wall while the concrete was setting. Exterior walls are alternating between rough and smooth surfaces. With such attention to detail, the house is undoubtedly in a good hand.

Owner: Kasin Sornsri and Maiko Ishimoto

Architect: Kasin Sornsri of Volume Matrix Studio Co., Ltd.

Visit the original Thai article…

บ้านคอนกรีต ผสมกลิ่นอายสไตล์ญี่ปุ่น

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A Parisian Studio

By livingasean
November 7, 2016
HOUSE,LIVING

Where do people look for an inspiration? Some discover it in books or magazines, while others turn stories into new thoughts. The owner was passionate about an apartment in the 1998 film “A Perfect Murder.” It was the inspiration that led to his so-called Parisian Studio.

/// Thailand ///

Story: Montra /// Designer: Priyawat Temchawala /// Photographer: Damrong /// Assistant Photographers: Thanatcha, Jantima

The cabinet face is designed to look as if it holds many drawers, adding more vintage details.

The work corner and the living room are in the same area. The desk consisted of metal legs made from water pipes and a wooden top to fit the width of the wall. Different cushions were originally placed here. But Priyawat later replaced them with his vintage armchair. — The work corner and the living room are in the same area. The desk consisted of metal legs made from water pipes and a wooden top to fit the width of the wall. Different cushions were originally placed here. But the owner later replaced them with his vintage armchair.

“At first I thought I’d just knock out the ceiling, fix it up, and think about the rest later. But ideas were popping in my head. So, I had to redo everything,” said the owner who also designed the space by himself.

Light-colored décor contrasts with raw surfaces of conduits on the ceiling, utility pipes and the metal arch. The arch’s scale was adjusted to suit a low-ceiling height and to accentuate its clear lines. Pipes were painted white to reduce the rawness of the original metal surfaces.

“I thought it was just a question of making the ceiling higher. But once it was out, I wanted to make an archway pretty much like the loft-style, high-ceiling room in the film.”
The owner had done a lot of research. One design book about the Eiffel Tower caught his attention. “The book enlarged each part of the Eiffel Tower to show exactly what was there. I was entranced by the detailed ironwork because it had such unique elegance.”

The bedside lamp design was derived from one of Priyawat’s projects for a hotel. To contrast with the lamp’s modern style, Priyawat paired it with a vintage wooden bedside table. — The bedside lamp design was derived from one of the owner’s projects for a hotel. To contrast with the lamp’s modern style, he paired it with a vintage wooden bedside table.

As a result, the room was totally transformed. From an ordinary rectangular condominium room, it took on what the owner called a “Parisian Studio” look. The character of the room has certain rawness from the metal archway, while a touch of softness is filled with white tones. Details were gradually added to complete the whole look, just like putting jigsaw pieces together.

As an interior designer, he understood the fact that he could not adjust the floor plan much. The condominium also came with pre-installed electrical appliances, which were mostly immobile. So, he decided to focus on the furniture instead. Most of the furnishing pieces were custom-made. A floor-to-ceiling wardrobe was built-in to make the most out of the limited space, while a queen-size bed was equipped with wheels enabling it to move easily.

The queen-size bed and bedclothes are in shades of white to keep the tiny space from seeming cramped. A little panache is thrown in with the two bedside tables of different styles.

The owner also recognized the importance of a proper space management. A workspace was arranged at one corner close to a wall. The middle of the room was left for a living area. For privacy, he used long curtains to separate his sleeping area from the rest of the room.

Back to our question: Where do you look to find an inspiration? Well, answers may vary. But we know one thing for sure. This Parisian Studio inspired us with lots of little details.

The bedside table is designed to look like an antique. The original model is vertically adjustable. To save costs, this reproduced one can only slide aside.

Modern Design for Practical Living

By livingasean
November 3, 2016
HOUSE,LIVING

At first sight, the house seems like a plain-looking Tropical Modern home. But a closer investigation reveals the balance between beautiful design and functions for a practical lifestyle.

/// Thailand ///
Photos: Suphakon Srisakun, Ritthirong Janthongsuk /// Designer: Kanop Mangkhalaphruet and Ayutt Mahasom

In front of the house is a wall of vertical slats with small gaps between them, which allow a very partial view in from outside. A good sense of privacy is created this way.

The house fronts on an open lot to the west, allowing sunshine to pour in at certain times of day, and bringing the world of nature inside.

Every house has its unique character. This Tropical Modern home designed by Kanop Mangkhalaphruet and Ayut Mahasohm is aesthetically elegant and smart enough to serves the homeowner’s every need.

