/ Story: Warapsorn Akkhaneeyut / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Sitthisak Namkham /
Terraced houses are ubiquitous throughout Singapore, many of which are well preserved to showcase the country’s rich architectural heritage and history of British Colonial rule. Many of them have changed to better serve commercial and residential needs of the modern world. This handsome terraced house is no exception.
Part of the top floor becomes a small sky garden.
This terraced house belongs to Alan Barr and Phaswan Promphat, both of whom interior designers.
Alan has had experience living in big cities, such as New York, before the job sent him across the globe to settle in Singapore nine years ago. He didn’t arrive empty-handed, but with furniture and other prized possessions.
Over time Alan transformed the old townhouse into a trendy residential unit, incorporating a touch of New York in the prevailing climatic conditions of Singapore.
The spaces between Colonial-style arch windows are filled with bookshelves that stand tall from floor to ceiling.Part of the living room is remodeled into a workplace. The table is custom-made from discarded materials.
The home has a narrow front façade, but the narrow width is compensated by depth, a design feature typical of Sino-Portuguese architecture.
The front part has since been remade to accommodate lattice awnings from floor to ceilings. They serve as privacy curtains while shielding the interior from direct sunlight without limiting air circulation.
From the outside in, it looks like any two-story home. Step in, and you will find it is actually a three-story design.
The ground floor now serves as a carport and storage facility. A set of stairs takes us to the second floor, which is the living room and kitchen with a spacious dining area.
The home office is here, too. From the living room, there is another set of stairs leading to the bedroom on the third floor.
An armchair and a round coffee table adorn the relaxed living room in chocolate and cream tones.Antique-inspired décor items line the hallway leading to a relaxed living space in the rear of the building. A room with a corner sofa and a large coffee table has enough space to entertain a circle of friends. The backsplash is covered in ceramic tiles made to look like bricks.[left] The living room floor is covered in a patchwork of carpets crafted of donkey hide that is soft to the touch. [right] A niche under the staircase has enough room for a mini-bar.
Alan said, “This home used to be a design studio. The interior was just about right. It looked like a home, but it was not.
“At the time, it was an office and it had no kitchen. So when we got it, we had to put in one. I like the layout of this home very much. I divide it into two simple zones – general, and privacy.
“The top floor is served by two separate sets of stairs. The attic has since become an office. Space is divided to store decorative works on one side and use as a workstation on the other.”
Set in gray and black tones, the kitchen comes fully equipped with stainless steel fixtures. Dark colored backsplash adds a nostalgic vibe to the atmosphere. The stairway leads to the snug bedroom on one side of the upper floor.The staff’s office is located on the opposite side of the upper floor to ensure the residential area is not disturbed.
“The second-floor dining room serves multiple purposes, from eating and entertaining customers, to meetings and project presentations,” he continued.
“Personally, I don’t like an office hemmed in by glass walls supported by steel or other metal frames. Offices in much of Singapore are like that.
“I want a different kind of workplace, in which to impress the customers with different experiences. Most of them like it here, whether it is furniture or decorative items that we have on hand.”
The conference table and chairs are placed closer to the wall, lined with storage shelves.
As a whole, the interior spaces are neatly designed and well-appointed.
Décor items from various places are placed in perfect harmony with one another. As he puts it, good furnishings don’t always have to be expensive if you know how.
Alan has given this old terraced house a chic modern makeover with a hint of interest and personality.
Here are some smart storage ideas to give your home unique character and make a shining statement about your style.
An idea for small rooms: A built-in cabinet in which clothes, shoes, bags, and books may be stored. You can make this kind of smart, easy-to-use closet in the Chinese medicine cupboard style. Label the drawers clearly for easy access. Wall cabinets add beautiful patterns and dimensions to your living spaces. They inspire you with a vision of freedom to create attractive walls.
Location: Preeyawat Temchavala’s home
You can take your wall out of its humdrum existence by putting in exciting arrays of built-in closets and display spaces. Line them up along the corridor. Full-insert sliding doors, which fits completely in the openings, are ideal for the lower cabinets since they don’t get in the way. The upper cabinets may consist of open compartments made of plywood or MDF wood. It’s a good idea to incorporate electric lights in the design. Lights add interest and dimensions to rows of built-in shelving along the corridor. Recessed lighting fixtures behind the cabinets can be set at intervals that run parallel to downlights from the ceiling. They can hide behind veneer wood paneling in the same color as that on the ceiling.
