Blog : Bangkok

Extended Family’s Big Wooden House in Bangkok

Extended Family’s Big Wooden House in Bangkok

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Jeadwonder / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Sitthisak Namkham, Piyawuth /

Young married people these days tend to move away to have children and live separately, but Chang (Somprasong Sawat) and Bua (Buachomphu Ford) have brought their families back home. Everyone living together in a warm communal atmosphere makes this big wooden house a true family home.

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Mother and her younger sister live in the left wing. Behind is the parking area. Spaces are separated with drapes that can be rolled up and put away to create a common space for big family dinners.
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Teak wall and outdoor connection of mother and younger sister’s house.

“We’re all one big family, Mom, my sister, and my family, which right now is me, Bua, and our three young sons. It’s comforting to have relatives nearby. Grandma and Auntie help with the grandchildren,” Chang says with a smile.

Kanika Rattanapreedakul of Spacetime Architects Co.,Ltd. designed the house: Chang had learned about her work from a magazine article about house design in New York’s Soho district, where Kanika was the single Thai woman featured among a number of Westerners.

Her design resulted in this unique 1,000 square meters big wooden house, divided into three main sections. The first part, in the center, holds the swimming pool and central area of the house: living room, dining area, and Western-style kitchen. This is everyone’s common area.

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Dining area and light-use kitchen.
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Chang and Bua’s parlor, used for a meeting room or just to socialize.
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Fresh red tones enliven Chang and Bua’s living room.
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Left: Chang’s sister’s private kingdom. Right: A glass corridor on the second floor connects Chang’s house to the central area.

A section of the lower floor is designed for parking. The mother’s bedroom on the second floor has a classic décor. A vertical garden adds a feeling of warmth. The third floor is Chang’s sister’s domain. The right wing is surfaced with aluminum paneling, for a modern, fashionable “industrial” look: the family calls it the “tin house.”

“I collect paintings, so we have a room for them; in fact the room is designed around them. I favor surrealism and expressionism. You don’t have to understand everything to appreciate the art: it’s enough for it just to have an emotional impact.”

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Chang and Bua’s art-gallery bedroom connects to a spacious white bath.

The ground floor next to the pool has a reception area for guests, decorated with Chang’s art collection and next to a glass room where Bua practices yoga or sons play with friends, neighbors, and relatives their age.

The second floor is a mezzanine, with young Matt’s bedroom and a small pantry. Finally, on the third floor is Chang and Bua’s bedroom and two more small rooms for the children as they get bigger.

The design takes everyone’s needs into account in creating not only a beautifully designed and fully functional living space, but more than that, a place that brings together the love and warmth in the family, something that can’t be found anywhere else but here, their “home sweet home.”

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Owner: Somprasong Sawat and Buachomphu Ford

Architect: Spacetime Architects Co.,Ltd.


 

A New Hybrid Home Embraces the Charm of Yesteryear

A New Hybrid Home Embraces the Charm of Yesteryear

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Wuthikorn Sut / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul /

Looking anything but traditional, this hybrid steel-concrete home boasts a beautiful open-concept space. By design, it creates the light and airy ambience symbolic of the house on stilts unique to Southeast Asia in former times.

hybrid steel-concrete home

The owner’s beloved traditional-style wooden home was damaged by massive flooding that inundated much of Thailand’s Central Plains in 2011. But love never dies. She had the old house torn down to make room for a new one. The result was a hybrid steel-concrete home with all the charm and character of traditional Thai-style residential architecture.

hybrid steel-concrete home

“She requested stilt house design with three bedrooms,” said Pises Isarangkool Na Ayutthaya, one of the architects on the team. “Much of the timber was recycled from the old house and put to good use in the new, and she didn’t need air conditioning.”

hybrid steel-concrete home

hybrid steel-concrete home

hybrid steel-concrete home

To fulfill the homeowner’s request, the team of architects came up with a house-on-stilts design with extended eaves for sun and rain protection. It was built of a mix of concrete, steel beams and connections strengthened by steel framing for durability. In the meantime, correct building orientation allowed the new home to reap the full health benefits from cool breezes blowing in all day from a nearby canal.

