Blog : Bangkok

A Minimalist House with the Warm Elegance of Wood

A Minimalist House with the Warm Elegance of Wood

BANGKOK / Here’s a warm wood house that’s an embodiment of superb craftsmanship in the indoors and cool refreshing greenery outdoors. Precisely, it’s simple design with the deliberate use of texture and clean lines that gives it a sense of youthful exuberance — a minimalist home that blends perfectly with nature.

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Khagee Ketjumpol, the homeowner, said he bought this house about ten years ago having been attracted to an orange jasmine tree (Murraya paniculata) gracing the front yard. After that he decided to restore it to a good state of repair that was more up to date in style. It was a home makeover project designed for better living conditions of everyone in the family. A professional builder with more than 30 years of experience, Khagee knew exactly what he wanted to do and how. The result was a complete renovation that struck the right balance between comfort and a distinctive appearance.

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The remodeled house plan offers three stories of living spaces with an abundance of natural light canopied by overhanging trees. The homeowner couple live on the top floor that’s decorated penthouse style, while their daughter occupies the second. The ground floor consists of common areas designed to encourage social interaction and spaces for a range of activities including home to three pet dogs. Outside, a Siamese rosewood tree (Dalbergia cochinchinensis) standing three stories tall adds a peaceful detail to the front yard.

A Minimalist House with the Warm Elegance of Wood A Minimalist House with the Warm Elegance of Wood

To establish the ideal room temperature for comfortable living, tall-growing trees are preserved and integrated into the house plan and landscape design. Where appropriate, parts of the ground floor are left unfilled and overhead windows created to allow the upper branching of trees to thrive. The result is a spacious, well lit, and well ventilated home built around shade trees that provide sun protection all year long.

A Minimalist House with the Warm Elegance of Wood

As Khagee puts it, “I like plants for they offer shelter from direct sunlight, increase oxygen, and filter dust that poses a serious threat to environmental quality, plus they help keep the house cool. In line with the minimalist style, open floor plans create a living space that’s pleasant to look at and easy to keep clean.”

A Minimalist House with the Warm Elegance of WoodA Minimalist House with the Warm Elegance of Wood A Minimalist House with the Warm Elegance of Wood

The family’s love of nature and everything about wood is clearly seen in home interior design. Much of it is made of reclaimed timber that once served a different function. Here, Khagee was able to recycle used items from his collection to fit new needs as floor panels, wall coverings, even ceiling planks. Where possible, steel framing and glass panels are also used.

A Minimalist House with the Warm Elegance of Wood A Minimalist House with the Warm Elegance of Wood A Minimalist House with the Warm Elegance of Wood

“I like the touch of wood. Throughout my career as builder, I have collected many used building materials and reclaimed wood. Much of it that went into renovating this home was more than 30 years old and imported from Laos. To me, house building is an investment, much like buying land or gold. This way, we’ve come to appreciate the value of wood. It’s the natural vibes of wood that bring positive energy into our home,” said Khagee.

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A few pieces of house furniture are used on an as-needed basis true to the idea of minimalism. For a spacious interior, even large pieces like the bed and the sofa are made of steel framing that gives them a lightweight look. Because of this, they appear to hover just above the floor. The light and airy atmosphere is further enhanced by recessed lighting, a nice little collab between the homeowner and a team of architects from the Unknown Surface Studio.

A Minimalist House with the Warm Elegance of Wood

After many years of building houses for other people, the time is ripe for Khagee Ketjumpol to make one for himself and family. Not only is it a dream come true, but it’s also a beautiful wooden home ensconced by nature. It’s no surprise that he aptly calls it “Little Paradise”, a home made for the happiness of his loved ones.

Homeowner / decorator: Khagee Ketjumpol
Lighting design: Unknown Surface Studio
Story: Patsiri
Photographs: Soopakorn
Style: Worawat

Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel

Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel

BANGKOK / Inspired by pleasant memories of New York’s Central Park, Sarapa Vejpattarasiri converted old row houses in a bustling neighborhood off of Sukhumvit into a boutique hotel and cafe that blended the pretty looks of Tropical motifs with Modern design. Aptly named “GOOSE Living”, the stylish midtown inn was a reflection of her learning and life experiences after graduating in culinary science from the Big Apple.

Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel

It’s been a journey. Sarapa came away impressed with a vision of wild geese naturally living free against the spectacular backdrop of New York City. Hence the two adjoining row houses that had been in her family for over four decades transformed into an intimate little hideaway in the middle of a vibrant urban district.

Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel

The hotel keeps firmly to its concept – “Living a goose life (if you will forgive the pun) is about living happy, wild and free”.

GOOSE Living offers the opportunity to experience the excitement of simple yet chic living spaces. It’s a flexible form of living involving a new and innovative style. Situated on a corner plot, the hotel’s ground floor that houses a resaturant and cafe looks out over two intersecting streets. The result is a beautiful open concept entrance hall that’s warm and welcoming.

Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel

A team of architects from SIM STUDIO undertook the renovation project. Together, they took the five-story row houses out of their humdrum existence turning them into an architectural landmark that clearly enlivens the city’s Phra Khanong neighborhood. Besides the small restaurant and cafe on the ground floor, the 900-sq-m hotel offers 20 rooms and a bar on the top floor. As can be expected of a boutique hotel, each room is decorated in the style and colors that reflect the distinctive character of the wild geese of New York. Plus, all the living spaces are flexible and capable of fulfilling several functions.

Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel

The ground floor contains the hotel front desk that conveniently connects to a small restaurent and café. The interior space is divided without going full-wall, but by using different building materials from one room to the next. This applies to everything from floors to walls to ceilings. The focus of attention is the use of vertical design on the walls to imitate scenic views of trees in the forest.

Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel

To reduce the harshness of the texture of building materials, curving contours are integrated in the overall interior design. They range from curved furniture design to modular chairs that neatly wrap around dining tables. Besides increasing aesthetic appeal, mirror ceiling decor adds an exciting new dimension to the loft space that houses a restaurant and café. The restaurant itself is renowned for its menu with an Asian twist.

Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel

The erstwhile terraced houses come with design limitations, and hence two kinds of guest rooms – ones with a city view and ones without. The rooms with a view are positioned along the exterior wall. Those that stand as part of a continuous row have no access to natural light. To compensate for the shortcomings, the architects put a skylight in the roof that transforms all the back rooms with daylight and fresh air all the way from the fifth down to the second floor.

Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique HotelGoose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel

From the outside looking in, the hotel stands wrapped in a protective layer crafted of steel box tubing. The rigid structure characterized by regular lines and shapes forms a geometric design that’s easily understood. It doubles as privacy screens that make the covered area more peaceful and quiet in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city.

Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique HotelGoose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique HotelGoose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel Goose Living From Row Houses to Charming Boutique Hotel

Location: GOOSE Living
3/6-7 Sukhumvit 71, Phra Khanong Nua, Wattana District, Bangkok
Tel. +6686 978 6232
FB: Gooseliving
IG: Gooseliving
LINE: @Gooseliving

Owner: Sarapa Vejpattarasiri
Photo: PanoramicStudio
Design: SIM STUDIO
Story: Wannaleela

Easternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft Space

Easternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft Space

BANGKOK / EasternGlass Manufacturer, the city’s oldest handmade glassware company, has transformed one of its buildings into a café amid the beauty of an industrial loft space. Interestingly, it’s blessed with the power of storytelling. The new coffee destination is located just off of Phet Kasem Road inbound between Soi 76/1 and Soi 76 in Bangkhae District.

Easternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft Space

The coffee shop called EasternGlass Café nestles in the front building that formerly housed factory offices. It’s a complete makeover that strikes the right balance between the chic organic style and the rawness of industrial style décor. The coffee room is connected to a warehouse, so you can shop around for the best deal on glassware made the old-fashioned way by skilled glass masters.

Easternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft SpaceEasternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft Space

For more than 70 years, EasternGlass Manufacturer has excelled in the glassmaking industry mostly for exports to Europe including Scandinavian countries. The company now in the hands of the third generation is widely renowned for its cool and creative products ranging from glass light shades to articles for hotel, restaurant, and home décor. Suddenly faced with disruptions brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, it has had to diversify into new business sooner than anticipated.

Easternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft Space

Led by Peter Chongussayakul, the company made remarkable progress by expanding into domestic markets instead, and hence a café on an industrial site where products and other paraphernalia are displayed. He said: “We have seen a new trend in consumer behavior of late. More people have taken an interest in home decorating ideas, while designers are looking for props that are great works of handicraft. So it’s time we presented our products for the Thai people to see. Since there were no new orders coming in, the company temporarily closed the factory to allow for renovation to take place.

“Parts of the factory office have been converted into an industrial style café showcasing miscellaneous tools and equipment. It’s a loft space designed to give information on the glassmaking industry. People who are interested can learn how hand blown glass products are made and what tools are used.”

Easternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft Space

The coffee shop décor includes pumps, cutting tools, tongs for holding the workpiece, blowpipes, and molds used to give shape to hot or molten glass. They are exhibited against bare concrete walls, weathered wood, and exposed building systems characteristic of industrial chic. There’s an entire wall that’s dedicated to a display of all kinds of glassmaking molds. Together, they showcase the factory history and play a part in educating the public.

Easternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft SpaceEasternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft Space

Right next to the industrial style café, a large warehouse is filled with awe-inspiring collections of artisanal articles made from glass. Every single piece is original in its own special way depending on the colors, design, and air bubbles that happen in the process. From an artistic point of view, it’s beauty in the imperfections caused by dust and air flow inside the factory that makes each one of them perfectly unique. Plus, it’s the allure of glass art that’s another determining factor in its value.

Easternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft SpaceEasternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft Space Easternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft Space Easternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft SpaceEasternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft Space Easternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft Space Easternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft Space Easternglass Café the Beauty of an Industrial Loft Space

Location:
The café is on a private road just off of Phet Kasem Road inbound between Soi 76/1 and Soi 76, Khwaeng Bangkhae Nua, Bangkhae District, Bangkok

Open daily from 08.00 to 17.00 Hrs.
Tel. 09-2240-4141
See more: https://www.facebook.com/Easternglass
Story: Phattaraphon Yodnakornjong
Photographs: Nantiya 

SCOPE Promsri Condominium; Feeling Good Living Better World Class Real Estate in the Heart of Sukhumvit

SCOPE Promsri Condominium; Feeling Good Living Better World Class Real Estate in the Heart of Sukhumvit

BANGKOK / Designed to improve the quality of life, SCOPE Promsri sits on a prime residential lot in the heart of Sukhumvit, one of Bangkok’s vibrant cosmopolitan areas. Among its most outstanding features is the integration of the high-end contemporary furniture brand Ligne Roset of France with the overall design of every room and common area. A nexus between well thought-out design, best appliances brands and urban lifestyle conveniences, the 1.35-billion-Baht eight-story condo comes complete with a security system that exceeds standards for residential property management.

SCOPE Promsri

SCOPE Promsri is conveniently situated on Soi Promsri, a prime street that connects with three famous city thoroughfares; namely Soi Prompong (Sukhumvit 39), Soi Klang (Sukhumvit 49), and Soi Thonglor (Sukhunvit 55). The intention is to become a premium residential project capable of providing its residents with a world class service.

SCOPE Promsri

What makes SCOPE Promsri exceptionally good is the overall interior design paired with matching contemporary furniture by Ligne Roset, a high end brand that has been around for more than 160 years. Founded in 1860, Ligne Roset grew from humble beginnings and transformed itself into a successful furnishings outfit with branches across the globe. Over time, modern luxury furniture and decorative accessories have earned the company a reputation as experts in design and innovative manufacturing processes. The secret to its success lies in strict quality control that culminates in unique products that are not only handsome and comfortable, but also a profusion of elegance and value characteristic of French design.

SCOPE Promsri

Yongyuth Chaipromprasith is creative expert in real estate development and CEO of the SCOPE Co, Ltd, which specializes in homes at the international premium level. He said: “We commit ourselves to providing quality and innovative design that has been our signature from day one. Every project that we’ve accomplished are the product of collaborations between us and other experts in the field, including world famous brands. When it comes to home furnishings, it’s not about selecting products from catalogs. Rather, it’s an act of working with others who have comprehensive knowledge and skill in a bid to create products that are evidence of quality and best express our ideas.”

SCOPE Promsri

By this is meant that SCOPE Promsri places great emphasis on the individual’s privacy and freedom from being disturbed by others. Hence, there are only two business units, compared to 146 residential condominium units on the premises. First and foremost, it’s designed to raise the quality of life and improve safety for the project’s residents. This is evident in the installation of water sprinklers in the ceiling of every room, despite it not being required by law governing eight-story buildings.

That’s not all. At SCOPE Promsri every condominium comes complete with modern conveniences and household appliances that comply with standards. They include electrical kitchen appliances by the MIELE brand of Germany, plus built-in combinations consisting of a microwave oven, induction cook top, kitchen exhaust fan, and built-in Liebherr brand refrigerator, as well as wall-mounted washlets by Kohler, Germany.