The double-layered roof provides a convenient release for heat. Together with the extended eaves, this helps keep the house cooler.

The house is located on a rectangular-shaped piece of land, with one end facing a village road and the other fronting a canal. Its I-shaped floor plan is laid out along the north-south axis to benefit from diffused sunlight from the north and winds from the south. Other precautions are also taken to avoid flooding at high tides. Meantime, an open space on the north side is reserved for a garden and a pool.

Usable spaces are divided into two main sections — service and residential. The service area consists of a Thai kitchen, a maid’s quarters, an electrical room, a carport, and storage. For practicalities, the section is located close to the entrance.

All physical lines of the house are intentionally designed to create horizontal and vertical relationships.

The residential area has a parlor, living room, dining room, workroom, and food preparation spaces. All rooms are open to take in views of the swimming pool and adjoining wooden veranda, which connect to the garden and the canal beyond. Floor-to-ceiling glass panels can slide open all the way, making the area a perfect space to relax or party.

For the privacy of both residents and visitors, the house offers dual access, one next to a carport and the other via the veranda. If houseguests are being entertained in the parlor, residents who have nothing to do with it can enter or exit through the carport leaving the meeting undisturbed.

Setting the doors back away from the line of support posts makes it possible to open all the doors at once without being blocked by them.

Kids’ bedroom and study room are an extension from the main structure. It adds an interesting feature to the building and doubles as long overhangs protecting rooms below from the elements. Openings are used only when necessary to avoid strong sunlight. Various shapes and sizes of vertical aluminum stripes add fun details to the wall and also protect the house from the heat.

A diminutive courtyard in the middle of the house directly adjoins the kitchen. When it is opened up, it provides great ventilation.

Another outstanding feature is roof design. Long overhangs provide protection for a full array of glass windows that can open to let heat energy out. For durability, handsome abode is constructed of reinforced steel structure. Round pillars are chosen to prevent injuries from accidentally bumping into sharp objects. All of these qualities are incorporated for the sake of practical living.

The bathroom is intentionally designed to be open and spacious, as a lot of light is wanted. There are frosted-glass guard railing and shower curtains that help make the space more private.

A Beautiful White House in the Sun-Kissed Rice Fields of Chiang Mai

By livingasean
November 1, 2016
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Chiang Mai, Thailand /

/ Story: Warapsorn / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Oum Chaonapreecha, Anupong Chaisukkasem, Rittirong Junthongsuk /

If the relaxed ambience of a country home is your ideal of what life should be, here’s a contemporary white house in the sun-kissed rice fields in Chiang Mai that will warm your heart. Needless to say, it’s built into nature. The famous Mount Doi Luang Chiang Dao is clearly visible from miles around.

The contemporary white home stands in the middle of it all under the big blue sky.

For many people, a calm and peaceful home atmosphere is everything and everlasting. This white house under the big sky is exactly that — simple, humble and comfortable to live in.

The two-story home amid the sea of rice paddies belongs to Fasai Viseskul, an art therapist. As one would expect, interesting works of art are practically everywhere inside the residence inspired by French Colonial architecture.

Climbing rose plants thrive in the sun making their way up to a lattice awning over the front porch.

[Left] Door panels are made of wood recycled from much older homes. Nearby stands a bench seat crafted of unused materials left over from house building. [Right] A set of wood slab table and bench seat comes in free form. It is made out of a tree trunk. — [Left] Door panels are made of wood recycled from much older homes. Nearby stands a bench seat crafted of unused materials left over from house building. / [Right] A set of wood slab table and bench seat comes in free form. It is made out of a tree trunk.

A large dining table is set facing outward to soak up spectacular mountain views.

Fasai is a much traveled person, having been to many different places across the Northern Region. Impressed by the beauty of nature and landscapes, she recently relocated to Chiang Dao, a district of Chiang Mai known for its majestic mountains and pristine Tropical forests.

It’s a helpful place. Some colleagues of hers are stationed in the area, including those working with the Makhampom Foundation, an NGO.

The absence of solid room dividers on the first floor makes the interior living spaces very light and airy. Open concept design not only promotes visual continuity, but also makes it easy for future updates.

The work room boasts the simplicity of a tabletop upcycled from unused door panels left over from house construction. The legs are crafted of square steel tubing.

A relaxed living room is illuminated by natural light thanks to glass enclosed loft ideas.

Fasai selected all the decorating items for the home herself. They came from many different sources. She is very particular about fabrics, always insisting that everything is correct in every detail. She got traditional Lanna fabrics and ethnic materials from a crafts market in Chiang Mai. Bamboo basketry, rattan furniture, and other weaving crafts were obtained from nearby provinces.