Generous wall openings allow plenty of natural daylight and fresh outdoor air into the home. They include sliding doors and windows along the exterior walls facing the nearby waterway.

To create cross ventilation in the home, air vents are installed on the opposite side to exhaust the warm air, a passive design strategy that keeps the interior cool and dry. In doing so, they were able to eliminate the need for mechanical air conditioning entirely.

Open air vents designed to exhaust the warm air, thereby keeping the interior space cool and dry.
Open air vents designed to exhaust the warm air, thereby keeping the interior space cool and dry.
Door panels recycled from the old house find a new purpose as cabinet doors and shelves used for storage.
Door panels recycled from the old house find a new purpose as cabinet doors and shelves used for storage.

To ensure nothing goes to waste, timber and other building materials left over from the old house were adapted for reuse in new purposes, such as ceiling panels, windows, handrails, and benches, even kitchen cupboards.

Reclaimed timber worn by exposure to the weather added vintage appeal to the home. It also served as a sentimental reminder of the old house that had been the family residence for many years before the big flood hit in 2011.

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From the outside, the new house may look anything but traditional. But inside, it’s an entirely different story. The interior calls to the mind the image of the traditional house on stilts in the past, a place of residence thoughtfully devised to fit the Tropical climate. Plus, it’s well positioned to maximize certain aspects of the natural surroundings. And the result of all this: a beautiful home with curb appeal and a panorama of the lush landscape and nearby waterway.

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Architect: Pises Isarangkool Na Ayutthaya, Itirit Hatairatana


Visit the original Thai article…

บ้านโครงสร้างเหล็ก ที่ยกใต้ถุนสูงเป็นบ้านริมคลองแบบสมัยใหม่


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BAAN MOOM: Box Style House at the Forefront of a Modern Trend

BAAN MOOM: Box Style House at the Forefront of a Modern Trend

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Sara / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Nantiya Bussabong, Prachya Jankong, Wison Tungthunya /

/ Styling: Wanassanan Teerawitoon /

This box-shaped modern house takes relaxation to a whole new level. Incorporating triangles in the detail, the home with edgy design comes to light with all the charm and character.

modern house

“I wanted a house with both common and private corners on each floor,” said Sorakit Kitcharoenroj, the owner and architect. And with good reason, he called it “Baan Moom,” which is Thai for a house with nooks offering seclusion and security.

modern house

modern house

modern house

Sorakit had the fulfillment of his family’s needs for the highest priority. He translated it into this three-story, three-bedroom house complete with living room, dining room, kitchen, workspace and home theater.

modern house

modern house

A focus on function didn’t necessarily mean that he had to abandon all the charm and poise. Rather, in a unique fashion he incorporated the concept of living room corner or recess ideas in the detail. That pretty much explains the ever-presence of triangular-shaped design everywhere inside and out.

modern house

Even on the rooftop, a triangular-shaped skylight glazed using insulated glass panels stays open to let a shaft of natural light pour into the interior via the stairwell.

The stunning design took several months in the making, during which the contractor adjusted the staircases many times until everything was perfectly aligned.

modern house

Sorakit designs the bedrooms in ways that best suit each person’s lifestyle. For his parents, he chooses to highlight the elegance of the oriental-modern style.

His own bedroom is a bit different. It’s the most playful corner in the house. He sleeps on the mezzanine above the workspace that is tucked away on the lower floor.

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The bedchamber is accessible via stepladders. Right next to it, a hammock floor is there to take relaxation to a whole new level.

The house is without a doubt an awesome intersection of function and design, and “Baan Moom” comes in handy as the perfect name for it.

modern house


Owner/Architect: Sorakit Kitcharoenroj


Visit the original Thai version…

BAAN MOOM ท่องไปในบ้านมุม


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Modern Concrete Home with a Bright Interior Courtyard

Modern Concrete Home with a Bright Interior Courtyard

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Wuthikorn Sut / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Sungwan Phratep / Styling: Boonyawee Boonnak /

Albeit rather small in terms of land area, a pleasingly graceful concrete home feels spacious and airy thanks to a warm and welcoming interior courtyard.

concrete house courtyard

Architect Intanon Chantip can still recall the day he was building this house for the most amazing person in the world — his mom. He insisted on making a nice, little center courtyard an integral part of the home plan.

