/ Bangkok, Thailand /
/ Story: Natthawat Klaysuban, Kangsadan K. / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Nantiya June /
A house that’s right for the size of the land is just what this homeowner has been looking for, one that can satisfy his passion for living in close touch with nature in Bangkok.
Wind back the clock. The existing family home where he had previously lived was decorated mostly with potted plants. And when it came time to put in another house on the premises, he thought it wise to leave it in the good hands of professionals, at the same time working closely with them to create a home that would reveal his true self and his love for gardening.
The result is a home among trees that boasts the beauty of living spaces cocooned by the warmth of luxuriant foliage. He started planting trees while construction was underway, content to watch them grow from the very first day the new house rose from the ground in a designated area.
From a distance, the perimeter fence merges into lush vegetation, conveying a great deal about design thinking that integrates natural elements into design in ways that arouse intrigue and interest. It’s a layout that speaks volumes for a relationship between the homeowner and various plant species in the yard. The trees and understory plants take prominent positions in and around the well-planned single-story home.
From inside every room, a bright interior courtyard filled with greenery and garden pathways can be seen in full view, effectively blurring the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. The center courtyard performs a dual role. It creates visual continuity between the home and the landscape.
At the same time, moisture in the atmosphere transforms the entire premises into a peaceful, refreshing garden oasis. By design, the green courtyard splits the house into two separate wings. A corridor adjacent to the living room and dining room gives access to private living spaces tucked away in quiet corners. Along the way, a bare brick wall in grayish hues keeps the two wings apart, simultaneously serving as part of interior decoration.
The concept is clear. When the trees are regarded as part of family, design must ensure that they are treated right like house occupants behave toward one another. This is evidenced by the way skylights are installed at the top of vaulted ceilings to allow indoor plants to capture the energy from the sun.
At the same time, the living room floor is set lower than ground level creating a volume of space overhead. Nearby, the trees and plants thriving in the courtyard get full sun that enables them to grow vigorously, providing a nice cool place to relax and unwind. In terms of the feel and functionality, the house boasts modern conveniences that fit together well with the layout forming a cohesive whole.
The materials and finishes are mostly wood, white walls and concrete blocks in shades of gray that merge with the color of the real wood floor. More than anything else, it’s sunlight working in tandem with texture on the walls that adds dimension and much-needed depth to the room, a perfect integration of nature in living space design and people’s lifestyle.
In a nutshell, the homeowner’s passion for nature is translated into a single-story house appropriate for the size of the landscape. Surrounded by an expanse of trees big and small, it feels calm and peaceful, thanks to passive design making space available for all things to go to work as nature intended. The result is a well-lit, well-ventilated place made for a healthy lifestyle and desire to be eco-friendly taking it one step at a time.
Architect: Studio Bewell
This house appears in the special Baan Lae Suan issue on the theme of “Cozy Living in Urban Homes” is out now. Design lovers, this one is for you. It’s the latest in the ongoing “ASEAN Tropical House Series”.
The exciting new bilingual edition (Thai-English) is a nice little collab between the Baan Lae Suan Press and its English language media arm Living ASEAN. It’s the coming together of ideas for dealing with the problem of limited space, turning site constraints into solutions. Precisely, it looks at problem solving techniques, ultimately creating small urban homes that are right within the context of Southeast Asia. In this issue, ten houses are chosen for their exemplary designs that inspire. It’s meant for architects, designers, and homeowners searching out new ideas for creating a living space that’s cozy and comfortable plus it blends in beautifully with the environment.
Available at bookstores nationwide. Or go online. Order now at https://www.naiin.com/product/detail/621643
For bulk international orders, contact livingasean.bkk@gmail.com
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