/ Khon Kaen, Thailand /
/ Story: Kangsadan K. / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: /
“1011 House” in KhonKaen, Thailand performs dual functions as a place of residence and the home office of S Pace Studio. Thoughtfully devised to take care of the owner’s mother in need of medical attention, it’s built in the shape of the letter L surrounding a center courtyard dominated by an old tree. By design, it’s an architectural masterpiece where every room has a garden view.
What makes it stand out is a strong first impression of house walls built of concrete blocks stacked up to create an upright structure. The walls double function as a building envelope and a fence enclosing an area of land. Gaps in brickwork allow air and light to pass through.
The house plan prioritizes convenience incorporating thoughtful features, such as a gentle ramp for wheelchair access to the interior living space. There is attention to detail for the health and well-being of both working-age people and seniors in need of medical care, a perfect example of good work-life balance.
Here’s a house with a dedicated workspace, a stunning industrial exterior home offering an escape from the outside world. It blends the raw texture of a concrete breeze block façade with cool, clean lines and neutral colors. The pleasantly simple sanctuary adorned with lush greenery evokes timeless charm while the canopy of overhanging trees provides a refreshing retreat from the sun. It’s a welcoming streetscape offering a beautiful moment for passersby to pause and appreciate nature. Step inside, and you come to the heart of a home embracing health and wellness.
Called “10 11”, the house with a numeric name is nestled in a peaceful residential neighborhood in Muang District, Khon Kaen Province. Needless to say, it allows easy access to the city center. Prior to this, the homeowners and architect duo at S Place Studio, had lived in a townhome in Khon Kaen for the past 15 years. After their elderly mother had fallen ill, it was time to rethink the size and design of their home. As to be expected, they were looking for the kind of living space with plenty of room for a home-based care environment. The result is a right-sized, single-detached home with seamless indoor-outdoor transitions for comfortable, sustainable living. That’s the most fundamental part of the concept.
The new house sits on 100 square wa, a traditional Thai unit of land measurement equal to 400 square meters, which is enough for a full-time architecture office and private living environments. It connects with nature by integrating views, using natural materials and decorating with greenery, ultimately improving health and well-being. It was pure serendipity that they found this piece of land with an old tree standing in the middle.
They wasted no time turning it into a focal point of the landscape. The heritage tree acts as a natural air conditioner regulating temperatures and shielding the home from the sun. It’s a brilliant design where the house’s rooms wrap around a center courtyard, thereby maximizing natural light and ventilation.
The courtyard mostly enclosed by the walls of the L-shaped home organically separates the private residential wing from the home office zone. From the street, the house’s front façade made of cement breeze blocks doubles as a physical barrier protecting privacy and a modern exterior adding decorative accents to the home. Holes in concrete blocks are specially designed to permit natural light and airflow, culminating in good working and living environments.
With respect to spatial design, the house’s floor plan is sectioned into clearly defined, recognizable spaces. The home office zone is located up front by the entry area. Nearby, a hallway behind perforated brick walls creates light-filled transitions separating work areas from private living spaces. Along the passageway, a wheelchair ramp with gradual incline ensures the safety of the elderly mother. It gives access to a vibrant center courtyard adorned with lush vegetation.
The residential wing is a standard two-floor building that serves as a private sanctuary for quiet zones. The ground floor has a living room with double-height ceilings, a dining area nearby and, beyond, Mom’s bedroom. The homeowners’ cozy bedroom retreat is upstairs. A courtyard view from the two bedrooms seamlessly merges the home’s interior with its outdoor environment.
Taken as a whole, the interior feels surprisingly open thanks to a free-flowing layout that maximizes space and enhances natural light. The downstairs is enclosed by a sliding glass door system that doubles as the building’s exterior wall. All furniture is placed lengthwise rather than across leaving the center space open for easy traffic flow. The upstairs is a little more private and connects with the outdoors via a balcony on the outside of the building.
The house named “10 11” symbolizes creative ideas and a commitment to achieving a specific goal. In this particular instance, it’s about creating a healthy environment that best answers the homeowners’ work and personal lifestyle needs as well as supporting an elderly mother’s medical needs. The result is a right-sized home that wraps around a center courtyard, blending residential and professional areas into a single entity and creating a strong support system that ensures family members never face difficulties alone.
Architects: S Pace Studio
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