“My idea is that no one wants to live alone,” he explained. “A courtyard comes in handy to help people reconnect with nature. A green space can turn an ordinary home into a vibrant dwelling place, plus it’s a friendly environment attracting birds and bees, cats and other animals.”

concrete house courtyard

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concrete house courtyard

After his mother passed, the house was inherited to his brother, who had never been fond of a courtyard idea. Initially he wanted to put in a roof to shelter it from storm water runoffs.

But after having lived in it for a while, he had a change of heart. Like a blessing in disguise, the center yard over time transformed into a little Tropical paradise enabling him to live a refocused life embraced by nature.

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In cross section, a charcoal sketch shows the house’s side elevation in relation to a small center courtyard.

concrete house courtyard

concrete house courtyard

The house’s interior boasts double high ceilings with a beautifully crafted spiral staircase on one side of the room. There are elements of unmistakable elegance manifested in the design that makes the hallway cozy and inviting.

The lush center courtyard can be seen in full view from both downstairs and the upstairs balcony.

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Lush green vegetation turns the little courtyard into another day in paradise.
Lush green vegetation turns the little courtyard into another day in paradise.

It’s amazing how a once unpopular idea transformed into the heart and soul of a family. Here, it sends a strong message that nature is so important in our very existence. A small center courtyard with thriving Tropical plants could very well be the first thing on your to-do list next time you plan to update your home. Unmistakably good design!

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Architect: Intanon Chantip of INchan Atelier (www.inchan-atelier.com)


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A Bangkok Townhouse Embraces the Charm and Style of the Past

A Bangkok Townhouse Embraces the Charm and Style of the Past

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Lalitpan Cheumthaisong /English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Ritthirong Chanthongsuk, Soopakorn Srisakul /

Some things never go out of style. Here’s a gorgeous urban home that’s clearly reminiscent of a townhouse in earlier times. Its impressive stylishness exudes both class and relaxation, but looks can be deceiving. Albeit rather old-fashioned in appearance, this townhouse in Bangkok was built not long ago; and yet it expresses the visible form, the finishing and decoration that bring vintage elegance back to life.

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The beautiful two-story residence belongs to interior designer Napaporn Pothirach, who bought it from a property developer while it was still under construction. She came in only just in time to apply improvement ideas to the original design.

A dining room-cum-workspace is the most elegantly furnished area of the house.
A dining room-cum-workspace is the most elegantly furnished area of the house.

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For a well-lit interior, Napaporn replaced solid walls with an array of glass doors with transom windows. Stairway walls and ceilings on the upper floor were removed to make the room feel larger and more connected. Some of the original windows deemed to be too small were replaced with bigger ones.

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The homeowner even found a way to create an attic for her kids, turning the space directly below the pitched roof of the house into an extra room. An aberration from a typical townhouse perhaps? But for the children, it seems like a good idea, something fun, functional and happy.

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Taken as a whole, the wooden parts of the house bespeak the homeowner’s passion for woodwork. They include window casings and frames, doors, antique décor, crafts and all things made from wood. Napaporn designed all the built-in furniture, fittings and other ornaments herself.

Among others, wooden cupboards with intricate carvings stand out from the rest. Needless to say, the overall effect is impressive.

Napaporn admitted, with a smile, that she sometimes bought decorative accessories with no specific plan to put them. That’s something which came later on. What a nice fluke! They turned out to be a perfect mix and match style with a common hue.

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“I once had the opportunity of visiting the house of Geoffrey Bawa, my favorite architect,” said Napaporn when asked about her inspiration.

“I learned the concepts of space management and the art of applying cultural identity to design. They are the qualities that make a residence feel cozy, charming and timelessly livable.”

