This light and airy house with lots of white looks like an optical illusion. Nestled in the heart of Vientiane, it appears to be floating above a lush green oasis with crystal-clear pool water. The beautiful dwelling called “White House” is the work of Saola Architects, a homegrown design studio in Laos.
The pastel white house with 160 sq. m. usable internal space sits encompassed by its natural surroundings. As Saola Architects intended, it has the general shape of the letter V. The ground floor is mostly enclosed by glass walls that afford the seamless integration of indoor and outdoor living spaces.
The architects said they got the design inspiration from a vernacular architectural style in Laos. The house plan, which reflects local traditions, has been adapted to make it suitable for modern living. This includes making the interior living rooms bright and airy, and connect to outdoor spaces with no apparent gaps or spaces in between.
The swimming pool is placed in a straight line along one side of the V-shaped design that in a way is dictated by the appearance of the land.
As time passes, sunlight reflected from the pool puts on a spectacular shadow and light show on nearby walls. Because the ground floor enclosure is made mostly out of glass, only the upper part of the house is visible from afar and seemingly hovering above the landscape.
The inground pool provides passive cooling that drives natural air circulation, thereby improving the indoor thermal comfort. As pool water evaporates, air currents carry moisture or water vapor into and out of the room.
As a result of that, the interior is kept cool without the need for air conditioning. The heat gain control makes the house comfortable to live despite a hot and humid climate.
Aesthetically, the house is a mix of bare concrete on the inside and lots of white paint on the outside. For an improvement of the indoor climate, wood is the main décor material for its ability to provide a soothing ambience, especially in private areas on the second floor.
By and large, the seemingly floating house is poetry in motion when kissed by the sun. It’s spacious, airy and bright thanks to open floor design, plus windows that allow plenty of natural light and good ventilation all year round.
/ Story: Samutcha Viraporn / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul /
This lovingly restored home on the canal is a hybrid of wood and concrete. Made of recycled materials from an old building on the property, it evokes memories of the house on stilts symbolic of the Thai way of life. Reclaimed timber paired with the concrete framework and smart design elements creates a harmonious blend of traditional and modern.
The old house before a complete teardown to make room for a new home.
A New House with Old-World Charm
Suthep Iam-on is the owner of an old house on the canal in Bang Pakong area. It has fallen into disrepair. At first, he had planned to just leave it at that and move on to build a new house closer to the road instead. He sought advice from architect Kasin Sornsri of Volume Matrix Studioabout building a naked concrete home.
But after inspecting the proposed site, Kasin thought it wise to do a complete teardown of the old home to make room for a new one using materials recycled from the old house.
The interior makes use of large, open spaces. Food is prepared in the farthest area enclosed by brick walls. The door to the master bedroom is opposite a dining table set that the homeowner bought from BaanLaeSuan Fair. In the foreground, a sitting room with a sofa and coffee counter affords beautiful views.The coffee counter with a view. The stair leading to the second floor is to the right side of the room, protected from sunlight by a solid wall.Polished concrete surfaces adorn the front entrance. The doorway casing is made of reclaimed timber, while brickwork stands out as the main feature of the hybrid wood and concrete home.Homeowner Suthep Iam-on walks toward the rear of the house. The corridor looks spacious as it is in the interior living space.
Explaining his concept, Kasin said:
“Essentially, it’s about building a new home that’s very much part of the spirit of the times. It’s a design that connects with the way of life of ordinary people.
“At the same time, it doesn’t have to be the kind of Thai-style house that we have grown accustomed to for years. Not many people appreciate that. Nor is it anything like a group of buildings of the Ayutthaya Period.”
Built by locals over 40 years ago, the old stilt house was in poor condition. Many home features did not meet living standards now, plus a few add-ons were put in place, including concrete walls that enclosed the ground floor, which affected structural integrity.
Nonetheless, the way of life here has remained unchanged and carefully integrated into the new design. In the process, every little detail was decoded into intelligent language.
The result was an entirely new home built on a concrete structure. It has all the key attributes of the traditional Thai home, such as an open space on the ground floor, a platform along the outside for fresh air, and a corridor connecting the rooms. They are wrapped in old timber recycled from the old house.
The sitting parlor showcases numerous trophies won as prizes for victory in bird contests. Not far away, a full-grown tamarind tree keeps the living room in shade.On the southwest side, the hallway that contains a staircase receives a fair amount of sunlight. It’s protected from too much sun by a tamarind tree and wood pillars recycled from the old house. Shadows thrown on the wall are on show again, naturally.The wing that contains a bedroom is covered in reclaimed timber. It’s raised on piles to protect from humidity and doubles as an engine that drives natural air circulation. Variegated colors of old wood bespeak the vernacular choice of material.
Ground Floor Living Room, Simple Materials, and Lighting Ideas
The first eye-catching feature is the concrete framework with polished surfaces paired with stunning wood accents.
Reclaimed timber from the old house finds new purposes as flooring materials, interlaced structures resembling lattices, and pillars supporting lightweight parts of the building. Walk into the interior, and you come before an open floor plan that’s the hallmark of modern home design. Further back lies a courtyard with a corridor connecting the rooms.
There are bedrooms on one side and an open space on the other, which looks out over a garden and nearby Bang Samak Canal. As the homeowner puts it, the area arouses a sentimental longing for the past, especially memories of his father’s time.
One thing the architect is able to do is to concentrate on significant features of the Thai house and incorporate them into the language of the new house design.
They include the use of transom windows, skylights, pillars, and lattices, which he carefully places at intervals. In so doing, large pillars recycled from the old house are erected along the western front to help protect the area exposed to the sun.