Location: 3rd Floor, Sansiri lounge, Siam Paragon
Left: Stair risers and treads make for creative shoe storage. Turn each riser space into a shoe box and cover it with sliding cabinet doors made of plywood or MDF wood. 10-mm-thick wood panels should suffice. Sliding doors are ideal because they don’t get in the way. Make a couple of slits in the door for good ventilation. Now we’ve got an incredibly clever way to store shoes.
Right:
01 The rear and both sides of the cabinet made of plywood or veneer wood
02 Attach wooden boxes with LED or Halogen light fixtures about 5 cm in diameter. Install wiring at the rear.
03 Hardwood frame with plywood or veneer wood cover
04 The door panel with a recess cut into it so as to join the parts together
01 Hardwood cabinet
02 Cabinet shells made of white MDF wood
03 Permanent U-shaped stainless steel brackets to hold the shelf in place
04 White MDF wood shelves 24 mm thick
05 Hardwood frame covered with white MDF wood
Looks can be deceiving. What looks like a 40-by-50 cm pillar supporting the building is in fact a vertical storage space that stands tall from floor to ceiling. This creative storage can open on two sides for accessibility and convenience.
Location: Kasijsin Suwattanapim’s home
Hallway walls are perfect for putting in a full array of built-in closets. The semi-outdoor area is a convenient place for storing shoes, gardening tools, toolboxes for the handyman … you name it. Black-laminated cabinet doors make post-it notes highly visible. But if you prefer magnets like the kind used on the refrigerator, we recommend installing a magnetic board on the back of the laminated panel.
Location: Assist. Professor Singh Intrachooto’s home
01 Black U-shape rail upon which a rolling library ladder rests.
02 Hardwood panels 30 mm wide, U-shaped steel rail painted matte black
03 Steel rolling library ladder painted matte black
04-05 The rear and the sides of the hardwood cabinet made of ash-plywood in natural colors
06 Hardwood frame covered with ash-plywood in natural tones.
An airy, high-ceilinged room is ideal for putting in a row of overhead shelves equipped with a rolling library ladder for easy access. The cabinet depth can be anything from 25 to 30 cm to create enough space for books and equipment. Add different textures to the wall to give the area a distinctive style.
Location: Areeya and Pilan Spanond’s home
You can create even more storage spaces buy turning hallway walls into bookshelves. By positioning the stairs 40 cm away from the wall, you have got a bookshelf that stands tall from floor to ceiling covering the entire length of the room. Where appropriate, put in some glass doors so that you can access the top shelves from both front and back sides. This is just one clever hack to put yours walls to work.
Location: Wonlopsiri’s Home Family
01 Outer frame
02 Hardwood frame covered with MDF plywood in gray
03 Furry carpet is held in place by Velcro tapes commonly found at stationery stores
04 Hardwood frame topped with plywood panel 18-20 mm thick
05 Hardwood drawers (30 x 30 x 45 cm) covered with gray MDF plywood
Nothing goes to waste. The space under the loft bed can transform into a commode containing concealed chambers used for storage. The commode can be as high as 45 cm from the floor to give ample spaces for storing miscellaneous items.
Location: Nu Nimsomboon and Klaiduean Sukhahoot’s home
Even a mundane bench can turn into useful, multipurpose storage in the courtyard. The space under it can be remodeled to shelter your shoes, hand tools, gardening tools and all from bad weather or danger. It’s a good idea to divide the underneath space into two parts and put in a couple of drawers with easy handles. The drawers can be made of plywood or MDF wood about 10 mm thick for durability.
Little joy with a cool lush green small garden in front of a pretty white house protected in front by a hedge of English banyan. Sukanda and Chaiyanon Mimarayat were inspired to create this beautiful place by the book cover of Small Garden from Baanlaesuan Publishing.
/// Thailand ///
Story : Warapsorn Akkhaneeyut /// Photos : Sitthisak Namkham /// Landscape : Little Tree
Seeking out the garden designer, Siriwit Riubamrung of Little Tree, they had to wait two and a half years to enlist his help. “When we first went to Little Tree the Designer needed to see the actual site, but the big floods came and we couldn’t continue for another year. Then prices were higher, so we had to wait even longer.”
In the meantime Sukanda redecorated, the space adding on a small cottage in a mixed French country and vintage style and a relaxation room with a porch, walkway, and lawn, all while waiting for the garden to arrive.
English banyan line two sides of the walkway entering the houseInside the little gate is a comfortable space to sit, but the tall hedge keeps it private.
