Living ASEAN presents 10 modern tropical homes for an inspiration as we celebrate another year ending and a new one beginning. They focus on a beautiful blend of indoor and outdoor spaces that translates into stylish patios, cool verandas and courtyard tropical gardens. Plus, plenty of ideas to make your yard lush!
Situated in the Bahan township of Yangon, the residence on Bo Cho Street affords beautiful views of Myanmar’s most revered landmark, the Shwedagon Pagoda.
The house was designed to take in the view as well as provide ample open-air spaces for relaxation and entertainment. The three-story L-shaped building wraps around a large courtyard garden. A basement provides parking for seven cars.
With over 26,000 square feet, it caters to individual needs of a big family with seven grown children, each with a bedroom suite. A variety of different living, dining, and meeting areas provide a range of entertaining options. An upper level sitting area overlooks the spacious double-height living room. The library provides a more intimate area with built-in cabinets to store wine.
There is a VIP guest room with comfortable seating arrangements and a large meeting area. All the way through, custom designed doors and flooring made of Padauk wood paired with natural marble bring the interior to perfection. The owners also ordered custom-made tables cut from a single tree.
There is a peaceful pavilion facing the Shwedagon. It appears to float above a lotus pond and connects to an open-air meditation verandah. The original design featured a swimming pool at the center of the L-shaped house plan, but during construction the homeowners thought it wise to turn it into a tranquil fishpond.
“We then had to find a way to modify the site and landscape design accordingly, while maintaining the same visual appeal,” explained Amelie Chai, principal architect at SPINE Architects. “While adapting to the clients’ needs, our design keeps the focus on serene interiors with plenty of access to natural light and terraces.”
When the long trip of taking her college-age daughters from the old house in Samphran district of Nakhon Pathom Province for drop-off in the center of Bangkok became too exhausting, the owner decided to find a place to live near the University instead. She needed both convenience and a place close enough to Samphran that she could occasionally go back and forth.
Eventually she found this 350- square-meter condominium and fixed it up as a second home. It took two years of design and decoration, but in the end it filled her every need.
“From our first discussions with the designers we developed a pretty clear concept. Mom used to favor the classic Roman style, but when we bought these rooms, we all agreed to switch to a more contemporary look,” said the eldest daughter.
The space was adapted to fit the family. The original three bedrooms became four, one for each of them. Coming through the front door brings us into a large central room with a dining area and a small corner with a counter and fancy round modern-looking table. Décor includes a classic-style chandelier and a contemporary display case. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, simply with the feeling of being a nice place to live.
The design plan splits rooms into a left and a right wing. To the left, next to the dining room is a parlor dominated by navy blue, with an exotic beauty of rippling velvet drapes giving the wall a dimension of light and shadow. Furthest inside is a trendy entertainment room decorated in dark tones energized by the warmth of a big red leather sofa. Outside, the balcony holds a little garden where you can drink in the fresh atmosphere while enjoying a wide urban view.
Also in the left wing is the eldest daughter’s room, decorated in clean, easy-on-the-eye and relaxing tones of white. Here are contemporary touches: cigarette-smoke-colored velvet drapes, a bedside table with a classic form. The middle daughter’s bedroom is here, too, no less special with bright colors, and the same secret sweetness you’ll find in its occupant’s personality,
The right wing includes kitchen, storage room, and a maid’s room. The youngest sister, who is studying fashion design, has dressed up her bedroom in an avant-garde modern style she’s completely in love with.
The mother designed her own room to be sweet, but still full of contemporary chic with a dark wood floor, modern vintage furniture, and shiny sequined throw cushions on the sofa.
The mother’s bedroom.The eldest daughter’s bedroom.The youngest daughter’s bedroom.
During the design and décor process, the professional designers got to know the individual personalities, tastes, and preferences of family members quite well, and tried their best to pass on some design knowledge to them, which is how each room came to so clearly reflect the taste of the person living there.
The new facade interpretation is direct, clean and outstanding. The facade forms a shape of a diamond as the family owns jewelry business. The building during the renovation.
Building a spacious house on a solid ground may be a suitable choice for most people. But for Jeravej Hongsakul, an architect who came up with Siri House design, a vertical-shaped house in the city can be just the right place for a family too.
The family unit on the top floor consists of a dining room and an inner living room, which serves as a home theater corner and a relaxing space.