By late afternoon, the soft glowing light from the sky alternating with dark areas creates a relaxing atmosphere like the Thai house in the olden days. By nightfall, lanterns light up at intervals as a means of visual expression and make the home cozy and welcoming.
The house built on stilts offers plenty of headroom on the ground floor to let fresh air enter and circulate from the southwest. Not far away, a full-grown tamarind tree keeps the area in the shade for much of the day.
From the canal looking in, the courtyard floor is covered in pebble stone pavers amid the vernacular garden that’s easy on the eyes. The homeowner’s son lives in the two-level wing on the right.The ground floor with plenty of headroom is characteristic of the Thai-style house on stilts. The area under the canopy of trees is kept cool by gentle breezes.Old wood piles not fitting for building purposes find new life as garden sculpture ideas by the waterfront.A garden path connects the house to a landing stage on the canal.Under the canopy of tall trees, the ground floor is open to receive cool breezes blowing in from the southwest.A warm and welcoming atmosphere embraced by nature.The character and atmosphere of the place viewed from the waterfront garden.
The Allure of a Handcrafted Home
The house has many aviaries for keeping birds in. They are there by design. At different places, new decor items stand embraced by old artifacts as a means of visual expression that merges countryside vernacular with modern living.
Together, they represent a source of pride and pleasure within the local community.
More than anything else, it’s a handmade home in its own right. The architect’s message is evident.
That is to say, a home doesn’t have to be of impeccable character. Bricks don’t have to be identical to make beautiful walls. “Likewise, if we look at life carefully, we’ll find that everyone is interesting in his own special way. All ways of life are just as beautiful,” said the architect.
The cube-shaped wing houses a sitting parlor that showcases trophies from victory in bird contests.Despite its contemporary cube design, the house is built of simple materials with features that are the hallmark of the traditional house on stilts.The hybrid wood and concrete home boasts a spacious ground floor that’s fully functional and perfectly suitable for modern living.An archway forms a passage from the landing stage on the canal. This picture was taken during a dry season.Seen from a distance, the house stands surrounded by mature trees that provide shade and make it comfortable to live.The power of storytelling. A veranda in front of the house showcases a collection of tools ad utensils used by the people of the Bang Pakong area.
/ Story: Patsiri Chotpongsun / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Rithirong Chanthongsuk /
A renovation done right turns this 40-year-old house into a minimalist home that oozes charm and character. It’s spacious with all mod cons. The original frame of the house is retained, but important interventions are added to improve structural integrity, enhance indoor comfort and boost curb appeal. Among them, an array of vertical blades provides vital sun shading integrated into the façade.
Before renovation: The old house looks a bit tired and out of date.After renovation: The beautifully remodeled façade after a complete transformation. The house’s original structure is preserved while cool, clean lines give it a distinctive character.
Condominium living is awesome for young adults and families without kids. But as their family grew, Prem and Wasinee Chatmanop soon found it unfit to answer their lifestyle needs.
That was reason enough to go searching for a house to buy starting from their familiar neighborhood. Call it serendipity. It wasn’t long before the couple found a fixer-upper located on a 40-year-old housing development in Choke Chai 4 area.
The house was in poor condition and had to be completely renovated. A lot had to be demolished, from the floors to walls to ceilings that had fallen into decay. Only the beams, poles and gable roof trusses that were part of the original load-bearing structure were preserved.
The open concept floor plan excludes interior walls and doors, which gives it the feeling of larger, more comfortable space. Off-white walls paired with wood accents add warmth to the living room and create dimension.
Out with the old, in with the new
“I went out and looked at several houses. In the end, I was really pleased that I chose this one.
“The old house sat on nice square shape land 100 square wah in extent that was characteristic of housing estates in the past. I had a team of building engineers do a structural integrity assessment to determine it was good to buy.
“The house’s interior was old and in disrepair. So we left the renovation project in the good hands of architect Sitthichai Chompooh of the Perspective design studio. We specifically chose to have him do it after having seen his work in ‘The Renovation’, a BaanLaeSuan TV program. It happened to be the style that I liked,” said Prem.
At first, the architect was a bit concerned since the old house was built on a slope below the street level. In spite of that, he was attracted by the gable roof that was the popular appeal in the old days. This made it possible to create an open concept floor plan that seamlessly merged with a lush green side garden. The result was a complete transformation that offered 287 square meters of living spaces.
Sharing his experience, Sitthichai said: “The ground floor was further elevated by 30 centimeters to prevent groundwater flooding. Then, the old false ceiling suspended from the structure above was removed to create more headroom. Next, everything that had been added to the existing construction was demolished to make room for a new open floor plan.
“This included taking out the old floors, walls and extensions that were damaged over a long period of time.”
The focal point of the house is the interior that interconnects with the outdoor environment. The side yard offers a relaxing space and brightens up the living room with the glow of natural light.There are plenty of good reasons for floating a sofa in the middle of the room. It makes for a perfectly welcoming multi-use space.A counter for preparing food and drinks runs parallel to a pantry dedicated to storage. The open floor plan makes it easy to connect with nearby dining room and living room.Combined bathroom and dressing room designLight colored wood proves a perfect complement to white walls with a gray tinge. Wet and dry areas in the bathroom are clearly separated to make cleaning so much easier.Off-white walls make the bedroom feel more spacious, while light fine wood floors are perfect for every room.
Higher floor, more windows, and continuous flow
The renovation project started with further elevating the ground floor to put it higher than street level. Then, the entire floor plan was reorganized and the exterior redesigned. This results in bigger windows that allow for natural daylighting and the interconnectedness between spaces.