“Our old place was a townhouse with retro façade, not like this at all. Then we started getting out more, and thought about copying the look of restaurants and coffee shops we liked, such as Agalico, which Little Tree designed. We gave Siriwit a free hand because we liked his concepts, but of course he discussed everything with us in advance. He made adaptations from the original work plan such as increasing the height of the hedge barrier in front for more privacy.”
A checkerboard tile pattern fronts the house, and cobblestones set diagonally on the washed sand walkway
Inside the garden is a very private enclosed space, with a chic black lawn table on top of cobblestones set in diagonal lines, fragrant yellow gardenias, and bright flowers scattered here and there for a relaxing, casual mood.
These gorgeous rectangular English banyan hedges took 2 years to reach their 2-meter heightNear the pond, detail-textured cape plumbago encroaches on the walkway, with knot root foxtail adding a striking look.
Siriwit helps with color coordination as well as prices and brands. In the mix of plants he inserted Fukien tea and English banyan hedges trimmed into geometric shapes to relieve harshness so the garden looks orderly, but not too formal. He adds, “I played with shapes and forms, the diamond-shaped walkway and yard with checkerboard lines of tile in the front. The central court is trapezoidal, so I took away the unevenness with two lines of banyan plants.
Hedge plants mixed in with free-form: semi-formal, easy maintenance; trim hedges every 2-3 weeks, or once a month if strapped for time.
“We used medium-sized plants with beautiful forms placed symmetrically. Golden gardenias. Leafy plants with different shades: neons, silvers, spotted coralberry, evergreen spindle, lime. Put in a pond with a cute rabbit-head fountain.”
View from the lawn table into the house takes in a precise organization of plants and decorative components
A beautiful verdant garden with a vintage feel. A place to walk in and relax with a cup of your favorite coffee. Peaceful, relaxing.Once you’re here, where else would you want to go?
By the owners’ design, attractive flowerpots adorn a shoe-placement shelf.Between the house and relaxation room the indirect light calls for shade-tolerant plants like the dwarf neon hydrangea along the path.Pink-flowered hydrangea contrasts with vines of spotted jasmine climbing the house.
A good home renovation could turn even a decade-old townhouse into a unique house reflecting the owner’s taste and personality.
/// Thailand ///
Renovate the 30-year-old and 3-storey townhouse to the warm industrial home. With its gray and simple exteriors contrasting from the iron gate and black roof, and interior open floor plan, you can do different kinds of hobbies within this area. This stylish design can give you the warm cafe atmosphere, yet harmonize the bold style with the white brick wall.
Design-Decorate: Kirin Chaichana
A 70-year-old unique stunning home is replaced by a simple and modern home structure with a touch of period wooden home style. With its shiny white marbles over the ground floor, it can give a simple and modern look and feel. While the studio is designed to enhance the vintage style by extending the terrace on the upstairs, installing delicate-line curve steels, reflecting the vintage touch amongst the modern-style.
Design: Thita Kamonnetsawat and Pongsak Kobrattanasuk
Two townhouses were added by steel structure to the front yard without removing the previous building’s structure. It’s easy to use steel as the main material since it can be easily installed. Insert some trees to the structure to add a soft touch to the bold line. Connect these two houses with the center courtyard with the iron bridge, while decorating the interior with the gray-black color so that it will suit with the house.
Outside of the commercial buildings near Ratchanaddaram temple is still being preserved its main structure but renovated all interior design by combining the old wood with steel structure and laying with red bricks. This renovation will enhance an industrial-contemporary style hostel with decorative cozy rooms.
Design-Decorate: Arx Architects Co.,Ltd.
link: http://www.arxonline.nl/index.php/nl/
You can renovate all the old commercial buildings by installing aluminum lath parted with modern plexiglass and combining with the little touch of classic elements. The gray-brown palette will help create a warm and cozy atmosphere in the tiny renovated townhouse.
Design: Kirin Chaichana and Nitcharat Chaisagnuanjirakul
This Modern Thai stilt house incorporates traditional wisdom into its modern design. All aspects of the environment are taken into account, including air circulation, calmness and comfort.
This Modern Thai stilt house is a product of mixing traditional Thai elements into the design scheme that emphasizes eco-friendly materials and modern technologies.
The couple incorporated traditional Thai wisdom with the best in modern design to create this modern Thai delightful home. The Thai stilt house of Panupong and Busakorn Hiranrak inspired by changing the design.
