Blog : Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts

Baan Bang-Gru: An Enchanting House on Stilts on the Outskirts of Bangkok
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Baan Bang-Gru: An Enchanting House on Stilts on the Outskirts of Bangkok

 / Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Supachart Boontang / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Sitthisak Namkham /

This house on stilts in a riparian neighborhood just off of Rama 2 Road represents a confluence of ideas between traditional craftsmanship and modern technology. There is timeless elegance and beauty in traditional design that provides an ample relaxation space on the open lower floor. The second floor features a wood balcony large enough to be used for several purposes, while the third holds a quiet, more secluded living space.

House on Stilts bangkok
The three-story wood and concrete home features a mix of traditional and contemporary designs highlighting simple, clean lines that are easy on the eye.

On the outside, long eaves overhanging the walls of the building protect the interior from the elements, while solid walls shield the home from intense glare of the sun. The result of all this is a comfortable indoor environment.

Nanthapong Lertmaneethaweesap, of the Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts, designed this home as part of an affordable housing program for the institute’s most valuable assets — their teachers. The program has aided the teaching staff in owning a home of their dream, hence the name “Baan Bang-Gru”, meaning houses for the teachers.

He said that for the most part a house plan based on simple design is the most comfortable to live in. That has a lot to do with finding the right balance between functionality and the house’s overall dimensions – or how big it is. Easy living can be achieved without spending a fortune on sophisticated decorative details.

Inspired by the rice granary in former times, the house’s exterior wall features upright studs on the outside and wood paneling on the inside. The hardest part is making reclaimed wood panels fit in with the new design.

Our documentary crew visited this house in the waterside area just off of Rama 2 Road that was famous for its simple lifestyle. We witnessed people go about their business in ways that were distinctive to a riparian community. We also noticed that change was just around the corner.

Overall, the design and build quality of the house represented the combination of ideas between traditional knowledge and technology of the modern era. Interestingly, it was like is a journey through time.

House on Stilts bangkok
The charm of a riparian wetland. The house at the water’s edge strikes the right balance between traditional and contemporary designs. Here, it makes a refreshing change to be able to live close to nature.

Charatsri Sribumrungkiat, the homeowner, said: “I acquired this piece of land thanks to assistance from the Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts. It was part of an effort to provide affordable housing for the institute’s instructors. The program has aided the teaching staff in buying a piece of real estate at cost price, hence the name “Baan Bang-Gru”, which means the teacher’s home.”

House on Stilts bangkok
Family members are all smiles with the Thai-style ranch home in the backdrop.

Nanthapong added: “In my opinion, this piece of land has great potential. It affords good views both of the lake and the waterway that runs past the rear of the property.

“The house’s front façade rises facing south, and the building is oriented along the east-west axis. This enables it to reap the health benefits that come with southerly winds.

“The house plan in itself fits in very well with the waterside setting. Its house-on-stilts design provides an ample relaxation space on the open lower floor. The second floor features a wood balcony large enough for multiple functions, while the third holds a quiet, more secluded living space.”

House on Stilts bangkok
The rear of the house affords a view of lush greenery and a peaceful waterway. The designer puts in a gallery large enough for multiple purposes. The covered loggia provides plenty of relaxing outdoor spaces and keeps the house cool all year round.

Occupying 120 tarang wah (480 sq. m.) of land, this house on stilts boasts high quality craftsmanship, albeit built on a small budget. This is possible because as much as 90 percent of lumber supplies came from reclaimed wood and other recyclables. New lumber used in the project accounted for only about 10 percent.

The homeowner attributed the success to his sister, who was good at finding recyclable ideas and putting them to good use around the house. This not only saved a lot of money, but it also filled the home with cool pieces of furniture.

Reclaimed wood left over from other projects is used in making a covered gateway separating the serene courtyard and the car park.
The house elevated on concrete piles provides ample multi-use spaces on the open lower floor.