Space management as a concept may be simple, yet in practice it’s never easy. This townhouse with all the charm and character has proved one thing. The homeowner has successfully managed to put her newfound knowledge to good use. And it showed in the utilization of space and resources, and the way she intelligently designed and decorated her home with crafts.

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Owner/Designer: Napaporn Pothirach


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A Wooden Home Embraces the Enduring Appeal of Traditional Style Architecture

A Wooden Home Embraces the Enduring Appeal of Traditional Style Architecture

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

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

/ Photographs: Chaiyapruk Podang /

Created by a master architect, this contemporary wooden home in a suburb of Bangkok bespeaks the timeless elegance of traditional style residential architecture.

contemporary wooden house

“It’s my intention to build this house out of wood because our country has strengths in wooden architecture,” said Chatree Ladalalitsakul, a nationally renowned architect. “Use of wood is the root of our wisdom and culture. It has made us self-sufficient in residential design and construction.”

contemporary wooden house

contemporary wooden house

The three-story home is crafted mainly of wood and structural concrete in beautiful flatwork finishes. Its uncluttered interior space is evidence of a minimalist style, combining aesthetics and functionality in ways that allow materials to show off their unique character.

Because the owner wanted his home to be perfect in every way, he gave the builders all the time it took to do it once and do it right. The resulting unsurpassed craftsmanship took three years in the making. The house emerged as a magnum opus in Thai residential architecture as he intended.

Striking the right balance, the interior showcases just enough pieces of magnificent woodwork, some of which are rare in this day and age.

contemporary wooden house

The house plan is divided into two zones according to needs and activities. There’s a 10-meter-wide open space that clearly separates the private residential area from the office zone. The in-between space provides semi-outdoor room to chill out in the cool breeze looking out over the pool.

The first floor of the residential wing has plenty of room for dining, an open kitchen and piano room. The second floor holds a bedroom with private workspace, while the third contains a multi-use area for rest and recreation plus the owner’s favorite hobby, painting.

contemporary wooden house

contemporary wooden house

Sharing his work experience and a passion for wood, Chatri said: “A culture of wood construction that for centuries has benefited from the wisdom of our predecessors is on the decline. If it’s gone, our next generations will lose it forever.”

contemporary wooden house

Overall, it’s a contemporary wooden home of outstanding merit. This is one that bespeaks the homeowner’s energy and enthusiasm to keep inspiring young architects to do their parts in preserving traditional-style wooden house design and architecture for years to come.

contemporary wooden house


Owner/Architect: Chatri Ladalalitsakul of Tonsilp Studio


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What a Difference a Renovation Makes!

What a Difference a Renovation Makes!

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

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

/ Photographs: Rithirong Chanthongsuk, Soopakorn Srisakul, Nattawat Songsang /

Done right, a home renovation project can transform an outdated and tired-looking house that time clearly forgot into a modern residence without losing its old charm.

house renovation

This old house has stood in Bangkok for almost half a century. When it was time to leave their city condo to be with granny and grandpa, the owners at first wanted to do a complete teardown to make room for a new house. They later decided otherwise for good reason.

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Flashback: A tired looking old house façade before renovation, and [below] Shots of an interior stairway draw a comparison between past and present. / Photo courtesy of Pummaree Bawonwiwut and Prasert Chaisittiroekkul
house renovation

house renovation
Homeowners Prasert Chaisittiroekkul (left) and Pummaree Bawonwiwut relax in the comfort of home after renovation.

“The initial plan called for replacing the tired looking old house with a three-story modern home and swimming pool,” said homeowner Prasert Chaisittiroekkul.

“But after much thought, we decided to keep the existing structure intact and focused on renovation, reason being that everything about it had a story to tell. Handed down from generation to generation, the house was long overdue for a makeover.”

house renovation

The project started by taking out the beat-up wood façade on the upper floor and putting in a fresh new exterior wall crafted of black sheet metal with windows in complementing shades.