The highlight of his design is a spacious interior that brings indoor and outdoor rooms together to form a larger whole. Plus, the atmosphere is relaxing, thanks to side garden ideas that bring the benefits of natural light into the interior.
All of this is achieved without making changes to the original framework of the house. Where appropriate, unnecessary details are reduced and important units of construction added to enhance structural integrity. In the meantime, green spaces are integrated in the design for indoor thermal comfort, while simple clean lines create a warm and inviting place to unwind after a long day at work.
Taking everything into account, it’s an amazing house makeover, one that transforms an old-fashioned fixer-upper into a modern minimalist home that reflects the personality of the people living in it.
Properly situated, large windows provide adequate natural illumination while connecting indoor and outdoor living spaces.Positioned to catch the sun, a projecting platform creates a canopy for the ground floor and a balcony for the second. It also provides privacy and physical protection.A vertical wooden fin façade gives the wall a clean and modern look while providing a layer of heat insulation. It’s painted off-white to create color harmony with the solid load bearing wall behind it.Vertical solar shading integrated in the façade protects the bedroom from harmful UV rays. The blades are made of lightweight materials, covered with plaster, and painted off-white to enhance the house’s distinctive character.
A cool and restful home close to nature
Slightly off-white walls go best with wood accents. The gray tinge is a winner with soft, weathered wood trim. It’s a contemporary calming color scheme just right for an open floor plan that extends from the living room to dining room to pantry.
That way a feeling of continuous flow is created, and it makes perfect sense to float a sofa in the middle of a large room. From the inside, the living room is enclosed by glass window walls that look out over a lush green side garden, a visual of the design that makes the homeowner couple very happy.
Sharing her experience, Wasinee said: “We spend the most time here in this area, unlike at the condo where the kitchen was isolated from the rest of the interior. The floor plan layout contains a variety of functions separated from one another by furniture rather than being enclosed by walls.
“It’s an open concept design that promotes social interactions. Prem sits here at his desk. I can see the kid playing on the sofa while preparing a meal in the kitchen nearby. It’s a flexible layout that’s easy to update. For the time being, the more space, the better. The child is growing up fast, and more furniture will be added in future.”
A concrete beam spanning an opening part of the house finds a new purpose as outdoor bench encouraging social interactions.A sundeck patio adjoining the dining room affords a private and protected outdoor living area in the garden.
The renovation project benefits from large openings in the wall that let natural light stream into the interior living spaces. In the meantime, privacy is very important and needs to be protected. This explains why only the side of the house facing the solid wall of an adjacent townhouse is open for daylighting and connecting seamlessly with a side garden.
Commenting on the renovation plan, the architect said:
“We put in a sundeck patio that’s easily accessible from the dining room. It serves multiple purposes. Where appropriate, vertical fin facades are erected to shield the house from the sun while allowing natural ventilation and daylight. The upright structure also doubles as outdoor privacy wall.”
Family time creates happy memories that will last a lifetime.
Taken as a whole, the ground floor is very well thought out. To prevent the living room from smelling like food, an enclosed kitchen is built at the rear of the house that’s devoted to Thai cooking.
The back of the house also has a bedroom kept out of sight in one of the quietest locations. The second floor has three bedrooms, the largest of which affords a garden view from above.
In a few words, the renovation project brings new ideas and energy to an old house after it was vacant for many years. Done right, the old-fashioned gable roof house completely transforms into an awesome minimalist home oozing with charm.
Simple, clean lines give the house its character as well as beauty. Above all, it’s a piece of architecture that connects past, present, and future.
/ Story: Samutcha Viraporn / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul /
Here is a cozy, modern lake home set amid beautiful countryside. It takes advantage of the natural features of a tropical climate to ensure cool and comfort all year round. Built for having fun and enjoying life, the house comes complete with a slide into the living room, a cat house, courtyard waterfalls, and a much-loved Japanese-style room.
The U-shaped house sits above a large water body that formerly was a farm pond for water, fish and livelihoods. A beautiful center courtyard separates the two wings. Bedrooms are on the second floor of the two-story modern house plan.Serene courtyard waterfalls can do so much to enrich life and provide a private outdoor space.
From an old farm pond to a beautiful lake home
This delightful modern lake home belongs to Sakdrin Sadlae, owner of a traveling Muslim prayer webpage. It sits on land that he receives from his mother. The parcel of land formerly was a part of the family farm in Bangkok’s Pattanakarn area.
Back in the day, his grandfather built ponds here for water, fish and agriculture. Sakdrin can still recall growing up in the wetlands. Free time in the past was spent playing kid games, in which he confronted a crocodile played by his father.
Over the years, the wetlands ecology has given him inspiration. His dream house is one that’s surrounded by water. To do that, an area fronting the lake was filled with layers of earth to create a strong building foundation.
To keep within budget, he invited building dismantlers and construction projects in the neighborhood to dump unwanted earth and concrete debris on his property.
It was a win-win solution both for him and for construction businesses in search of dumping sites. He then sought advice from architect Khomsaan Kamsawas, while his wife Apaporn Mitnoy chipped in with many great ideas that led to the family making informed decisions. The result is a house plan that fits the bill, is suitable for a tropical climate, and comfortable to live in.
A red slide offers a fun way to enter to the living room, while the open floor plan gives the impression of more space and great reasons to float the furniture.A fiberglass slide resembling the spiral of fried potato snacks is suitable for use in small spaces. Because the slide is dry, it’s a good idea to wash and wax the surface to minimize friction and allow smooth movement.Multipurpose furniture is capable of adapting to many different functions, from dining room to sitting room with a view. The wooden panel wall to the left and hidden storage spaces are inspired by Apple store interior design.A bathroom is neatly concealed behind wood paneled walls in natural shades. Decorative wood paneling is inexpensive yet attractive.