SCOPE Promsri

Apart from the full complement of world class equipment, every condo unit receives a great deal on decoration known as “Promsri Edition Fully Furnished Package”, an 890,000-Baht value that includes, among other things, a Prado sofa by Christian Werner. Customers are allowed to choose more than one color for the sofa. Plus, there’s a special edition table code named “Promsri Table”, which is manufactured exclusively by Ligne Roset for this project only. And that’s not all. The list also includes a built-in console that comes with a 75-inch TV set, bed with headboard decorating ideas and mattress by Simmons, the world class brand that’s used by six star hotels across the globe.

SCOPE Promsri

Strictly speaking, the Promsri Edition is more than just a list of household equipment or furniture. Rather, it opens the door to a new lifestyle evolving around feeling good and living better ideas. It’s about nurturing quality thoughts that culminate in good design for homes at the international premium level.

Yongyuth added: “SCOPE Promsri has invested a lot of money to create a good first impression with the project’s exterior design. But the quality that pleases the aesthetic senses alone isn’t enough. That’s why we also place great emphasis on long term durability and ease of maintenance. This is evident in the use of reflective glass acoustic film that not only protects resident privacy, but also reduces heat transfer from outside, thereby saving on energy consumption. Plus, it doubles as sound barrier that reduces street noise by as much as 30%, a feature that’s further enhanced by motorized blackout blinds for added indoor thermal comfort. It’s designed to achieve total darkness in the room, especially for customers in the young international premium group who requires the highest quality of rest. This is particularly important for the so-called work-hard, high-income group.”

“SCOPE gives good living conditions the highest priority. For this reason, it provides a variety of services including safe transport of food items and cleaning service. It’s a luxury condo that not only allows pets, but also is truly pet friendly. By enforcing carefully thought-out rules and regulations, it ensures that pet owners and non-pet owners can live together in harmony.”

SCOPE PromsriSCOPE Promsri SCOPE Promsri

SCOPE Promsri condos complete with the “Promsri Edition Fully Furnished Package” are on sale now for 6.3 million Baht apiece. The scheduled finish date is around November 2022. Unit reservation has begun as of 12 March 2021. Register now at www.scopepromsri.com

SCOPE Promsri

New Forest Park the Pride of Bangkok

New Forest Park the Pride of Bangkok

BANGKOK / As many probably already know, Fort Canning Park is one of Singapore’s largest public parks. It features nine historic gardens that are part of the “garden city” vision introduced in the mid-1990’s. Do you know that in the near future, upon completion of Phases 2 and 3 of the Benjakitti Park expansion project, Bangkok will join the ranks of ASEAN capitals with vast networks of parks to preserve local ecosystems. It represents an important step forward to increase the quality of life for many residents as well as visitors.

Bajakitti Forest Park
A graphic rendition of Benjakitti Forest Park, a future urban e cosystem in the heart of Bangkok.

Opened in 1994, Benjakitti Park underwent the first phase of renovations in 2016 on an area of 61 rai. Phases 2 and 3, which include an expansion and landscape improvements, are currently progressing on schedule. The new, updated Benjakitti Park extends over an area of 259 rai that originally was home to a tobacco manufacturing facility. Costing 652 million baht to build, the monumental forest park project is a joint enterprise involving the Finance Ministry Treasury Department, the Royal Thai Army, and the Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts, which is responsible for design.

Bajakitti Forest Park Bajakitti Forest Park Bajakitti Forest Park

The urban forest project will provide a new ecosystem that supports the quality of life in the city. It’s designed to give rise to a biological community that depends on an intricate network of water channels, which in turn is crucial to the growth of trees and shrubbery and habitats for many animal species.

Like a super absorbent sponge, the park’s unpaved grounds are capable of soaking up in excess of 128,000 cubic meters of storm water during the rainy season. Plus, it doubles as a treatment plant that produces as much as 1,600 cubic meters of treated water per day. The existing trees, 1,733 in all, have been preserved. To create a pristine forest landscape, they plan on adding a variety of native tree species, among them Lumpae (Sonneratia caseolaris), Lumpoon (Sonneratia ovate), Kheelek (Senna siamea), Sadao (Neem), Bodhi or sacred figs (Ficus religiosa), Banyan trees, Yangna (Dipterocarpus alatus), and Takhian (Hopea odorata). 

Bajakitti Forest Park
A graphic rendition of Benjakitti Forest Park, a future urban e cosystem in the heart of Bangkok.