Siri House is situated in Surawongse Road, Bangkok. The place belongs to Suree Sirivatjanangkun where she lives with her siblings.
“The location is in an urban district,” Suree said. “So we figured it should also be an office for our family business. We would like to live together as one extended family, a big family in the business neighborhood.
4 private units are stacked down below the family unit. Each room is accessible through the main hall, where natural light also comes through.
“We wanted to fill a house with warmth but also fond of modern atmosphere. To create interactions between us, everyone should be able to see each other. We didn’t want to divide the space into one floor per person. It would be no different than living separately.”
With this in mind, Jeravej came up with a solution. “I preferred each unit to be able to stand alone, but fully functional. I began by designing a living room, a bedroom, a working space, a double volume leisure room, a bathroom and a small kitchen. There were lots of functions. So, I needed to manage the space. I connected each unit through an accessible elevated hall, which also distribute natural light. Thus, each unit had its own unique shape.”
A greenery hall is connected to a bedroom, while a balcony-like working space overlooks the double volume leisure area. This design gives the working space both an enjoyable cafe-esque view.Family business section is located on the ground floor with guest welcoming area. A light, graphical spiral staircase leads to a meeting room on a mezzanine.
A house will always be a house. No matter it is constructed horizontally or vertically. Understanding the key to create an interaction in a family. It will eventually build an intimate bonding between members of a family or even between people in a city. Just as it occurs to Siri House.
Naked concrete walls, steel structures and cantilevered frame combined, giving the modern house striking curb appeal.
/// Thailand ///
Story: Otto Otto /// Photo: Sungwan Phratem /// Architect: Plankrich
The 8-meter wide floor projected out in the air. It relies solely on a cantilevered frame.
This modern house plan stretch along east-west axis, which is much longer than its width. An alfresco mezzanine is built on the top of a garage by lifted a floorboard up above the ground. The thick naked concrete facade shelters a storage room and a kitchen. Together, both structures shield a living space from the glare of afternoon sun.
The front entrance features an open space. The doorway is set aside to the left, unseen from this angle. The opening on the right side leads to a poolside wooden veranda.Visual continuity is created from the inside to the poolside veranda and the courtyard at the far end.
The interior features a spacious rectangular-shaped room. The white multi-purpose space is set parallel to the poolside veranda, separated by a clear glass wall. The veranda itself is protected by a concrete slab juts out roughly 2 meters from the exterior wall. The room is functioned as a pantry, a living room and a workspace overlooking a full lush landscape.
The multi-purpose space are uncluttered and well-lit by natural light, courtesy to glass wall.
A sharp 90-degree angles turn leads to a small bedroom and a bathroom around the corner. At the farthest end lies a master bedroom, also with a poolside view.
The master bedroom looks out to the pool, the garden, and the front yard.The L-shaped veranda is covered with tiles in subdued tones. The concrete slab extending from the wall acts like an awning to protects the room from the sun and the rain.
Building a modern house like this requires a well-rounded thought. It truly reflects the owner’s consideration toward future maintenance and care. And moreover, the ability to overcome challenges in design and engineering.
The ground floor resembles that of a traditional Thai-style home. A covered loggia at the far end is set aside for entertaining guests, dining, or use as the outdoor workspace. Treated as the heart of this home, the Indian Oak adds a crisp cool feature to the outdoor living spaces.
Here in the Mae Ann neighborhood of Chiang Mai’s Mae Rim District, life is simple. Dewdrops lingers on paddy fields, the scenic view seems to stretch farther than the eye could see. The house stands among teak trees.
Naked-concrete steps descend to the courtyard with water ponds and a loggia at the far end. The owner takes very good care of the Indian Oak tree in the courtyard.
At first, the land was left unattended. But Seksan Silpwatananukul, the designer manage to change the whole look to a raw concrete house. According to Seksan, every detail is well-considered.
“I took my time to look around in no hurry. After a talk with the owner, multiple levels seemed to suit the landscape best. We didn’t really stick to any particular style. But I would say Tropical modern is the best definition for it.”
Warm morning sun kisses the front yard overlooking serene paddy fields.
The center court terrace is breezy throughout the day, courtesy openings in the exterior wall. The modern interior seating space features a high, sloped ceiling covered in reddish-brown wooden panel.