Obviously, some of the imported concepts didn’t seem to go together well with the kind of climate we have in Southeast Asia.
Modern symmetrical design enhances the house’s tranquil details. Crisp, clean lines and calm hues go together well with unornamented concrete walls.
Located in Bangkok’s Bangplad District, the house sits on a plot that was once part of a lush agricultural landscape. Architect Bundhit Kanitakhon explains:
“The land for many years used to be a thriving fruit orchard served by a well-planned irrigation system. House design was honest and straightforward, taking into account directions of the winds, the sun, and seasonal flooding. The result was a simple home with a modern edge and comfy atmosphere.”
On the outside, this Modern Thai stilt house was made of concrete masonry, for the most part unornamented. Closer examinations revealed elements of a true Thai style personality – ideal house orientation, suspended ground floor, and the so-called breathing wall design.
The master bedroom on the second floor boasts high ceilings in peaceful cream tones. Sloped ceilings and cool bed cover design add to the overall appeal of the room.
Ideal building orientation
There is a sense of auspicious energetic flow and comfort. The main log axis of the building runs East-West, allowing it to capitalize on natural air movement and effectively reduce heat.
Protection against sun, winds and rain /// Steeply sloped roofs with long overhangs protect the house from scorching sunlight and throw rainwater clear of the wall. Air blocks that form the exterior walls also allow for good air circulation and keep the house cool.
Suspended ground floor
Its stilt house design provides for effective under-floor air circulation, which is a form of the passive cooling characteristic of homes in Southeast Asia.
The stilts raise the house one meter above the surface of the soil to protect from seasonal flooding, ventilate air underneath the suspended ground floor, and effectively reduce humidity.
Antique chinoiserie furniture adds appeal to the dining area adjacent to the show kitchen. The dark-colored long table and bench pull out cultural influences in the décor details.High ceilings make the hallway light and airy. Lit by a trio of suspended fixtures, the area is clearly visible from the bedroom on the second floor. Vivid color ceramic tiles add interesting effects to the design scheme.
Breathing wall design
This Thai stilt house is all about creating one seamless transition from the inside to the outside. Indoors living spaces are light and airy thanks to an array of 26 windows that stand 3.6 meters tall. They open up to bring in the outdoors. The teak wood shutters are the work of master builders from the old capital Ayuthaya.
Meanwhile, walls are composed of air blocks. The so-called breathing walls not only promote good air ventilation but also add to the overall curb appeal.
The house’s other distinctive features include a large central terrace, steep roofs arching upwards, and lush green surroundings.
The wood terrace provides easy access to all functional areas. During the day, all 26 teak wood shutters that stand 3.6 meters tall open up to bring in the outdoors.
Central terrace
The central court is the largest open space that connects with and supplies fresh air to other parts of the house. A form of cooling strategies, it ensures the occupants are thermally comfortable all year round.
Utilizing natural light, the lofty stairway is big and tall by any standard. Even the platform half way to the top is large enough for a small art gallery.[left] Natural light illuminates the second-floor bathroom through a skylight and sliding glass windows. The amount of light on the side is controlled by Venetian blinds. [right] Vanity lights illuminate the countertop area. For better vision, choose the right bulbs that emit near natural light.
Steep roofs design
The house boasts steeply sloping tile roofs that arch upwards about 40 degrees to allow for rapid rainwater run-off.
On the edges, the eaves from an overhang that not only protects the building from scorching midday sun but also throw storm water clear of the walls. The steep roof design also serves as a natural cooling strategy.
Roof shingles are made of kiln fired earth known for its ability to not only dissipate heat quickly, but also prevent radiation from reaching the interior living spaces.
Natural surroundings
Thanks to the creative design, the house blends well with the green surroundings. Nearby, mango, banana, and jackfruit trees thrive alongside other vegetation that provides a crisp, cool canopy keeping the occupants comfortable all year round.
In the backyard, a fruit orchard keeps the house well supplied all year round.
On the inside, ample living spaces boast Asian inspired décor. Airy rooms are decked out with classic Thai and Chinese furniture from years gone by. Old cabinets, tables, and a Chinese style daybed are carefully placed to ensure they don’t clash with new sofas and trendy modern shelves. There is a seamless transition from one area to another.
Modest design concepts also pull in the natural earth tones seen throughout the house, from wood to kiln fired ceramic tiles and the air blocks.