Bajakitti Forest Park Bajakitti Forest Park

That’s not all. Currently plans are afoot to connect Benjakitti Forest Park with a trade show pavilion and three nearby museums; namely the old tobacco factory building, an urban forest life museum, and a museum in honor of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother. There will also be demonstration rice paddy fields for kids, plus bike trails and a skywalk system connecting to Lumpini Park, a landmark public green space in Pathumwan District.

Bajakitti Forest Park Bajakitti Forest Park Bajakitti Forest Park

The forest park project will bring benefits to not only the city and its people, but also healthy habitats for many animals. It provides temporary refuge to migratory bird species, a place for physical activity, and room for our children to spend more time outdoors. Most importantly, it removes pollutants and gives us clean air to breathe.

Bajakitti Forest Park Bajakitti Forest Park Bajakitti Forest Park

Benjakitti Forest Park will be open to the public in phases, the first of which is scheduled for the 12th of August this year. Access to the entire project will open around February 2022.

Source: Facebook / Army PR Center
https://www.facebook.com/armyprcenter/videos/1302628316766472/
https://www.greennetworkthailand.com/สวนป่า-เบญจกิติ/

Images:  Facebook / Army PR Center

Plant Me on the Moon

Plant Me on the Moon

The coffee shop name got its inspiration from “Fly Me to the Moon”, one of Frank Sinatra’s all-time greatest hits. A brainchild of the Bangkok-based studio Embassy of Design Territory, the serene café serving coffee and refreshments is nestled among lush tropical gardens in the heart of the city’s Lad Phrao District.

Plant Me on the Moon , cafe in Bangkok Plant Me on the Moon , cafe in Bangkok

Drawing on his experience and a remarkable aptitude for organizing events, the designer transformed an ordinary co-creating office space into a coffee shop ensconced among the trees and shrubs. The café on the ground floor is characterized by a relaxing cozy atmosphere that gives off good vibes. Vertical gardens come in handy to fulfill a dream that one day humans will be able to grow them on the Moon.

Plant Me on the Moon , cafe in Bangkok Plant Me on the Moon , cafe in BangkokPlant Me on the Moon , cafe in Bangkok Plant Me on the Moon , cafe in Bangkok

Design ideas: The outside part of the shop is made of steel scaffolds with platforms or shelves, upon which gardens of luxuriant foliage thrive. The café interior built of plywood affords ample space, while exterior glass walls protect it from the elements, let natural light shine through and increase aesthetic appeal. Wood furniture, vintage décor and garden plants have positive effects on the atmosphere and good mental health. There’s a picture of Leon: The Professional, a 1994 action thriller film, starkly juxtaposed with lush green surroundings. If you’re shopping for plant containers, there are plenty of them to buy.

Plant Me on the Moon , cafe in Bangkok

Why we love it: Like an oasis tucked away in a city neighborhood, “Plant Me on the Moon” is a perfect rendezvous to share good times with friends and loved ones. The atmosphere is just right for life, and coffee smells like fresh ground heaven, plus a collection of soothing garden music. Drop in for a nice cup of coffee, sit back, relax and enjoy the calm and peaceful greenhouse view!

Plant Me on the Moon , cafe in Bangkok Plant Me on the Moon , cafe in Bangkok

Address: 17 LadPhrao 93 off Lad Phrao Road,
Khlong Chaokhunsing, Wang Thonglang, Bangkok 10310
Open Daily 8.30 am – 8.00 pm
https://www.facebook.com/plantmeonthemoon/

 

Story: BRL
Photographs: Anupong Chaisukkasem

 

Modern Thai House Exudes Old World Charm

Modern Thai House Exudes Old World Charm

A duplex house design by EAST Architect avails natural light, sun and air flow to provide indoor thermal comfort that’s the hallmark of the ultimate tropical design.

One wing is a semi-outdoor living space roofed over with ceramic shingles in a timeless shade of white. It’s made almost entirely of wood with a balcony and the Thai-style underfloor space high enough for additional uses. The other wing boasts the stylistic characteristics of the postmodern era. To make the most of natural light, the external walls are made of glass. Upstairs a straight passageway connecting individual rooms leads to a cantilevered addition that extends 6 meters supported by a V-shaped steel rigid frame – an unusual approach to lightweight house design.

EAST Architect Modern Thai HouseEAST Architect Modern Thai House

The upper covering of a living wing is made of steel reinforced concrete slabs. The gable roof that rises above them is topped with corrugated aluminum panels to allow light to pass through. This keeps the modern tropical home well-lit by day and glowing with light and color by night. No wonder they call it “Baan Hing Hoy”, literally translated “Fireflies House”.