Coffee corner and color scheme inspired by Apple store design
While construction was underway, the couple went out to look at many coffeehouses in search of decorating ideas.
They wanted the kind of interior that would create a conducive home office environment. Later, they visited an Apple store and came away impressed by its simple, clean design that made visual merchandising really stand out.
Together, white, gray and black proved a perfect complement to wood panel walls in natural shades. The cool color scheme was adapted to give their modern lake home a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The cat house comes complete with bridges, claw sharpeners nd perches in a tree.
Aesthetically, a center courtyard with waterfalls makes perfect sense with the U-shaped house plan. It affords beautiful views and makes the interior living space feel more comfortable.
Healthy, green spaces improve air quality and control sunlight filtering through trees. Plus, they create peaceful moods and encourage people to spend more time outdoors.
Sakdrin asked for the tropical plant Pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius) for his garden because he liked eating rice porridge flavored with fragrant leaves. At one time, he even kept giant freshwater prawns by the waterfalls for food, but later stopped eating them due to emotional attachment.
A flap door lets kitties come and go freely between the cat house and the litter box located in an open-air laundry area.
Water slide, cat house, and Japanese room
The furniture, fittings and other decorative accessories say a lot about this active family.
Sakdrin is full of energy and enthusiasm, the likes of which are obvious in his daughter. Even at this young age, the little girl enjoys sliding down into the living room by herself, apparently happy and content.
Meantime, his wife Aphaphon is equally pleased to spend time with and take care of her cuddly feline.
The Japanese room looks out on the center courtyard and a ready-made swimming pool.
Sakdrin said that when he and his wife first met, the only places they went on a date were cat cafés in the city. Now that they had a house of their own, it made perfect sense to create a room just for cats.
For the love of Japanese architecture, they built a Japanese-style room in the opposite wing. Inside it, the floor is covered in traditional tatami straw mats, while bamboo lines parts of the exterior.
Long story short, it’s an opportunity to experience the allure of the Japanese countryside. Only this time, it’s tucked away in a peaceful rural setting off Pattanakarn Road in Bangkok.
Interior design and decorative accessories boast charming simplicity that’s unique to Japan. Nearby, bamboo lines parts of the exterior walls. The serene hangout place is sometimes used as a bedroom.The Japanese room reveals an affinity for traditional residential architecture. It’s little wonder that he often visits Japan for inspiration.
The importance of correct building orientation
The U-shaped house plan projects into a large water body formerly used in aquaculture for fish farming. The lake that lies to the west provides a buffer against warm air currents as sunlight travels straight down to Earth.
Westerly wind over the water surface produces a tremendous cooling effect, resulting in thermal comfort in the center courtyard and interior living spaces. The kitchen is separate from the living room to avoid lingering kitchen smells.
The homeowner rows his dinghy past drooping branches of a Lampoo or cork tree (Sonneratia caseolaris L. Engl.) The lake is home to many carp that he has raised since they were young. He sometimes catches snakehead fish for food.
By design, this modern lake home makes a great first impression. Floor-to-ceiling windows on the front façade afford beautiful panoramic views of the lake and surrounding landscape.
Meantime, the center courtyard with artificial waterfalls brings down the ambient temperature and controls sunlight filtering through trees.
Further away, drooping branches of Lampoo or cork trees (Sonneratia caseolaris L. Engl.) line the lakeshore. All things considered, it’s a house built for comfort, where every day is a picture-perfect summer day.
Nothing beats relaxing in a hammock on a carefree day at the lake. Priceless!
/ Story: Patsiri Chotpongsun / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Rithirong Chanthongsuk /
Here is a modern one-story house with a charming interior courtyard, plus ample and airy multipurpose spaces. The gentle slope of hip roof design shields it from too much sun and rain, the prevailing climate in Thailand.
Beyond the rolling gate stands a modern single-level home with a lush center courtyard. Hip roof design with long overhangs protects it from the elements.A sectional L-shaped sofa dominates the living room filled with natural light streaming through front and back glass-window walls. Slanted ceilings prove a perfect complement to the gentle slope of hip roof design.The well-lit living rooms are easy on the eyes, thanks to front and back glass-window walls that give the impression of more space.
Small house, surprisingly spacious
The old house that had stood on this plot of land for 40 years was pulled down to make room for a new home. The new floor plan takes up almost the entire 64 square wahs (256 sq.m.) in extent.
Albeit small, it’s fully equipped to suit the lifestyle needs of Pacharanan Marittida and her lovely canine companion. Sharing his design inspiration, architect Nuttapol Techopitch said:
“In the beginning, the old wooden house belonged to Grandma and Grandpa. The time has come for a decision to be made, so we thought it wise to go for a bright and airy home plan.
“The owner had many relatives living nearby and needed extra room to get together with family. Plus, she wanted a studio to give piano lessons. As a music teacher, she played the piano at home a lot.”
After site inspections, Nuttapol proposed an interesting alternative – building a new home. It would save her money.
The reason was obvious. The old two-story house sat on low land that was prone to groundwater flooding. There were no easy solutions. If the ground floor was raised even slightly to protect against water damage, there wouldn’t be enough headroom.
The architect responded with light and airy designs for single-level, two-level, and split-level homes to choose from. The homeowner picked the one-story design raised above the flood level that measured 190 square meters.
The new house feels surprisingly spacious, bright and well-ventilated, while indoor and outdoor rooms are well-connected.