On the ground floor, the redesigned entrance received an elegant sliding door system with matching glass window panes that stood tall from floor to ceiling. For a light and airy entrance hall, the owners had a big chunk of the upper floor taken out, resulting in a spacious living room with double high ceilings.

house renovation

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house renovation

The same open-concept design also applies to the kitchen, dining room and adjacent area, the homeowners’ favorite spot with cozy reading nook ideas. The combined spaces boast a big dining table that also doubles as workspace and meeting room.

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The redesigned interior speaks to an industrial loft style with a bit of vintage flair to it. Natural wood panels alternating with naked brick walls go hand in hand with pieces of rustic-style furniture. In the meantime, they present a welcome contrast to shiny floor tiles and kitchen countertops. It’s amazing how a home renovation done right can make all the difference.

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Owner: Pummaree Bawonwiwut and Prasert Chaisittiroekkul


Visit the Original Thai Version…

รีโนเวทบ้านไม้สองชั้น หน้าตาเปลี่ยนไป แต่ความทรงจำเหมือนเดิม


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A Modern Box-Style Home with Tropical Garden View

A Modern Box-Style Home with Tropical Garden View

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Wanoi / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Soopakorn, Nantiya /

Looking for a beautiful box style for your dream house? Here’s a box-shaped house inspired by the ethos of “form follows function” plus the beautiful panoramic view of an exotic Tropical garden. For lack of a better word, it’s a perfect combination of visible shape, color and texture, and practicality that happens by chance and ends in a happy and beneficial way.

box-shaped house
The 350-square-meter modern box-shaped house took two years in the making.

Patchara Wongboonsin, the project architect at POAR, said that he didn’t have a particular style in mind when he started examining and evaluating different designs for the new home.

At the time, charm and good looks weren’t that important. He just wanted to create a practical, well-functioning house. After much deliberation, he had the winner — a modern box-style home that brings on the happy vibes by letting nature permeate.

“The house isn’t meant to be photogenic,” said Patchara when asked about some elements of design. “Everything and every component part has a reason for its existence. Take for instance the big steel beams upfront that make the house look rather unique. They are there for a future expansion plan.”

Tropical Style Garden

Overall, the interior is plain and uncluttered. Every living space and function is well thought out keeping in mind the movement of the sun and the amounts of light that change throughout the day.

Like so, the washrooms, storage space and essential maintenance work rooms are located in the west side of the house plan where the heat of the afternoon goes to work removing stuffy odors and preventing moisture damage.

box-shaped house
A high-ceilinged room on the first floor makes the interior living space feel light and airy all day long.

There is no need for air conditioning or electric lights during daytime hours, which translates into big savings on utility bills.

box-shaped house
Immediately appealing is the master bedroom, which spans 13 meters from one end to the other.

The master bedroom enclosed by glass walls affords a beautiful view of the courtyard garden abundant in Tropical plants and exotics thriving luxuriantly. It’s exemplary of integrated design that blurs the boundaries between indoors and outdoors. The result is an amazing panorama that the homeowners enjoy in the comfort of their bedroom.

A beautifully crafted stairway hides behind the wall for good reason. It’s obvious the architect didn’t want anything in any way, shape or form to interfere with the relaxed ambience of the living room.
A beautifully crafted stairway hides behind the wall for good reason. It’s obvious the architect didn’t want anything in any way, shape or form to interfere with the relaxed ambience of the living room.
Kids’ bathrooms are the most colorful parts of the home.
Kids’ bathrooms are the most colorful parts of the home.

For charm, good looks and the interior that’s pleasing to the senses, a palette of natural, earthy colors is used. The walls are painted a soft shade of gray to enhance special effects from nearby green spaces. The architect also uses wood jambs and engineered oak wood flooring to create warm interior spaces.

box-shaped house
Tropical trees and exotics thriving luxuriantly in the yard reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the home, creating indoor thermal comfort.

Tropical Style Garden


Architect: Ornnicha Duriyaprapan, Patchara Wongboonsin of POAR (www.facebook.com/poar.company)


Visit the original Thai version…

บ้านโมเดิร์น ที่พึ่งพิงธรรมชาติเพื่อตอบโจทย์ฟังก์ชั่นการใช้ชีวิต


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/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: ATH / English version: Peter Montalbano /

/ Photographs: Sitthisak Namkham / Styling: Pakhawadee Pahulo /

Set among lush greenery and a relaxing atmosphere, this light and airy house with gardens brings the whole family closer to nature.

house with gardens
The swimming pool area features a large open space for walking. For simple maintenance, in some places plots of spike moss are planted instead of grass.