The posh condominium room offers a generous 78-square meters space. Obviously, Pavis Simakulthorn, the homeowner’s favorite color is blue and his other passion are ceramic collections. As a result, these are among the first things he requested to Watana Kowatanabhorn, the designer.
“I wanted shelves, lots of them. They had to be in blue or indigo, which are my favorites.”
Pavis bought the room years ago, before meeting Watana and selected him to design the place. Recognizing the preferences of the homeowner, Watana designed an eye-catching European style pantry. The pantry’s function is to show off ceramic and glassware collections. Tray ceiling is enhanced by decorative trim molding.
A reading room next to the pantry is full of bookshelves. Shelves are filled with books in Thai and foreign languages. A priceless antique bead necklace collection is also shown on the shelf. Another interesting feature is a wallpaper, which Pavis discovered from a trip to Paris.
“While visiting a friend. I came across a wallpaper store that design wallpapers for Hermes and other world-class brands. I ordered custom-made one for the room. Three month later, the ocean blue wallpaper arrived. I just love it.”
The eye-catching pantry offers a luxurious touch in shades of indigo.
Outside, the balcony is adorned with a Cupid statue, which Pavis cherished, while the bedroom interior mainly use purple. “I’m very impressed by the designer’s choice. The color is warm and relaxing. Deep shades representscomplexity and is the last color on usually sees before going to sleep at night.”
The bedroom features DM Home wrought iron bed. The headboard is designed by the homeowner to match with the pillows. A wooden built-in cabinet is used to store collectibles and photographs. Wooden strips overhead keeps the air-conditioning machine hidden. The décor scream out eclectic tones with fur, antique pieces and stuffed animals.
A shelf is set flush with structural support posts in complementing hues.
Little details go well with the whole design. Built-in accessories storages features trim molding similar to Roman pillars. The bathroom at the far end includes a subtle, luxurious elements. Floor tiles are custom-made to complement the elegant rug.
Pastel purple shades make the bedroom peaceful and warm. Window treatments made of mesh wire protect the privacy of the intimate space while allowing natural light in.
The bedroom features a wrought iron bed in black by DM Home. The homeowner designs headboard treatments herself by emulating pillow patterns. The bed cover is one of a kind. To the right stands a built-in wood cabinet used for storing collectibles and photographs. Over the head, decorative strips keep the air-conditioning unit hidden in plain sight. The walls are painted a light shade of pastel purple with whit accents. Decorating details speak to the Eclectic style including fur, antique collectibles, and stuffed animals.
Purple walls with white accents add a welcome contrast to the interior living spaces.
The homeowner’s personal eclectic style is clearly expressed in the place. Just as Pavis’s conclusion. “I believe the room was left in a good hand. The designer’s understanding and ideas are as expected. The chemistry is right, I guess.”
“All of the items here are stylishly unique. No sprucing up is needed.”The bathroom boasts simple design with a luxurious, updated look. Recessed lights built into the sink cabinet make the interior space seem large and well-lit.
Situated in Selangor state, Malaysia, the three-storey retro loft house redesigned by Ramesh Seshan is the one with endless possibility.
/// Malaysia ///
Architect: Seshan Design, by Ramesh Seshan /// Story : Supachart Boontag /// Photos : Rithirong Chanthongsuk
High ceilings and tall sliding glass brighten and enlarge the appearance of the living room.
Lee Kok Choong, the owner wished to turn the original space into a loft residence. To serve the requirement, Seshan rethought the entire materials and design strategies. Unornamented concrete finishes and exposed brick walls become the center of attention. Rough textures were accentuated while retro Chinese style detailing were added.
The central court features a serene carp fish pond. The mellifluous sound of water fits in well with its loft atmosphere. The concrete spiral staircase in the hallway stands ready to extend a warm welcome to the second-floor living spaces. For a lightweight look, concrete flooring on the bridge is replaced by thick tempered glass panels.
The building is now rich in outstanding features. The Hong Kong colonial-inspired opening area adorns the second floor. Geometric-shape ceramic tile was custom-made for flooring, which matched well with wrought iron detailing on safety handrails.
The façade is covered by rustic-style panels resembling a those from a so-called Jawa’s spacecraft in Star Wars. Its spiral staircase is interestingly crafted from naked concrete and black metal meshes, reflecting an industrial loft style.