There’s an open-roofed area in the middle of the hip roof design that’s used for planting trees. It’s a layout that places great emphasis on having ample space.
High ceilings that are consistent with hip roof design make it suitable for hot and humid weather. The central courtyard that lies in the open air complements a look that’s stylish and very relaxed. Plus, it provides good air circulation.
On the north side, the open-roofed area is bordered by a wooden lattice that enables interior spaces to benefit from natural light, fresh air and sunshine. The interlaced structure also keeps the floor devoted for service spaces concealed from the view.
Beyond the carport, a courtyard lies mostly enclosed by glass walls that let natural light stream into the house’s interior. At the center, a thriving lettuce tree (Pisonia grandis R. Br.) adds a decorative touch to the home.The owner’s love of woodworking is evident in décor materials made mostly of wood. Among them, a custom-made dining table set proves a perfect complement to the modern style home.The open concept floor plan connects a sitting room to the piano room and dining area. Gorgeous L-shaped design allows the interior courtyard to be seen in full view from every direction.
The heart of a happy home
Roof overhangs offer many benefits. For this modern one-story home, they give protection against too much sun and prying eyes. A living room that’s the heart of a happy home lies hidden from view and can only be seen upon entering the carport. The interior is decorated with an L-shaped, charcoal gray sectional sofa.
The slanted ceilings are made of wood for its adaptability to a variety of designs while the rooms are surrounded by glass walls, thereby reducing the need for artificial lighting.
The open floor plan concept, also in the shape of the letter L, provides a way to move through space unhindered from the sitting room to the dining area.
Looking out the window, the center courtyard dominated by a lettuce tree (Pisonia grandis R. Br.) can be seen from every direction. The tree that has been in the family for a long time was dug up and replanted here to keep the yard lush green.
With plenty of room to run and play, the new home is a paradise for “Khamin”, the resident golden retriever.
As the architect put it:
“To make the atmosphere relaxed and airy, we avoid putting in too much furniture. Where appropriate, wood accents add warmth to the interior space and create dimension.
“Wood is also great for the piano room. At first, the homeowner intended to put a grand piano there, but later changed her mind and went for a digital piano to optimize small room acoustics. To give it a natural look, a mix of artificial and real Tabaek wood (Lagerstroemia floribunda) is used on parts of the exterior and wood lattice that borders the courtyard.
“Plus, color harmony between indoor and outdoor spaces makes the house even more appealing. Meanwhile, floor tiles in marble design give the impression of ample space.”
Built-in storage shelves provide a creative solution to dress up a blank wall. Each flat length of wood has enough room for a musical instrument and every conceivable gadget.A solid wooden door separates the kitchen from family room. It’s one clever hack to banish the smoke and cooking orders, plus it’s easy to keep clean.
Warm, ingenious design for pure enjoyment every day
The interior is quite impressive. It even has a space devoted to “Khamin”, the beautiful golden retriever who comes and goes freely between this and the other house on the property.
There’s also a special doggie nook in the carport with a sloped floor. It’s pet friendly and ideal for hyper dogs, thanks to seamless wash pebble finishes.
Pacharanan said:
“The dog runs and plays everywhere inside and outside. We have to towel dry the hair and vacuum the floor often. Hence, non-carpeted floors make perfect sense, while special leather upholstery on the sofa is scratch resistant.
“This has made it possible for humans and dogs to share living spaces. Plus, there is plenty of room to lounge about when relatives visit. On the whole, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, which makes every day feel like a vacation.
“The only thing missing is the seaside view. By night, it feels more like Khao Yai (The National Park) to sit in the living room and peer into the courtyard aglow under twinkle electric lights. The scenery is inspiring for songwriting.”
Taking everything into account, it’s well worth it. The house with an inner courtyard and hip roof design is small, yet beautifully organized and made for pure enjoyment every day.
/ Story: Patsiri Chotpongsun / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Sitthisak Namkham /
This beautiful place with contemporary curb appeal is home to a married couple and their seven dogs. House-on-stilt design paired with a breeze block façade allows plenty of air and natural light into the room. Pleasant and healthy, it’s a paradise for avid dog lovers and their fluffy companions.
The exterior wall facing west gets two layers of protection from the sun’s harmful rays. A full-grown rose apple tree provides the first line of defense keeping the house in shade for much of the day, while the façade filled with breeze blocks increases natural lighting and allows fresh outdoor air into the home.
The sheer loveliness of man’s best friends was reason enough for the married couple, Roung “Jobby” Wuttinawin and Whan Paktranon, to build a home ideally suited for their needs. The problem was Whan had allergies. So, to avoid going about it in the wrong way, they left house planning in the good hands of architect Unnop Wongwaipananij of REUN Home Design.
The result was a modern house on stilts with a shed style roof that’s well ventilated, easy to keep clean and easy to update. The open under-floor space holds a carport and laundry area with plenty of room for doggie nooks. On the whole, it’s a contemporary living space with all the comforts and functionality for humans and their dogs.
Jobby’s favorite spot in the house has a big table that can change function from work to recreation to dining in a flash. Here, time well spent is time spent with his best friends. In a quiet and calm environment, who needs a coffee shop?Floating furniture ideas make the sitting room feel bigger and more comfortable. It’s a great way to optimize the living space to cultivate a bond between man’s best friends and their owners, plus it’s easy to update and keep clean.The modern shed roof dwelling is raised on stilts reminiscent of traditional Thai houses in former times. The under-floor space has a carport, laundry area, and room for dogs to lounge about, play and get some exercise.