After living in an old house on this same plot for 30 years, the Srijakarin family bought additional parcels of land and rebuilt a comfortable home with gardens for three generations of family members.

The newly rebuilt house is divided into three parts. The first is the old house, which was set aside for the owner’s parents. It was remodeled with the comfort of older people in mind.

The second building is a two-story house where the owner lives with his family, and the third a modern Tropical-style structure with a relaxing, resort-like atmosphere. The couple keep their belongings and stay here during weekends and holidays. In the fewest possible words, it’s about reconnecting with nature at home.

house with gardens
Trees and shrubs shade the semi-enclosed pathway connecting the two houses with the swimming pool, giving the sense of walking through a sparse jungle.
house with gardens
The overall harmony of garden and house architecture creates a relaxing atmosphere.
house with gardens
The stairway overlooks a courtyard between the two houses, showcasing the English style in landscape design.

The front yard is in the English style characterized by neat, clean lines. There are park benches set in corners and trees in zones, while bright flowers thrive in large weathered stone urns.

The inner zone is a Tropical rainforest garden. There’s a good-sized waterfall and the gentle sound of a small brook. The garden is filled with verdant green mosses under the shade of trees carefully selected with the help of the landscape architect.

house with gardens
A delightful Tropical forest garden provides an oasis of calm in the courtyard between the two houses.
house with gardens
A veranda along the outside of the house lies in the warm cocoon of a lush Tropical resort atmosphere the owners really love.
house with gardens
A wide-angle view shows the interaction relationship between residential architecture and surrounding lush vegetation.

It’s not easy to put together a landscaping combination like this, but in the end a skillful and artistic integration of components, textures, patterns, and colors brought about a lasting and unified harmony of two garden styles – English in the courtyard, and Tropical forest upfront.

The living room showcases the beauty of open-concept design, while a double-height ceiling gives the feeling of openness and relaxation, all with a view of the garden.
The living room showcases the beauty of open-concept design, while a double-height ceiling gives the feeling of openness and relaxation, all with a view of the garden.
[Left] The multipurpose room has a big natural wood table ready for all sorts of activities, from casual work to comfortable pleasure reading. / [Right] The pantry is in white, designed for increased light and a feeling of space and comfort.
[Left] The multipurpose room has a big natural wood table ready for all sorts of activities, from casual work to comfortable pleasure reading. / [Right] The pantry is in white, designed for increased light and a feeling of space and comfort.
The dining room is ringed by glass to let in natural light during the day. The dark furniture color reinforces a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
The dining room is ringed by glass to let in natural light during the day. The dark furniture color reinforces a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

All things considered, it’s a house with beautifully landscaped gardens that’s the perfect fit for an extended family, an expression of pleasure and the combined happiness of the three generations that live here.

[Left] The master bedroom is furnished in a chic, fashionable way that invites relaxation. / [Right] The downstairs bathroom has a classic décor, with natural stone floor, walls, and washbasin counter. To one side, mirrors give a sense of spaciousness.
[Left] The master bedroom is furnished in a chic, fashionable way that invites relaxation. / [Right] The downstairs bathroom has a classic décor, with natural stone floor, walls, and washbasin counter. To one side, mirrors give a sense of spaciousness.
For an elegant and practical look, pantry décor is primarily in natural materials and colors.
For an elegant and practical look, pantry décor is primarily in natural materials and colors.
house with gardens
[Left] An outdoor “living room” for the family elders. / [Right] A large sculpture adds dimension and narrative to the Tropical forest garden.
house with gardens
A spot in the garden where plants grow as naturally as they would in the wild. The natural effect is enhanced by setting plants at different heights, from ground cover through low shrubs, on up to tall vegetation.