The kitchen is Minimalist in style, intended for preparing simple meals. The counter is made of hand-hewn stone blocks made to look like brickwork.

[Left] The kitchen countertop and lower shelf made of hand-hewn wood slabs add a rustic appeal to the interior. [Right] A medicine cabinet is made of reclaimed wood. The homeowner had her neighbor make the woven bamboo cabinet door for her, a design inspired by her Mom, who in turn got the idea from a vintage hotel in Luang Prabang, Laos PDR. The house is mainly white because Fasai wanted it to feel light and airy inside and out. — [Left] The kitchen countertop and lower shelf made of hand-hewn wood slabs add a rustic appeal to the interior. / [Right] A medicine cabinet is made of reclaimed wood. The homeowner had her neighbor make the woven bamboo cabinet door for her, a design inspired by her Mom, who in turn got the idea from a vintage hotel in Luang Prabang, Laos PDR. The house is mainly white because Fasai wanted it to feel light and airy inside and out.

The house among the rice fields was built mostly of reclaimed timber recycled from much older homes. They were taken apart and transported up here ready to be adapted for new purposes.

And yet the overall effect is very nice, although it was built of simple and inexpensive building materials. They included the house floors made of white cement in glossy finishes, and pieces of furniture made on site by upcycling unused building parts, such as door and window panels.

A vintage shade of white chalk on the staircase breaks the harsh appearance of dark colored wood.

Let’s take a look inside. The first-floor interior boasts the simplicity of a clean and uncluttered open house plan. There is ample space for a workroom, living room and kitchen plus two bedrooms tucked away in a quiet, more secluded area of the house.

The second floor holds a relaxed sitting nook by the wall with a flight of stairs at the center. There are four bedrooms, all with the view of the misty air above the mountains and seemingly endless paddy fields. All of them come complete with a bathroom en suite and a private balcony. To increase privacy, the bedrooms are disposed in four directions and located away from one another.

In all the bedrooms, lampshades on nightstands are crafted of beautiful traditional Lanna fabrics. Elsewhere, light fixtures are covered in bamboo woven shades to add a rustic appeal to the home. All interior décor accessories are handcrafted in either traditional or vernacular fashion.

A rustic paper lantern chandelier illuminates the stairwell. Fasai made it herself using a mix of traditional fabrics and raw paper rolled up and bundled together.

Throw pillows on handcrafted floor mats are set up to entertain house guests in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere on the second floor.

The bedroom is Minimalist in style. It is awesome to wake up and take in the same spectacular view every morning.

For Fasai, the lovely white home in the fields is a perfect country hideaway at least for now. It’s her intention to live here permanently in the end. With the beautiful rice fields, gorgeous plants in the garden and such wonderful weather, a visit here is an enchanting experience indeed.

The bedroom is simple, uncluttered and set entirely in cool-toned whites. Wood boxes in the recessed wall and on the floor provide extra storage space.

The bathtub is crafted on site using white cement. For privacy, the window is hung with a blind made out of handwoven ethnic fabrics.

Owner/Decorator: Fasai Wiseskul

Visit the original Thai article…

บ้านครึ่งปูนครึ่งไม้กลิ่นอายโคโลเนียลกลางทุ่งนาในเชียงดาว ของนักศิลปะบำบัดที่แต่งบ้านด้วยตัวเอง

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Stacking Green: Integrating Nature-Inspired Design in a Row House

By livingasean
October 7, 2016
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam /

/ Story: Ekkarach Laksanasamrith / English version: Peter Montalbano /

/ Photographs: Soopakon Srisakul /

This residence in Ho Chi Minh City has an interesting form and exterior that has drawn us to see with our own eyes. Named “Stacking Green”, this row house design received an award for outstanding design and architectural works at the 2012 World Architecture Festival in Singapore. It’s not surprising that it received a citation for architectural excellence in the residential building category. The way that it dealt with complex urban problems in a simple way yielded an array of fascinating outcomes.

row house — The stairway reaches the top floor of the house that holds a guest bedroom with a sundeck.

The four-story townhouse offers a total of 250 square meters of usable space. The frontage abutting on the street is 4 meters wide with a whopping 20-meter depth. The interior is especially designed for the three people who live here, one of whom is an old person. Hence, one bedroom is placed on the lowest floor, so there’s no need to climb the stairs.

Since the house plan is long and narrow, bringing sunlight into the interior living space is a very good idea.