On the inside, old eco-friendly furniture adorns the ample living room. Traditional and Oriental elements add some cultural flair to a cozy atmosphere. The exterior walls are composed of air blocks for privacy and good ventilation.Adding harmonious proportions of handicrafts to the decor brings a strong cultural element to the limelight. A stage is set for story telling.[left] Floors made of ceramic tiles are ideal for keeping homes cool in hot climates. [right] Window shutters are crafted of teak wood known for durability. Some of the shutters are equipped with small awning windows. They are ideal for areas that need privacy, but still let some light and breeze into the room.
Welcome to another side of Phetchaburi Road. Leave traffic jam behind and step into the rooftop oasis garden of Vikrom Kromadit, the famous Thai author as well as creator and CEO of Amata Corporation.
/// Thailand ///
Story : Panchat Changchan /// Photos : Sitthisak Namkham
Surrounded by groups of office and residential buildings, an oasis in the cramped confusion of the metropolis
The concrete and river-pebble pathway winds around under native Thai trees such as gold apple, white sandalwood, and bauhinia standing among taller ones, with sweet fragrances of lignum vitae and gardenia wafting from dazzling blossoms on elegantly formed branches. Nearer to the ground were ferns, arrowroot, konjac, elephant ear, ground orchid, bromeliads, and moss displayed verdant greens. It’s unbelievable that this garden exists high on the rooftop of a big building in the heart of Bangkok. The soil is only about 15cm thick, so what secret techniques did they use to get this perfection?
First view out outside theKromadit Building elevator: an arboreal tunnel arched with cape jasmine and climbing ylang-ylangVikrom Kromadit, the businessman and famous author, enjoying the garden atmosphere he created
Vikrom tells us, “A garden isn’t something you create and are suddenly finished with. A garden is a living thing. This all happened in stages over 8 – 9 years. At first, we experimented. After we got moss and ferns growing well, we added a lot of improvements. By the time we had it looking good, we’d perfected our knowledge of cultivation and maintenance. The last stage has been the most enjoyable, but it’s all about constant change and adaptation.
Garden entrance gate, engraved with ancient symbols and set in an arbor of crepe gardenia and other gorgeous plantsCape jasmine gardenias amid perennials and other tall shrubs, growing on rocky mounds with moss for slow growth similar to bonsaiBesides shade-givers such as gardenias, tall bushes such as the climbing ylang-ylang refresh the garden with beautiful forms and fragrant flowers
“There’s nothing temporary here, so maintenance is the most important factor, ensuring plants grow strong and adapt to the environment. The trees are hardy, slow-growing domestic species. They’re planted at intervals on mounds of earth in line with primary building columns and beams, as the roof was not designed to hold a garden’s weight. We worked on a look as natural as possible, even using cement tree supports formed into natural root and vine shapes. Nature is nature. Some things we think of as natural are actually not. In the real forest there’s nothing artificial, but here we have to use certain techniques to make it look like the real thing.”
Behind the beautiful garden and green lawn is Vikrom’s residence, its Thai architecture a perfect fit for the selected Thai vegetationTrees planted on rocky mounds with wooden supports overgrown with climbing vines – clinging to roots are small plants such as button orchid and moss
I walked around in admiration. This space of less than half an acre contains a waterfall, grass lawn, and a wooden deck that can hold 400 people and is used for various events.
Trees planted all along the curving garden path, each with differently shaped supports, offering contrasting garden viewsBelow two guayacan trees are large, well-cared-for golden chicken ferns, plus tree ferns, davallia, Royal Project fern, birds-nest fern, and arrowrootSun and shade are important factors for a forest garden, requiring both long-lived shade trees and shade-tolerant plants. In front, savanna grass, bromeliads, and arrowroot; further in, golden chicken fern, Royal Project fern, and Teysmannia palmIn front of the main door grow Cape jessamine and guayacan, showing flowers and spreading sweet fragrances to passers by
Birds and other creatures roam freely, a unique sight in the heart of the city. Saying this is heavenly is really not an exaggeration: it has the look of one of nature perfect jungle gardens. Clearly, the owner and creator here loves and understands nature and has created his own heaven, where all things live together in happiness.
/ Story: Wuthikorn Sut / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul /
“We want a Thai-Isan style home, the kind that not only embraces vernacular design typical of the Northeast but also fits in well with the social and cultural environment,” said homeowner Pierre Vermeir when asked about his traditional-style country home in Udon Thani’s Baan Dung District. Having lived in Thailand for a long time now, Pierre is quite at home with the Thai way of life. He is also passionate about the warmth and hospitality indigenous to the region.