Architecture/Interior Designer: Architecture and Interior Office Co., Ltd. (AIO) by Kowit Suriyporn (www.aiodesigns.com)

Garden Design: Worawut Kaewsuk


Visit the original Thai version…

ความหมายของ…ที่อยู่ ณ บ้านโมเดิร์นบรรยากาศคลาสสิก แห่งนี้


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Beautiful Contemporary House Design for a Good Life

Beautiful Contemporary House Design for a Good Life

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Ajchara Jeenkram / English version: Peter Montalbano /

/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul / Styling: Pakhawadee Phahulo /

A good life begins at home. This beautiful contemporary house is, no doubt, a reflection of that, plus it provides a fine example of how limitations or site issues can be overcome. Because the land has a narrow frontage to the street, the house is built right up close to a neighboring home. So every square meter counts and has to be used wisely.

contemporary house design

On the whole, it’s a visually stunning design. The modern-style home boasts a distinctive atmosphere that gives it a European flavor. Especially worthy of attention is an intriguing combination of materials such as stone masonry and craftsmanship in the metalwork.

From the outside the house doesn’t appear large, but inside, it’s actually quite spacious. The building has three floors; the first of which holds a common area consisting of a living room, dining room and pantry. The second and third floors are for rest and relaxation.

contemporary house design
Gorgeous privacy fence ideas boast the beauty of stone masonry, wood and metalwork gracing the main entryway.
contemporary house design
The living room is well-appointed and uncluttered, thanks to there being only a few pieces of furniture. The coffee table at the center has hidden drawers for easy storage.

To build the home on a long and narrow lot, the design team at Workspace Architecture Studio comes up with a stretched house plan that puts as much usable floor space as possible in the front and back, yet still leaves enough room for a courtyard filled with fresh greenery for year-round decorating.

contemporary house design
The dining room is decorated in a modern style with a mild classic flavor from stone furniture, candelabra-like ceiling lamps and a cross-shaped table legs.
contemporary house design
A beautifully patterned granite-topped table and leather chairs give the room a classy but relaxed atmosphere.

To overcome construction site limitations, classic design concepts are brought into practical use. Among others, beams and pillars are built in a way that blends with interior décor, while other support structures provide decorative continuity and spots to conveniently hide electric wiring.

A black steel-frame staircase offset with vertical lines gives the interior a light and airy feel.
A black steel-frame staircase offset with vertical lines gives the interior a light and airy feel.
Dimmed light in the room builds a warm mood for soft and airy interiors. Décor is mainly of granite and wood while an opening is provided for ventilation and natural light.
Dimmed light in the room builds a warm mood for soft and airy interiors. Décor is mainly of granite and wood while an opening is provided for ventilation and natural light.
Bathroom décor of natural wood blends well with white and gray.
Bathroom décor of natural wood blends well with white and gray.

The overall effect is impressive. Authentic material surfaces, including stone masonry, metalwork, wood and brass, are left exposed for aesthetic and functional reasons. The stone surface, especially, has its own unique pattern. It’s also durable, lasting for decades, and capable of adding to the variety of textures in the house.

A high-ceilinged bedroom comes in soft-colored décor. Recessed ceiling lights add dimension, creating an illusion of an even taller space.
A high-ceilinged bedroom comes in soft-colored décor. Recessed ceiling lights add dimension, creating an illusion of an even taller space.
contemporary house design
The room for working and reading is located on the top floor. The true surface of the wood beams is exposed for the hint of a loft environment.

As for furnishings, the decorative accessories and furniture, both floating and built-in, are very much a part of the custom design. They are thoughtfully devised to create a harmonious look and, at the same time, perform a dual role in overcoming site limitations and fulfilling the house owners’ needs.

At the end of the day, it’s about making this contemporary home a happy place for everyone in the family.

contemporary house design
Due to limited space, the courtyard and swimming pool are narrowly aligned along the outside of the building. Yet there’s room for plants to thrive luxuriantly along the fence wall for privacy and relaxation.

Architect and Interior Designer: Workspace Architecture Studio, by Worapoj Linkanokrat and Wirawut Nonthawet


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