A piece of architecture representing the nexus between Eastern and Western cultures, Fireflies House is a design that merges Modern and Traditional in a tropical home. The house plan doesn’t sit parallel to the road in front of it. Neither does it align with property boundary lines. Rather, it’s designed to respond to wind direction and the sun’s path across the sky. That pretty much summarizes the design concept embraced by two assistant professors, Pirast Pacharaswate and Sayanee Virochrut, of EAST Architect. The design duo prides themselves on being “architects of tropical rainforests”.

EAST Architect Modern Thai HouseEAST Architect Modern Thai HouseEAST Architect Modern Thai House

Together they turned a wish into reality. The homeowner, Mr. Thanawat Yongsanguanchai, wanted to build a house for a big family, a place to spend more time in nature. He was looking for a light and airy house plan, one that’s comfortable without air conditioning. The architects responded by using a lot of natural building materials. The result was a well-thought-out design that made people feel as if they were tunneling their way into another world hidden at the rear of the property.

EAST Architect Modern Thai House

“In essence the design takes into account basic human needs and the culture in which people live. The relationship between culture and climate is one of the inevitabilities of life. It’s for this reason that the house is built with knowledge of the climate in mind,” said architect Pirast Pacharaswate.

“We think up contradictory thoughts when designing the duplex house plan. The kids belong to a new generation, but their living wing boasts certain features that are characteristic of traditional Thai style. This is contrary to the design of the parents wing, which is evidence of a new language of architecture. It sits under a roof that glows with light and color, which bespeaks the postmodern discipline of art. The upper covering of the parents wing is made of steel reinforced concrete slabs. The gable roof that rises above them doesn’t function as roof in a proper way.

“It’s our intention to present a Thai-style house under the gable roof that many consider as old-fashioned. So we use a modern building material instead. The result is a roof that’s topped with corrugated aluminum panels. It looks light, airy and very noticeable with an entirely new perception.”

EAST Architect Modern Thai House

“We learned through conversation that the homeowner preferred white, and responded with a house plan in shades of white. The children’s wing gives a powerful impression of being Thai. It’s protected by ceramic roof shingles in the lightest shade. Wood is the main building material here. Although metal is part of roof framing, the skill and craftsmanship is Thai style. The living spaces are linked by a roofed platform along the outside of the house, unlike the parents wing where spaces are connected via corridors that bespeak modern design.”

EAST Architect Modern Thai House

The children’s wing is designed for semi-outdoor living, thanks to the veranda and spacious Thai-style underfloor spaces. Proceed to the parents wing, and you come into a glass-enclosed room that’s a great way to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside. A straight corridor connects individual areas and functions reminiscent of Western-style house plans.

EAST Architect Modern Thai House Dining room

The ground floor has pantries and a dining area with sitting room. It’s dominated by a long dining table that’s custom-made. The upper floor contains mom and dad’s bedroom that projects horizontally into space. Glass walls pour natural light into the room that’s embraced by nature.

There’s a multifunctional room with wood décor ideas. An array of alternating plain and hand carved wood cabinets ooze the charm and poise of Thai style.

EAST Architect Modern Thai HouseEAST Architect Modern Thai House

The upstairs bedroom projects 6 meters into space, supported by a V-shaped steel rigid frame for a lightweight look. Floor-to-ceiling glass wall systems afford views of the landscape. Not all ceilings are horizontal. Above, the children’s bedroom boasts a ceiling that slopes in agreement with the gable roof. The front side under the gable is open to bring natural brightness inside, while accent wall ideas behind the headboard fill the room in style. There’s something quintessentially Thai in the other bedroom where the platform bed frame is wider than the mattress, an easy hack to create space for wedge pillows and the triangle pillow that’s unique to Thai culture.

EAST Architect Modern Thai HouseEAST Architect Modern Thai House

“To create a good first impression, an architectural space has to be a noticeable new phenomenon. Hence, a garden passageway is designed for people to recognize what’s unique about ceramic roof shingles as they approach the house from various distances, each resulting in different impressions. Psychologically, humans and architecture interact with each other all the time. Circulation, or human movement in and around a piece of architecture, constitutes an interaction. It’s interactive experience that creates an awareness and evokes admiration of architectural beauty,” said architect Pirast Pacharaswate.

This modern home under the gable roof evokes admiration through design and the power of storytelling about the architectural design concept that integrates traditional values, longing for nature, and great aesthetic pleasure to form a coherent whole.