The new house that’s warm and full of character sits on land that has been the family home of Nittaya Pansamdang, Pierre’s better half. When the home they’ve lived in needed repairs, the couple thought it wise to go for a complete teardown to make room for a new one. And that’s where Kanika Ratanapridakul, of Spacetime Architects, came into play and turned ideas into a reality.
A proper plinth height protects the house floor from direct contact with moisture, while the front porch offers plenty of room for family hanging out together. Plus, there’s the quality of being positive in attitude. Friendly neighbors shout out greetings as they pass by in the late afternoon.
“Pierre wanted a Thai-style house, a wooden one that’s comfortable to live in and not too big. He made that clear from the get-go,”Kanika said.
“As I got around to working on it in earnest, it became clear that the country home was for me as well. It was more suited to my character than other types of design. So it made communication easy because we ended up pursuing the same line of thought.”
A low-profile platform bed is in keeping with the culture in which sitting on the floor is the norm, a polite way that has had pride of place in society since ancient times.
The first floor raised at plinth height boasts an airy hallway reminiscent of the unique ground-level living space of a house perched high on sturdy poles. The exterior walls are crafted of timber in clapboard patterns alternating with glass louvre windows and fiber cement boards. The three types of building supplies were the materials of choice for their simple, clean appearance.
“The house is built strong using ordinary building supplies and methods no different from others in the community,” said Kanika. “It’s the coming together of the right materials, the skills, and well-planned design on a budget, resulting in the perfect form, color and texture that merge into countryside vernacular.”
A louver window with glass slats operated by a hand crank opens to let light and fresh outdoor air into the upstairs washroom.The shower room is made of wood and concrete with smooth finishes. Polished concrete surfaces protect against humidity and seepage, while louvre windows, aka jalousie windows, improve ventilation.
Pierre is obviously pleased with the result. The beautiful country home in Udon Thani stands in peaceful harmony with the rural landscape. To ensure there is no obstruction of view, the boundary fence formed by densely growing bushes and shrubs is kept at the right height.
Taking everything into account, the house plan is truly a breath of fresh air. Upstairs, balconies with deck bench seating in the front and back look out over the surrounding countryside. Downstairs, simple clean decks and patio ideas enhance the garden view and offer visual continuity connecting the home with others in the community.
The front façade, especially, overlooks an outdoor area where children from within the neighborhood run and play.
Upstairs floorboards extending outward keep the sun off downstairs living spaces and surrounding wood patio. Characteristic of vernacular design, a small washroom at the far end provides added convenience to semi-outdoor living.Relaxing on the backyard patio while children are having fun exploring the neighborhood.
From a design perspective, the home represents a juncture where vernacular and contemporary styles are married. The house main frame is built of H-shaped steel beams for strength and durability, while the layout, build quality and visual elements are quintessentially Northeastern Thai, aka Thai-Isan.
On top of its pleasantness, the house is created for easy, comfortable living, physically and mentally.
Asked how he finds living out in the country, Pierre says: “It’s not the same. Imagine living in Bangkok and then making a trip to visit family in Udon. Life would have been different.
“Compare that with having a home in Udon and commuting to work in Bangkok from time to time. The latter makes sense. It is comforting to know there is a country home awaiting your return, one that is peaceful, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.”
Typical of Thai-style homes in earlier times, an open concept floor plan results in the living room, dining room and kitchen fusing together forming a united whole.
“I want a simple country lifestyle. After all, life isn’t about just me alone. It is about reaching out and interacting with others in the community. And that is what makes Thai-Isan culture unique and warm. There is a touch of country in the lifestyle, and I find that delightfully charming and attractive.”
The kitchen comes fully equipped to handle all kinds of cooking big or small. Louvre windows allow good ventilation making clouds of smoke and odors fast dissipate.
Pierre now commutes a few times monthly between Bangkok and his new home. In future, he intends to live permanently in Udon Thani. Here, life just gets more fun hopping on a motorbike ride to a nearby market and back.
He enjoys cooking and inviting friends over for dinner. Occasionally he entertains visitors from overseas. Speaking of which, it seems a new trend is fast rising as more people are looking forward to living “life in the slow lane.” To Pierre, that’s life.
Light and airy interiors are the hallmarks of vernacular architecture of Isan, or Northeastern Thailand. Here, several key features work together as engine that drives natural ventilation keeping the house cool and comfortable. They include high ceilings, no risers between the treads of a stair, large wall openings, and unobstructed balcony spaces and railings.