By design, the open lower floor is a feature that makes life less stressful. It provides easy access to practically everything, from the little lake in front of the property, to the peaceful waterway behind it.

It is the area that is used all day every day for relaxation, dining, tending plants and pruning trees in the garden. Plus, correct building orientation ensures the home receives the full benefits of natural ventilation especially during summer months.

House on Stilts bangkok
The lower floor under the house lies open on all sides.

Originally the homeowners had intended to build a normal two-story house, but later decided to raise it on concrete piles instead. The change of plan resulted in the first floor becoming second, and the old second becoming third.

The main kitchen is on the ground floor. There is a good-sized sitting space with a small kitchen and dining room on the second floor that’s reserved for use in the event the ground floor is flooded. The third floor holds three bedrooms and a Buddha room.

House on Stilts bangkok
A waterfront piece of ground is used for growing an herb garden. Earthen jars are placed underneath the gutter to harvest rainwater for use when needed.

The exterior walls are inspired by the rice granary in former times, in which vertical studs are installed on the outside and horizontal wood palettes on the inside. The edge joint technique that has existed for a long time ensures the wall is water impermeable during rains.

House on Stilts bangkok
A minimalist staircase without risers between the treads creates good ventilation and a lightweight look. The same treatment applies to balusters and handrails crafted of steel rods.
A beautiful array of windows opens to take in the view and plenty of fresh air. Narrow window design is used instead of side railing as protection against falling.

On the whole, it’s a beautifully crafted house on stilts, one that fits in perfectly with the peaceful riparian landscape on the outskirts of Bangkok. The interior living spaces are uncluttered in keeping with the minimalist style, while the exterior showcases the architecture, waterfront lifestyles and experiences unique to this part of Central Thailand.

House on Stilts
The loggia with crisp waterfront views is the family’s favorite hangout place and multi-use outdoor room.

Architect: Nanthapong Lertmaneethaweesap of Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts

Visit the Thai original article…

“บ้านบางครุ” สัดสวนที่เหมาะสมของ บ้านไม้

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Baan Gongsi: A Perfect Fusion of Chinese and Thai Cultural Heritage
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Baan Gongsi: A Perfect Fusion of Chinese and Thai Cultural Heritage

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Supachart Boontang / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul and Arsom Arch Community and Environment Co., Ltd. A division of the Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts /

This urban home named “Baan Gongsi” is beautifully crafted in keeping with Chinese heritage in architecture mixed with defining features that are characteristic of the traditional Thai-style home. The perfect visual blend is the brainchild of Pongsakorn Tumprueksa and Nattanan Pokinpitak of the Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts.

Baan Gongsi
The two-story home that’s the main villa on the property features large double doors providing a grand entrance and promoting natural air circulation. In every part of the house, passive design strategies create a comfortable and energy-efficient indoor environment, and hence there’s no need for mechanical air conditioning. The bottom line is heat doesn’t build up inside it.

Architecturally, it’s a well-thought-out design that seeks reconnections with nature at home and, at the same time, keeps family heritage alive. Homeowners Thianchai and Noree Niyom, both of them of Chinese descent, want to live simply and traditionally, embracing a lifestyle that values a culture of sharing and caring.

Thianchai’s sister also lives nearby in the same compound, which explains the concept of Baan Gongsi, a colloquialism for extended family living arrangements.

Baan Gongsi
A garden slate walkway leads to an elevated pool hemmed in by Applied Chinese architecture. The tiled roofs with slightly upturned eaves evoke memories of a style that first became standard during the Song Dynasty. It makes the main building and surrounding annexes feel lightweight and delightfully charming.
Baan Gongsi
The center court pool stretches across the entire length of the veranda. It provides plenty of room for exercise. Meantime, the interior spaces are kept cool by breezes blowing in over the pool.