A dog’s dream breeze block house
“This house is built for the dogs. We just share a living space like a big family,” said Jobby with a laugh.
Sharing his thoughts with us, Jobby said: “Originally I lived with Mom to the rear of the property. Other siblings also resided in the neighborhood. After I got married, I received this plot of land, about one rai, from Mom.
“We wanted a home that could accommodate all seven dogs we had at the time. Later, after three of them died, we adopted three new dogs that had been injured. Who knows, we may have more in future.”
To build a new home, the couple sought advice from Unnop Wongwaipananij, their architect friend who also took an avid interest in dogs. And the rest was history. The new house with a breeze block facade is a salubrious place to be, one that’s bright, happy and easy to keep clean.
A section of the laundry room is cordoned off to make room for a dog yard with temporary individual crates for some that don’t get along.A lightweight sofa can move easily, making the small living room feel bigger.The bedroom is furnished with just the bare necessities consisting of a bed, sideboard, and desk. Open plan design makes perfect sense in a situation where dogs are allowed to sleep in the bedroom.
A happy state of mind in geometric design
The dog-friendly geometric home is attractively modern, thanks to its simple shed-style roof framing. In the meantime, stilt house design offers ample under-floor spaces that can fulfill multiple purposes. The ground level is a flat slab that’s formed of concrete making it easy for future updates. It lies surrounded by lush green lawns and stable pea gravel paths that are ideal for dog runs.
Whan said that she came across the benefits of breeze block construction while browsing through BaanLaeSuanmagazine. Square concrete blocks with air vents are a perfect match for geometric house design.
“In fact, I want to do more home decorating, but ‘Photo’ (her golden retriever) is only 9 months old and very active. So the open floor plan is the best solution at least for now. Like so, living room furniture understandably comes down to the bare essentials.
“There’s a couch that floats in the middle of the room surrounded by dogs, while a computer workstation for Jobby is placed against a wall. The dogs sleep in the same room at night.”
Design based on human needs and dog behavior
The blueprint of this breeze block house is not only about humans sharing a living space with their canine companions. It’s also about creating functions suitable for their physical and mental health.
Every little thing counts. The top half of the main gate is made of perforated metal sheets that allow the dogs to see outside. The deck bench seat and stairs have steel railing that protects against slip and fall accidents.
The floors are non-carpeted to reduce dust and allergens in the home. As a precaution, textured floor tiles are used instead. Curtains are made of washable material that’s easy to keep clean. Meantime, window sills are set lower with safety glazing to allow the dogs to see out.
Speaking of the design concept, the architect said: “Because the house faces due south, the front façade sees the most hours of sunlight during the day. So we put the building on the east side of the land with the bedroom at the rear to avoid heat buildup inside and for better privacy.
“To cool down the interior living spaces, the bathroom is placed along the side to provide a buffer against the harsh afternoon sun. This in turn keeps the bathroom dry and protects against humidity damage. For practical reasons, an air brick wall is chosen to allow southwesterly winds to enter and circulate inside. Nearby, an additional layer of protection is provided by a full-grown rose apple tree.”
There are many health benefits of owning dogs. They are reason enough to wake up feeling fresh, get out of bed, and step outside.Even dogs need a vacation. Jobby, Whan and their four-legged friends are on a bird watching trip to Bang Pu, Samut Prakarn, which is only a short drive from where they live.
Asked what it’s like to live out here, the couple said: “Overjoyed! We’ve made the most effective use of indoor and outdoor spaces, especially the main living room. The late afternoon is usually spent with the dogs in the under-floor room where fresh air is plentiful.
“Sometimes we take them out for a walk, go swimming or make a bird watching trip to Bang Pu, which is only 10 kilometers away. The seven dogs make living here a pleasure. Each one of them has its special doggie nook. We know they are happy to be here, too.”
/ Story: Patsiri Chot / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Anupong Chaisukkasem /
Here’s a single-storey home built on a naturally peaceful plot of land. Blending in with the lovely surroundings, it makes simple living easy. The simplicity of design affords plenty of room to take a walk around or sit on the porch and enjoy the beautiful landscape. Inspired by the restful view of a Buddhist temple in Tokyo, it’s a perfect example of happiness at the deepest level.
Architects Phongphat Ueasagkhomset and Parnduangjai Roojnawate of the Anonym design studio said the house plan was based on the experience of the homeowner, who recently visited Tokyo and came away impressed by the pleasant, soothing ambience of Japanese traditional architecture.
A detailed investigation of the work gave them the design inspiration that culminated in this single-storey home’s uncomplicated atmosphere.
Although the homeowner had a relatively large piece of land — roughly half an acre, he didn’t want a big house.
What he has wanted all along was a single level home without an ostentatious display but had all the necessary conveniences for simple living.
His dream home was an intimate hideaway that merged into a lush green oasis – a salubrious place to heal and recharge reminiscent of the Tokyo temple he visited.
The single-storey home sits on the transverse plane that runs parallel to the front yard. Floor-to-ceiling window design lets natural daylight and fresh air into the central living room and a courtyard that lies furthest in. The garden path that gets the most traffic is covered in artificial grass that doesn’t become soggy after it rains.A few steps separate the natural level of the site from the house floor set at plinth height. The finished floor is the same level all the way through, which affords layout flexibility and the impression of a bigger space.A driveway runs past the front yard and ends at the carport beside the house.A wood table and chairs from the old house perfectly complement dining room interior design. The open floor plan connects indoor and outdoor spaces in the central courtyard.Household furniture consists of what is necessary to create a comfortable home – a large sofa set and a pair of low wood chairs from the old house. The mantra of interior décor is simplicity in every aspect.Running parallel to the central courtyard, the lovely enclosed corridor with glass walls creates visual continuity from the interior to the outdoor living spaces.A gorgeous open floor plan promotes connectedness from the living room to dining room and kitchen. Different house functions are identified by furniture, while steel beams incorporated in the ceiling are reminiscent of the simplicity of a Japanese home.