The second floor consists of a dining room, kitchen and living room, while the third holds the master bedroom with an open floor plan bathroom. The guest bedroom is located on the fourth floor.

It’s a well-known fact that people’s homes in Vietnam are often compactly built in townhouse form to use as little property space as possible, often resulting in cramped residences and unattractive-looking building fronts.

Here, the architects have incorporated privacy in the design so that no one can look in from outside. At the same time, it gives the homeowners a sense of peace and contentment. Overall, it’s a design thoughtfully devised to reduce pollution from the street.

As the leafy plants reach their full size, the level of privacy correspondingly increases.

Additionally, both the front and the back of the house feature rows of containers stacked one on top of the others with open air spaces at intervals. In all of them, lush green plants thrive luxuriantly screening the view inwards and creating attractive façades.

The house also has open ports which run up and down through all the floors. This kind of stack ventilation effect allows for hot air from below to rise and vent out through the rooftop. And by the same token, fresh cooler air is drawn inside keeping the heat down even at high noon.

In the front yard, a leafy shade tree improves air quality, while vertical gardening on the front and back facades has spaces between stacking containers that allow plants to grow. The open spaces between planter boxes are determined by the types of vegetation planted. The full height of a plant is used to fix the spacing between planters on each floor.

Step inside, and you find there are hardly any walls separating the home into different rooms, except for bathrooms. This creates efficient ventilation throughout the home, at the same time giving it an open, uncluttered feel.

Besides giving privacy and cooling shade to the house, the planter boxes and leafy vegetation also act as a safety feature.

In this way, when container plants reach their full heights, they become the outer envelope of the building. Together they go to work all day and every day filtering out harsh UV rays from the sun, at the same time letting the cool breezes flow through.

The architects picked only the trees and plants with fine and delicate foliage so as not to block the wind, and for ease of use, they installed pipes for an automatic watering system.

Concrete planter boxes holding plants on the front and back facades have the added convenience of an automatic watering system.

Architect: Vo Trong Nghia Architects

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Brilliant Home Office Combination of Studiomake

By livingasean
October 6, 2016
HOUSE,LIVING

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Ekkarach Laksanasamrith / English version: Peter Montalbano /

/ Photographs: Ritthirong Janthongsuk / Styling: Pakawadee Pahulo /

Despite the building being long and narrow, a team of architects at Studiomake managed to turn it into a perfect home office integration that would inspire productivity. The Bangkok-based team of designers, architects and educators is known for its specialized skills and experience in various types of architecture.

When it came to designing their own home office, Orapan Sarasalin Schafer and David Schafer opted for an architectural steel design for its lightweight look that’s right for the prevailing climate in Thailand. It’s a layout that emphasizes an open, uncluttered living space with plenty of wall openings, windows and doors for good ventilation and heat dissipation.

By design, the building performs a dual role. The first floor holds a fully equipped office space, while the second floor is used as a residence. Overall, it’s thoughtfully devised planning made easily adjustable for future updates. The crossbeams resting across the tops of columns support weigh over an extra long span, five meters to be exact.

Home office design offers many benefits, among them the freedom to create the ideal work space like the owners intended, plus the peace and quiet that suits their lifestyle needs.

The workshop boasts high ceilings for better ventilation, plus it has ample space for equipment and tools needed to perform various tasks.

There is attention to detail in all parts, especially the integration of natural elements like plants and light into the built environment, making the interior work space feel light, airy and conducive to creativity. And they don’t come by accident. Rather, every building strategy and material is tested first to see if it’s suitable for a particular application.

This helps to understand whether a specific material is right for the task, plus it narrows down the choices to the best selection. And the same careful consideration applies to both upstairs and downstairs. Examples of this include high ceilings and a wall of bookshelves designed to maximize work space utilization.

Taken as a whole, the lower floor contains a fully functional work space and offices, while the upper floor in and of itself is a complete home, consisting of two bedrooms with a bathroom en suite, a relaxing living room, kitchen and dining room.

The translucent sheet seen here is of polycarbonate, which allows light to pass through, but not exposed to the outside.

With respect to the office area, the floor plan is simple and straightforward. Electrical wiring is neatly installed and piped to various locations hidden from view. The pillars supporting the tall vertical structure of steel are evenly spaced for proper load bearing, while the building façades are made attractive by crisp clean lines.

For indoor thermal comfort, important aspects such as heat insulation, soundproofing, and ventilation are carefully thought out and incorporated in the design. In the fewest possible words, it’s all about attention to detail that makes this modern home office a perfect place to be. Brilliant!

Owner/Architect: Studiomake (www.studiomake.com)

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