The gardening ideas of colorful flowers welcome guests to the garden of Thanawat Suwinai Phreusabenja of Inmindhamlet community on Soi Ari 3. Located inside is the gardening shop Mc&Ami, where people love to look into the glass-partitioned display area at where butterflies are attracted to the scents of flowers. The Living ASEAN team itself became interested and came to investigate.
The table décor creates a bright, lively party atmosphere.The dining table creates an intimate and uniquely festive atmosphere as surrounding garden ornaments and “showroom” shelves serve as a backdrop.
We arrived at twilight, as Thanawat was setting up the dining table in the garden to welcome us, amid vibrant colors of flowers in the garden and on the table. Asked about the decor, he said,
Combination flower planters beautify the entrance. Thanawat got the inspiration from seeing flower vases set at different levels, tall leafy plants at the top descending down to small flowers.
“I got the idea from a respected teacher;she gave me a book about Claude Monet’s garden. She expressed her wish that I could find that sort of happiness in the rest of my own life. Thinking about that made me try to set my garden in Monet’s natural and beautiful style, and what you see here comes from that.”
Thanawat Suwinai Phreusabenja, gardener and distributor of Mc & Ami gardening equipment, also the owner of Inmindhamlet Community Mall.
After dinner, we walked around the garden, which is overflowing with decorative ideas. Thanawat himself designed the creative little cement doll family of pigs,lion statues using Spanish moss for a mane and ducks carrying egg sacks in their mouths. With unique choices and placement both flowers and decorative plants are mixed in with tropical rainforest varieties. Inclusions exotics and unusual kitchen vegetables which are all in vigorous growth.
A pair of decorative lion sculptures: one displays an imaginative use of Spanish moss as the lion’s mane.
“My concept is to just sow seeds and let the plants grow by themselves as best they can. The beauty is in non-native plants trying to make their way and naturally adapt in a strange place, with a different kind of beauty than before, in leaves, branches, and colors. But when planting we do have to consider whether a plant can coexist with the others. Is it shade-tolerant? Can it survive with a vine growing over it?”
Entryway post with a faucet for watering flowers. Functional and attractive, too.
Another minor miracle is that all this grows in what used to be a parking lot, which Thanawat covered in topsoil and gradually planted over.
Small shrubs with flowering plants below. Rising above is a mix of leafy plants, broad and point-formed, creating a filled-out appearance.
“The fun is in the challenge. We have a hard concrete yard. You would think that we cannot plant. Think again. Just have a concept and a passion, and a garden is created from Shallow root systems, a single level of soil, good for bamboo, ferns, flowering plants, bushes, and kitchen vegetables. We found added benefits from things we can plant and grow slowly, and that will flower for a long time, so we aren’t constantly cutting things back.”
A gate through the iron fence into the garden, where a white gravel path contrasts nicely with greenery and ornamentation.
We also have odd blossoming schedules and odd shapes that grow and nourish beauty. Adapt and don’t accept failure because the hard cement doesn’t fight back, but this is still a formula for success.
Besides flowers, there are kitchen spices like basil and pandanus palm that add color and beauty.Small steel planter boxes trap rainwater. Semanggi and star grass add a chic look.
/ Story: Supachart Boontang / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Rithirong Chanthongsuk /
From the outside, this cube-shaped home with a swimming pool as the centerpiece looks like a combination of three overlapping boxes. Distinctive simple line design sets it apart from the rest in the neighborhood. The hall just inside the front entrance is well connected to all living spaces around it. Based on the form-follows-function principle, it’s thoughtfully devised to create a seamless transition from room to room, plus easy access to all intended functions and amenities.
The three-story white home with a cool undertone stands at the center of the property. Homeowner Thin Thin Lwin was on hand to show around. Asked about her thoughts on inspiration, she said:
“Just the two of us, my husband and I, live here. The home was built on what used to be a vacant lot. To begin with, we didn’t want a place that was going to be too big for our needs. We wanted just enough functional areas with easy access to other parts of the house, kind of like keeping with long established traditions from the past.
“By happy chance, I have a friend who is an architect, and the rest is history. Stephen Zawmoe Shwe and I have been good friends since we were kids. So we asked him to design it.”
The boundary fence made of concrete features large openings at intervals to improve the flow of air in and out of the property.An array of window awnings protruding from the exterior wall protect the interior from heavy rain and increase its energy efficiency.