From the outside looking in, the single-storey home sits hidden from view until the main gate swings open. On entering the compound, we come before a sloped garden that dominates the landscape.
The peaceful abode is built parallel to the spacious front yard. The architect said that much of it was made from reclaimed lumber from the old house. This way, old wood is beautiful again after it’s polished and covered with a new coat of paint.
Sharing his story, the homeowner said:
“This was our family home where Mom and Dad had lived for 40 years previously.
“The old house later turned out to be bigger than necessary after Mom and Dad had moved into a nearby home that the family purchased not long ago.
“After the ground floor was damaged during a recent flood, we thought it was time to tear it down to make room for a new one.
“The new single-storey home was made for living until retirement age, so design should be light and airy, clean and simple with no steps, plus all the rooms have access to garden views.”
Creative design makes the built-in bookshelf and office desk beautifully blend in like they are a part of the house. Louver glass windows allow in natural light and fresh air from the tree-shaded garden.Minimalist simplicity has pride of place in the master bedroom belonging to Mom and Dad. An old bed and a few important things dominate the room with a beautiful courtyard view.A well-ventilated bedroom viewed from the central courtyard.
Putting pen to paper, the architect soon came up with a U-shaped house plan with a courtyard at the center.
“By design, it’s positioned to reap the benefits of seasonal variations and prevailing wind patterns. This makes it comfortable to live, plus it’s cheaper to run without relying on air conditioning all the time.
“Like so, thermal comfort is achieved by raising the ceiling 4 meters high with insulation to keep the interior cool. Steel roof frames give it a lightweight feel and reduces the fear of confined spaces.
“Overall, it’s the Japanese-style roof frames that make the single-storey home look simple yet very attractive both inside and outside.”
There is uniform connectedness in design from the sitting parlor to dining room to kitchen, plus the Buddha room, bedrooms and home office. Every room boasts floor-to-ceiling glass doors that connect with the courtyard garden.
Both the front porch and the veranda that connects to the courtyard garden are made especially large for increased relaxing spaces.
All things considered, it’s design that lets nature spread throughout the entire property.
Clearly visible from every direction, the courtyard garden serves as lungs for the house. Shade trees are trimmed down to an ideal height so that they don’t block the view, while the understory is filled with ferns and mosses that thrive on large sponge rocks.The service area wall has windows that blend in with other parts of the house.A well-kept garden and courtyard space is designed to be seen from different angles.
The courtyard garden serves the purpose for which it’s intended. As heart and lungs of the house, it drives natural ventilation that keeps the air fresh and healthy indoors.
The garden of luxuriant foliage can be seen in full view from inside every room. On the whole, it’s a place to live in close touch with nature. Or just sit back, relax on the spacious front porch, and watch the garden grow.
For the homeowner, his idea of paradise is to enjoy simple living and indulge in peaceful recollection of his visit to that temple in Tokyo.
/ Story: Samutcha Viraporn / English version: Peter Montalbano /
/ Photographs: Rithirong Chanthongsuk /
A beautifully renovated 60-year-old mid-city house, with a startling black beauty: this contemporary mix of old and new flows together as a single unit.
Interior decorator Pauline and nationally known architect Somrit Soonthornrungsi have spent their lives in this mid-city house. Once, it had a flooding problem downstairs, which plus termites and general deterioration, meant it was continually under repair.
At first, they thought to build a completely new house, but out of nostalgia and time constraints decided to do a major renovation instead.
“Our daughter grew up here and was upset that we were going to demolish it, so I thought, ‘Why not combine old and new?’ The result was a balanced, harmonious creation with a courtyard for breezes to pass through,” said Somrit.
As we look in from the front door, the original house is on the right, across an open courtyard with planted walkways, and the second-floor verandah connects to the new house on the left.
The old house is of wood and masonry, with mortar stripped to show the traditional brick. Downstairs is Somrit’s small workshop and a bike storage space, with the floor raised higher to avoid flooding from street level.
The new section of the house is connected, but quite different because of its steel-frame construction. On the ground floor, there is the company office.
The second floor is Pauline and Somrit’s main living area, connecting to the old house through the courtyard.
There is a living room on the right before the large indoor kitchen, which retains its original Makha wood flooring but was repainted black to match the black synthetic wood of the exterior, for an informal, natural feeling to complement the green view of plants and trees outside the glass walls.
Their daughter’s room, set up like a New York loft apartment, is on the third floor.
At two points, a mezzanine stairway connects the central porch to the rear verandah, from which you can clearly see the 2 floors of the old house.
They all lived in this mid-city house during the construction of a new, steel-framed gabled roof over the old one, which was finally torn out when construction was finished, leaving the kitchen ceiling to follow the new roof angles.
“The roof is a special black version of Shera’s “U-Slate” line. I’ve loved black since childhood,” said Pauline.
“When I was a kid, I wanted to paint my bedroom black, but my parents wouldn’t let me!” The chic interior design work has black everywhere. The large kitchen is in tribute to both her mother-side relatives and her father, who loves to cook.
“Besides the big kitchen pantry counter being a great place to socialize, it’s also good for informal dining.
Pauline selected furniture and décor in a “mix and match” style controlled by color, some items primarily functional and others reflecting personal style, combining old and new, cheap and expensive.