At the same time, it’s a design that embraces elegance in architectural aesthetics. There’s a courtyard with swimming pool at the center of the house topped by tiled roofs with curved sides. A striking feature of Chinese style, the unroofed area enclosed by the buildings doubles as engine that drives natural air circulation keeping the home cool and comfortable round the clock.

The well-conceived design also ensures the building fits in well with the hot and humid climate prevailing in this region. Speaking of a fusion between two cultures, there’s a large open-air platform that provides easy access to all the rooms, a layout quintessential of Thai-style cluster homes in the past. The Thais call it a “chaan” meaning a gallery or semi-outdoor room overlooking the garden.

The main villa and nearby annexes are disposed around the center courtyard. The sprawling design allows a healthy dose of morning sun to pour into the interior living spaces. In the nighttime the courtyard is aglow under the moonlight.

Baan Gongsi
Overhangs of tiled roofs protect the buildings from harsh afternoon sun. Diamond-shaped tiles at the far end blend well with Chinese-style slightly curved roofing on either side of the pool.
Baan Gongsi
Tiled roofs with slightly upturned eaves are in keeping with the home’s Chinese character. The buildings make use of large structural timbers for primary support of the roof tiles.

The center courtyard has been the heart of family life and one of the most important elements of cluster home design since time immemorial. It brings joy to the family and supplies every part of the home with fresh air.

Here, everything exists for a good reason. Among others, a stone paver patio adjacent to the family’s ancestral home serves as a venue for morning tea. Nearby, the swimming pool brings the health benefits of good exercise. They’re there for the taking. Overall, it is a piece of architecture designed for the salubrious lifestyle of an extended family.

Baan Gongsi
The second-floor balcony looks out over the pool and garden landscapes to the further side. The wood deck in itself is reminiscent of Thai-style homes in earlier times.

Baan Gongsi is a well-crafted home, one made with attention to detail and quality to provide safety and protection against external disturbances. The floor plan offers smooth transition from one area to another. There’s a welcome room with patches of greenery connected to a stone paver patio leading to the Moon Door that’s the house’s main entrance.

From there, a stone paver garden pathway provides access to the main villa and nearby annexes. The center courtyard itself lies protected by a lacy canopy of mature trees making every day an enchanting experience. Because it’s situated amid the bustle of the city center, the home relies on plenty of lush vegetation to protect against noises and air pollution.

Baan Gongsi
The interior features open-concept living spaces that stretch from the dining area to sitting room to the library and, beyond, the veranda at the far end.
Baan Gongsi
The bathroom features common elements of a contemporary style with a minimalist feel to it. The shower section is semi-outdoor reminiscent of a traditional Thai-style home. Floor tiles with antique patterns complement cool-toned whites on the walls.
Baan Gongsi
Lush greenery adds a refreshing touch of nature to the center courtyard.

As for build quality, real wood is the material of choice and one of the most outstanding features of the house. What makes it aesthetically pleasing is the slightly curved eaves characteristic of Chinese architecture. Needless to say, it’s a wholesome place where nature and culture coexist in peaceful harmony, a home beaming with pride.

A stand-alone house of Buddha serves as a reminder of Thai architecture in earlier times.
The Moon Door, adapted to sport a more contemporary look, provides access to the cluster home environment that lies beyond.
Baan Gongsi
A street view of the home showcases the gracefully curved gable roof overhangs characteristic of traditional Chinese architecture.
A stand-alone house of Buddha serves as a reminder of Thai architecture in earlier times.
A stand-alone house of Buddha serves as a reminder of Thai architecture in earlier times.
Baan Gongsi
[Left] Concrete footing protects timber piles from humidity that could pose a threat to the home in the long term. / [Right] Primary roofing support is crafted the old-fashioned way utilizing of large structural timbers. The crescent-shaped cutout at the top of the pole allows the ridge beam to rest securely for extra durability.

Owner: Thianchai and Noree Niyom

Architect: Arsom Arch Community and Environment Co., Ltd. A division of the Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts

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