Have a look around the first floor. The overall effect is impressive. The house with a subtle shade of white looks like three dimensional shapes coming together neat and clean. The interior at the front of the house is light and airy thanks to double height ceilings.
It’s two stories tall to be exact. There is a sense of interior elegance. The spacious, well-ventilated hall is well connected to other rooms around it. One of them, a living room, is clearly separated from the dining area and kitchen.
An outdoor louvered awning on the front façade protects the interior spaces from scorching sunlight and improves the home’s general appearance. The exterior is kept simple, modern, and fuss free.Just inside the front entrance, a stepping-stone pathway stretches across the pool. Double height ceilings and transparent partition walls make the atmosphere bright and lively.There is visual and spatial continuity from the cozy dining area all the way to the pool and beyond.
The second floor has two spacious bedrooms, each with a private balcony to take in the view and cool breezes. The swimming pool below is clearly visible from here.
Other than that, interior design emphasizes crisp, clean lines and white tones that go together well with shades of gray. Furniture comes in warm earth tones that enhance the charm of natural wood flooring.
Transparent glass walls create a warm, welcoming atmosphere in the bedroom. There are windows that open to improve air circulation and bring in cool breezes.
[Left] Louvered awnings under the roofline provide added privacy and protect the second-floor bedrooms from intense heat during the daytime. / [Right] Venetian blinds behind glass walls provide privacy in the bathroom and control natural light.The third floor is a penthouse with a panorama of the city landscape. A peaceful place for relaxation with family, it’s great for stargazing in the dark of night. There is a large Buddha room on one side, where the homeowners come to pray and perform religious rites.
A corner of the penthouse has been remodeled into a reception area with marble countertops and matching bar stools.
All things considered, it’s simple clean line design that makes this Cube-Shaped Home in Yangon stand out in the rustic old town neighborhood. Well-thought-out planning ensures there are plenty of functional areas and modern amenities for comfortable living. Plus, it’s energy efficient thanks to passive cooling strategies, such as large windows that open to bring in cool breezes and natural light.
Where appropriate, louvered awnings are installed to minimize the amount of sun on the exterior wall. They reduce the workload on air conditioning and make the home perform as intended amid the hot and humid climate.
Relaxing shades of green dotted with colorful flowers amid the misty coolness of the tropical rainforest in a Zen-inspired garden. Such is the dreamy garden of Chokchai Ratanaparadorn.
Artificial tree roots and boulders mix with plants to give a realistic impression of a jungle environment.
“We lived in a condo for decades and missed being close to nature. Meeting Warawut Kaewsuk I got to see the kind of tropical garden design I loved, with a forest, waterfall and stream. After buying the house, he even helped to organize it according to feng shui principles. The property we bought already had nearly an acre of the garden already, but the framework needed a lot of adaptation. My wife liked it as it was, but agreed we could make the changes we wanted.”
Warawut described his design concept for the front area as “a peaceful, open modern Zen garden, coordinating shade and cool water to create a tropical jungle, and continued, “we dropped support pilings to create a framework above. We avoided having a lot of weight to support by using artificial rocks and tree roots. The filtration system was efficiently hidden under the wood deck. The concepts came from my experience with natural ecology.
Designer hid the pond filtration system under the deck: a space-saver.Placing the pond in the shade on the north side of the house keeps the water cool enough for the plants and fish.
“Choosing the right plants was very important. Types, colors, forms, and leaf shapes create the moods. We used varietals with simple forms, detailed surfaces, and peaceful colors. Lichens, monkey grass, whites of crepe gardenia. For the tropical zone, we used varieties with glossy leaves: mango pine and brush cherry. Glochidion and water croton gave a lush damp look. Free form lines added elegance. Around the carport, we used plants of different heights. Plant selection and placement take a lot of expertise. A lot of care is needed, including weeding and raking. There’s a sprinkler system for moisturization.”
Bare cement and simple indoor furnishings add to the modern Zen feeling of the surrounding watery garden.Work inside the house with a pleasing waterfall view.
The nighttime lighting design creates intriguing dimensions and moods. Before we leave, Chohkchai tells us how pleased he is with the end result:
“This is just what the whole family wanted. Here we can read, work, have parties, or just relax, feed the fish, relax and enjoy nature. This fulfills a ten-year happy dream.”
Lamps shining both from above and below at night create dimension and a sense of motion as they highlight plants and tree limbs.
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