“It’s comfortable because this really reflects our way of life: the house isn’t built for show,” said Pauline’s father, “and we don’t want to be climbing up and down a lot of stairs in the day.
“Since coming here, we’veconfined business matters to downstairs, and it’s a comfortable walk up to the second floor. The longer we’re here, the more we like it. Looking back, the old house seems stuffy, with not a lot of open windows. Our lives changed after the switch.
“At first, we thought the courtyard would be too small, but in the end, it worked out great!”
Once light and wind directions were figured in, design principles were applied to open the structure up, and this mid-city house clearly became more than brick, cement, wood, and steel, a happy combination of old and new narratives.
Somrit added, “It’s impressive. Once the rooms were finished, furniture in, lights and water on, our home came to life anew. It’s a great comfort.”
Owner: Pauline Soonthornrungsi and Somrit Soonthornrungsi
Designer: Design Com-bini by Pauline Soonthornrungsi and Somrit Soonthornrungsi
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CHEZ MOU: A HOME HIDDEN IN THE FRAME OF AN OLD HOUSE
/ Story: Patsiri Chotpongsun / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Sitthisak Namkham /
Alexis Dornier is a German architect who nearly ten years ago moved to the village of Mas in Bali to build a vacation home. To properly house his furniture and artworks gathered from all over the world, he combined modern building techniques with an ancient Javanese architectural style known as joglo. Based around four pillars supporting a tall roof, in olden times joglo architecture indicated the owner’s social status.
“This house was primarily designed to showcase the ancient art of joglo wood construction. Functionality was figured in afterwards,” said Alexis.
“A modern steel support framework in the middle of the house adds a new element to the architectural tone, providing added support and making the house unique, but the essential artistry of the joglo structure was unaffected and remains essentially unchanged.”
Joglo architecture lends its character to two prominent spots in the house while also supporting well-defined modern functionality.
The first is where the multipurpose room connects to the living room, showing off the joglo high ceiling. Next to that is a display spot for outstanding works of art, where a grand piano is set.
Both spots are bordered by clear glass walls looking out on the incomparable verdant green of the surrounding jungle vegetation.
As it opens into the spacious, high-ceilinged dining room, the kitchen also shows off the joglo architecture. Above is a unique and exciting mezzanine walkway of clear glass where skylights allow natural light to shine below.
A person walking here gets a close-up look at details of artistic work carved into the joglo wood, perhaps experiencing something of the past joy archaeologists have felt in making new and priceless discoveries.
“Hidden beneath this spacious living room, connected to it by a three-dimensional walkway with views in all directions (a spiral staircase reaching down from the mezzanine), you will find two large bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, as well as another living room.
“On your journey up or down, you’ll see beautiful artworks and striking views inside and out.”
Before moving into this three-storey townhouse, architect and university instructor Bhradon Kukiatnun really put his heart into the design and décor to bring about a conversation among people, animals, and things, partly intentional, partly by impulse. Here are imperfections that are either blemishes or beauty marks, depending on our viewpoint.
Bhradon’s business is booming, but designing his own house raised a tremendous number of new questions, not the least of which was how the new living space of a three-storey townhouse would accommodate his eleven cats!
“Three years ago, I bought this place new, and it took two years to fix up,” explained Bradon.
“First problem: organize storage space to hold the tremendous amount of personal stuff needed in my life while still keeping the house orderly. Then, I didn’t want a typical townhouse atmosphere, but neither should it be jarringly different.
“Part of the answer is this new façade, using a type of latticework found elsewhere in the project that fits my personal lifestyle.”
As most townhouses add a roofed-over carport in front, Bhradon also applied his design idea to this requirement.
“There’s more than meets the eye in that front view: a lot of the functions are hidden,” said the architect.
“To really express myself, I had to go back and look at fundamentals with flexibility and an open mind.
“The space in front is limited. Would I rather have a carport there, or a garden? OK, garden: so I designed a garden where I could park the car! Quite different from having a carport decorated with plants.”
The design of this three-storey townhouse called for no structural alterations, but space was apportioned differently. The ground floor holds the living room, dining area, and pantry; second floor, a small bedroom and a workroom; third floor, the master bedroom.
“Inside, you might mistake a door for a wall, or vice versa: my overall concept was to focus on highlighting specific points, making them fit in by hiding some element,” Bhradon explained.
“In the living room, the TV wall is highlighted by hiding its functionality in a wall; the use of covering elements gives the feeling of being in a cave.”
During our conversation Ando, Bhradon’s first adopted cat snuggled up as if to join the group.
“I learned a lot from raising cats,” he said blissfully.
“They don’t think like people. Sometimes our human knowledge drowns out our instincts. But a cat! It wants to sit, lie wherever, just does what it wants.
“This allows single things to have more than one function: TV cabinet or sitting place? Or, for us, a storage spot. Think outside the box.”
We urban dwellers all long for nature. Bhradon answered this with a garden area in the rear of this three-storey townhouse, as he put it: “I think gardens nourish the psyche, so I put a little green in the house, along with a small guppy pond, and it’s a perfect spirit-refresher.
“I like the ‘wabi-sabi’ way of design; the beauty of imperfection, of real life,” he implied. “Real life involves rust; it involves injuries. Can’t eliminate these, right?”
As Bhradon’s speaking voice gradually softened, an unspoken conversation brought into focus the future of the house, the man, the cats, and whatever might lie ahead for them.
“Recently, my cat Kuma died, and I miss her every day. But through the sorrow of loss we see the beauty of living. Being natural is to be incomplete, and we have to live with the things that happen.”
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