The Tinman House: A Curious, Dreamlike Steel Home with a Story to Tell

The Tinman House: A Curious, Dreamlike Steel Home with a Story to Tell
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The Tinman House: A Curious, Dreamlike Steel Home with a Story to Tell

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Sara’ / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Damrong / Styling: Praphaiwadee /

This unusual home with intriguing ideas hidden inside belongs to Vazzan Tirangkura. With a big smile, he told us the story behind it. “It’s called The Tinman House because I was impressed with Tin Woodman, the fictional character who was looking for his heart in L. Frank Baum’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”

The coming together of vertical and horizontal lines gives a sense of youthful exuberance to the box-shaped house perfectly fitted for a rectangular plot of land. Grayish-black checker plates act as a double skin that prevents heat and filter sunlight, keeping the interior cool and comfortable.
The coming together of vertical and horizontal lines gives a sense of youthful exuberance to the box-shaped house perfectly fitted for a rectangular plot of land. Grayish-black checker plates act as a double skin that prevents heat and filter sunlight, keeping the interior cool and comfortable.

Vazzan had looked for the right location for years before he came across this piece of land by accident. “I was driving one afternoon and got lost. As luck would have it, I made a turn into this side street and found a house listed for sale right there in front of me. The land was 53 square wah (212 sq. m.). I thought about it for a night and went back to settle the deal first thing the next day.”

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After a consult with Jun Sekino of Junsekino Architect and Design, the rest was history. Jun Sekino was his favorite architect, who continued to translate his ideas into reality.

“Vazzan wanted this house built for a small family with two kids.” He was single at the time. It sounded ridiculously dreamy to me. But once finished, the Tinman House reflected both the homeowner’s character and a living space that’s raw, something in its true state not pretending to be more palatable than it actually is,” said Jun Sekino.

A modern Buddhist altar is made from a laser-cut metal plate, giving a raw and sleek look, which goes well with the house's materials and linings.
A modern Buddhist altar is made from a laser-cut metal plate, giving a raw and sleek look, which goes well with the house’s materials and linings.

The rectangular house plan offers 415 square meters of space for practical and effective use. The stairway works as a core ventilation stack. The linear interior hallway distributes functions to all the rooms.

The first floor has a carport, a welcome area, living room, dining room and kitchen, while the second is divided into a library, workroom, dressing room and guest bedroom. The quiet and more secluded third floor holds a master bedroom and children’s bedroom. On the fourth floor lies a sky garden with a peaceful lounge offering privacy.

The open entranceway adopts traditional Asian-style flooring to suit the modern environment. The outcome is an airy area that feels comfortable without air conditioning.
The open entranceway adopts traditional Asian-style flooring to suit the modern environment. The outcome is an airy area that feels comfortable without air conditioning.

On the whole, it’s a creation based on form-follows-functions and ergonomic concepts. For best results, the homeowner participated in planning every step of the way. He questioned every detail so that all the building designs performed the function tailored to his needs.

Bright yellow epoxy flooring in the dining room; the color is chosen to encourage an appetite. A mirror panel connects the dining room to the living room. Louvers are installed from floor to ceiling. So the wind can flow through and the view outside can be seen.
Bright yellow epoxy flooring in the dining room; the color is chosen to encourage an appetite. A mirror panel connects the dining room to the living room. Louvers are installed from floor to ceiling. So the wind can flow through and the view outside can be seen.

Minimalist design appears not only in its look, but also in the house’s functionality. There are no door knobs. Instead, bolts are applied for every door in the house. Isn’t that exciting? It’s been a while since we last saw a bar that slid into a socket to fasten the door and window.

The kitchen combines a striking red color with a raw, industrial style. The counter boasts the beauty of simplicity in the form of polished concrete finishes. Supplies are stored inside built-in checker plate closets.
The kitchen combines a striking red color with a raw, industrial style. The counter boasts the beauty of simplicity in the form of polished concrete finishes. Supplies are stored inside built-in checker plate closets.

Overall, the decoration is done in a loft style that brings out the true nature of materials. Reclaimed timber recycled from the old demolished house find new purposes as a gigantic bookshelf (0.60 x 29 x 3 meters in size), a work desk, a bedside table and flooring materials, to name but a few.

There are plenty of ideas that take modern loft decor to the next level. Built-in furniture is all custom made, pushed up against the wall to create a roomy living space. The pieces are made from industrial supplies, for example, water pipes, metal plates, expanded metal grating, and checker plates.

More so than anything else, it’s the use of primary colors that adds a refreshing change to the home — red, yellow and Majorelle blue.

A loft-style guest bedroom is ready to welcome his “don’t drink and drive” friends. Shelf-like metal bunks with mattresses have enough room to sleep two people comfortably.
A loft-style guest bedroom is ready to welcome his “don’t drink and drive” friends. Shelf-like metal bunks with mattresses have enough room to sleep two people comfortably.
[Left] An expanded metal mesh door adds an airy feel to the dry part of a bathroom. Polished concrete finishes paired with a stainless steel bucket make a simple set of wash basin and counter. [Right] A red custom-made metal door breaks the rawness of unpainted concrete.
[Left] An expanded metal mesh door adds an airy feel to the dry part of a bathroom. Polished concrete finishes paired with a stainless steel bucket make a simple set of wash basin and counter. / [Right] A red custom-made metal door breaks the rawness of unpainted concrete.
A roomy workspace on the second floor can be seen in full view through a rope net hung in the middle of the third floor. The wall on the west side is filled with an array of bookshelves, which as a whole provides a buffer against heat.
A roomy workspace on the second floor can be seen in full view through a rope net hung in the middle of the third floor. The wall on the west side is filled with an array of bookshelves, which as a whole provides a buffer against heat.

Taking everything into account, the building external envelope is clear and simple, while interior design is lively and fun. All the spaces and functions are interconnected to serve everyday needs. No doubt it’s a perfect home for a small modern family.

Sharing his slice of paradise, Vazzan said: “Because I travel a lot, I’m very happy when I have a chance to stay home. I love every corner in this house. Each of them is designed having me as its center. It’s thoughtfully devised to be simple, practical and timeless. Even in the next 20 to 30 years, it will always be a contemporary home.”

The stairway is painted Majorelle blue, an indelible visual impression Vazzan experienced during a recent trip to Morocco.
The stairway is painted Majorelle blue, an indelible visual impression Vazzan experienced during a recent trip to Morocco.
Simple master bedroom décor affords a warm, relaxed atmosphere. The headboard is adorned with a laser-cut metal plate featuring dragon and swan design. The metal bed frame is designed by Vazzan himself.
Simple master bedroom décor affords a warm, relaxed atmosphere. The headboard is adorned with a laser-cut metal plate featuring dragon and swan design. The metal bed frame is designed by Vazzan himself.

Before we say goodbye, Vazzan has a piece of advice for those planning to build a home of their own. “The owner has to take part in the design, because he or she is the heart of the house — The Tinman House included. The heart of a home is borne by its owner.”

Viewed from the top, a spiral staircase in Majorelle blue connects the dressing room to the bedroom on the second floor.
Viewed from the top, a spiral staircase in Majorelle blue connects the dressing room to the bedroom on the second floor.

Owners: Vazzan and Dr. Kanjana Tirangkura

Architect: Junsekino Architect and Design (www.junsekino.com)

Co-designer: Vazzan Tirangkura

Visit the original Thai article…

TINMAN HOUSE เพราะหัวใจของบ้านคือ เรา

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