EAST Architect Modern Thai House

Design: EAST architect / www.eastarchitects.com
Owner: Mr. Thanawat Yongsanguanchai
Story: Sarayut Sreetip-ard
Photography: Soopakorn Srisakul, Wasin Pummarin
Styling: Suanpuk stylist

Amdaeng, The Most Romantic Hotel in Bangkok

Amdaeng, The Most Romantic Hotel in Bangkok

Time and budget allowing, it’s not hard to find a Chao Phraya riverside hotel in Bangkok for a night’s stay. What’s harder is to find a place rich with art and an atmosphere that makes you feel at home while taking you back in time to an earlier age in the river’s history.

/// THAILAND ///
Story: Korakada /// Photography:  Soopakorn, BEE+ /// 
Owner: Passapol Limpisirisan, Wiboon Lee /// Creative: MONDAY /// Architect: Anupap Onsard /// Interior Designer: Sutida Pongprayoon /// Landscape Architect: Sawin Tantanawat /// Artist: Studiojew+ 

This 10-room contemporary hotel with a taste of “Thainess” stands on 100 square meters in a tiny alley just off Chiang Mai Street, in the same neighborhood as the fascinating tourist destination Lhong 1919. “Amdaeng,” the hotel’s name, belonged to a fabled woman from the past and was suggested by the “Amdaengkhlee” on a former owner’s land deed from the Rama V era.  

Amdaeng Bangkok riverside hotel

All the main architectural elements inside and out are painted vermilion: posts, beams, floors, walls, ceilings, so that looking from the other side of the river it stands out clearly from its surroundings. Coming in from the other side you approach the entrance through a maze of alleyways, as the scene gradually opens up to reveal a red building that seems to be composed of separate sculptures joined together to become one grand form in which the architect envisioned people living.  

Amdaeng Bangkok riverside hotel Amdaeng Bangkok riverside hotelAmdaeng Bangkok riverside hotelAmdaeng Bangkok riverside hotelAmdaeng Bangkok riverside hotelAmdaeng Bangkok riverside hotel

Inside is a restaurant with a quiet calm feeling, lowering the dial on the red, and also more masculine: The feminine “Amdaeng” calls for some male balance, so the restaurant is named “Nye,” meaning “mister” in Thai. The restaurant materials and décor are simple and straightforward but rich with art, bringing to mind the phrase “blue and white,” for the indigo-patterned tile of China favored by Chinese social clubs and found everywhere in old China. Up above is a fabulous roof deck with a sort of “grandstand” for viewing the river rising upwards in tiered circles like the chedi of a Thai temple. In the future this area will be a nighttime bar.

Amdaeng Bangkok riverside hotel Amdaeng Bangkok riverside hotel Amdaeng Bangkok riverside hotel Amdaeng Bangkok riverside hotel Amdaeng Bangkok riverside hotel

Guest room décor shows a mix of styles reflecting Thai as well as other cultures: Chinese, European, Indian. To recall an earlier era when the dominant cultures were mixing in a formative way, aging techniques are used to alter the look of the glass, the floor tile is dimmed with a charcoal color, antique furniture is used, and remodeling has added beauty and refinement to an atmosphere of bygone days so as to live up to the catchphrase, “The most romantic hotel in Bangkok.”

Contact: 12/1 Soi Chiangmai 1, Chiangmai Road, Khlongsan Bangkok, Thailand 
FACEBOOKAMDAENG
WEBSITEamdaeng.com
TEL: 02-162-0138

Link: www.baanlaesuan.com/90546/design/directory/amdaeng-hotel/

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Bangkok Then and Now

Bangkok Then and Now

As we welcome the start of a New Year with enthusiasm and renewed hope, it’s good to look back and see how far we have come.

// Thailand //

Story: Samutcha Viraporn / Photo: Rithirong Chanthongsuk, Samutcha Viraporn

A lot has changed since the time of Venice of the East, for which Bangkok was lovingly known. Along came the railway system that ushered in an era of mass travel, followed by the building of many transport routes. As people’s lifestyles changed, shopping malls were mushrooming everywhere, and mass transit light rail systems were introduced. Now it’s a city of skyscrapers. See what it’s like then and now.

Built in the reign of King Rama V, the Stupa of the Golden Mount dominates the skyline above the junction of two canals, Ong-ang and Mahanak, main routes for travel by water since the early days.


Bangkok Railway Station, also known as Hua Lamphong, then and now.


Completed in 1942, the Victory Monument serves as Kilometer Zero on major routes linking Bangkok with other parts of the country. It was designed by famous architect M.L. Poum Malakoul.


The historic Mahakan Fort overlooks Ratchadamnoen Avenue with the Stupa of the Golden Mount in the backdrop.


A bustling street market opposite the Temple of Dawn is home to river view hotels, among them Sala Rattanakosin and Sala Arun.


The Giant Swing bespeaks the influence of Brahmanism on Thai society in olden days.  The swing is gone now; only the red tower remains in front of Wat Suthat Thepwararam.


Above, Silom Road in its early days. Below, the vibrant central business district is served by passenger rail transport — the elevated BTS and underground MRT. The Siboonrueng Building, a familiar sight on Silom, is scheduled for a teardown to make room for a new project.


Siam Center, then and now. The busy intersection in Pathumwan District has become a passenger rail transport hub conveniently linked to business and shopping destinations via the Skywalk.


Ratchaprasong Intersection, then and now. The area is home to the Erawan Shrine, a widely revered Brahman shrine erected in 1956.


Views from the top of the Baiyoke 2, tallest building in Bangkok from 1997 to 2016.


Back in the day, the Post and Telegraph Department doubled as the Central Post Office in Bangrak District. There’s a river pier at the rear of the building that once upon a time was a British consulate. Nowadays, it’s home to the TCDC, Thailand Creative and Design Center.


 

 

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A Day Trip Through Yaowarat / Chinatown Bangkok

A Day Trip Through Yaowarat / Chinatown Bangkok

The historic business hub of Bangkok is on CNN’s List of “Best Districts for Street Food” and “Top Ten Chinatowns in the World”. Whether it be fine dining or quick one-dish dinners, you can find some of the best meals in Yaowarat. Combine your favorite pastimes into one-day adventure. Living ASEAN recommends stopping by these places.

/// THAILAND ///

9:00 Coffee at Ama Hostel

Start your day at Ama Hostel Bangkok, a recently renovated Chinese style building located at 191 Soi Sapanhan off Chakkrawat Road in Samphanthawong area. The café in the forward section of the hostel offers coffee that smells so good. There’s nothing like the warm aroma of a steaming cup of coffee to wake you up to a beautiful day in old Chinatown. Nearby, push cart vendors serve delicious Kuichai meals and Kuay Jub noodes.

 

10:00 Shop at Sampeng Market and Yaowarat

A stone’s throw away from Ama Hostel stands Sampeng Market, a shopper’s paradise for goods at bargain prices, both retail and wholesale. The area is well known for many gift shops and stores selling fabrics, clothing and accessories, toys and seasonal decorating materials. Follow Chakkrawat Road and you come to Yaowarat Road.

 

12:00 Lunch at the Canton House

Enjoy the pleasure of authentic Chinese food at the Canton House. Established in 1908, the restaurant has since been renovated to give it unique appeal characterized by raw construction materials. The Canton House is located at 530 Yaowarat Road, Samphanthawong area. You will love the bite-sized Dim Sum in steamer baskets, steamed pork rib with black bean sauce, and fried Mantou (buns) with condensed milk. Thai and Western meals are also on the menu.

 

13:00 Wat Leng Noei Yi

The historic Wat Leng Noei Yi is rooted deeply in this community of Thai citizens of Chinese descent. Founded in 1871, the temple has been involved in every facet of life of the followers of Buddhism. It sees the busiest time during the period leading to Chinese New Year celebrations. Slowly burning joss sticks are used in paying tribute to the Lord Buddha. It’s good idea to avoid getting smoke in your eyes.

 

14:00 Jay Noi’s Kuichai Meal

About 250 meters to the right of Wat Leng Noei Yi stands a famous push-cart business selling fried Kuichai meals. Jay Noi’s Kuichai is renowned for being one of the most delicious vegetable meals in Yaowarat. Located on Charoen Krung Road, the humble push cart vendor sells Kuichai at 10 Baht apiece. The menu also includes fried Taro and Jicama (a globe shaped root vegetable). They are equally delightful.

 

15:00 Cakes at Wallflowers Café

Beat the heat in the afternoon with yummy mouthwatering cakes served with frothy Thai tea with cheese. Located at 31-33 Soi Nana, Pom Prab area, Wallflowers Café sits on the upper floor of a florist’s shop, which provides inspiration for many beautiful items on its menu. The café is owned and operated by an architect who has great interest in the art of coffee making.

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