The main kitchen is located next to the living area for convenience. The floor is covered in smooth, green marble, while exposed bricks add a hint of interest to nearby walls.
Each floor has its own character. Flooring on the ground level is covered with green marble imported from india, while Rosa Levanto or red marble adds a bold personality to a living room on the second floor. And the third floor is unexpectedly switched to various concrete surfaces. The interior is also come with a fun twist. Instead of using a bar stools, vintage barber chairs are placed in front of a bar counter. An antique cabinet and aged décor items are also in use here.
Concrete spiral stairs lead to living spaces on the second and third floors.
The U-shaped floor plan features a central court that opens to natural light. The light and airy atmosphere are further enhanced by large glass doors. Even though the design was influences by many styles and the house was invested in different material, the architect had finally managed to keep the overall retro loft look in unity. It’s safe to say the house is both comfortable and at the same time, unique.
Huge rust-colored panels serve as blinds for the spacious en suite bedroom. Different color marble floors mark the boundaries between the bedroom and the adjoining bath.
The opening area on the second floor is inspired by the traditional way of life in old Hong Kong. The Blank and white stripe bamboo blinds are influenced by a popular design during Malaysian colonial period.
The Modern Malaysia House design brings out cool personality of the Retro-Loft style inspired by the Colonial way of life in old Hong Kong.
The rooftop deck is a vista point to capture amazing panoramic views.
The architects from Formwerkz come up with a multiple-floor interior design in trying to maximize the space. They started out on a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, and moved on to the upper floor, where a sitting room, a multi-purpose area, and a rooftop deck are located. All areas are easy to access and connected. The interior space is lit by outside light shining through fixed windows at the top edge and sidewalls. Natural is more than enough for a living. No electric light is needed during the day, electricity costs are saved and the temperature is also lowered.
The pantry is open and connects with the dining room, making the area neat and uncluttered. Scarlet wall contrasts with modern furniture. /// U-shaped streamlined furniture is built against the wall to maximize the space.
The interior is a combination of a simple modern architecture and a graphic design creation. Art Deco style meets modern materials, such as, mosaic tiles, terrazzo walls, glass panels on wood and metal frames.
Earth tones adds a touch of warmth to the living space on the second floor. A work corner in the son’s bedroom. Woodedn louver windows and glass panels are used to aid air circulation. /// The front facade is bedecked with a vertical garden that serves as the natural sunscreens for the master bedroom. Skylights are installed to let the sunlight reaches the lower floors. A transparent bathroom painted in white can be seen from the stairway leading to the top deck. Designed to be airy and well ventilated. /// The bathroom in white comes with a wall-mounted countertop. A round mirror creates special effects with pinkish lights that make the countertop appears lightweight.
The most eye-catching feature is the rooftop deck area. The roof is extended harmoniously from the penthouse roof, like a continuing section from the indoor space. The alfresco area is a perfect place to relax and unwind on a lazy afternoon or to host an outdoor party.
The rooftop deck is equipped with a ramp and a stairway.
From the outside, the place is similar to a two-storey detached house, its rooftop deck design humbly blends together with the neighborhood. It is a place built to live in harmony with others.
View From The Rooftop /// A skylight on the rooftop deck allows plenty of sunshine to reach all the way to the lower floor.The four-story house is the height as two-story homes in the area.
From the outside, this simple white house looks like three-story boxes joining together. The white building sports a simple white house look with a swimming pool as the centerpiece. The main hall is well connected to other rooms around it.
From a distance, this simple white house stands majestically at the center of the property. Based on the form-follows-function principle, the simple design emphasizes easy access to all functional areas and amenities. A boundary fence made of concrete features large openings at intervals to improve the flow of air in and out of the property. An array of windows in this picture opens to illuminate the interior spaces. Meantime, window awnings protect the house from heavy rain and increase its energy efficiency.
The hostess Thin Thin Lwin appreciates showing around her house. She said:
“ Just my husband and I live together here. So when building a new home on a vacant lot, we didn’t want one that was going to be too big for our needs. We wanted just enough functional areas with easy access to other parts of the house, kind of like keeping with long established tradition from the past.
“ By a happy chance, I have a friend, who is an architect, and the rest is history. Stephen Zawmoe Shwe and I have been good friends since we were kids. So we asked him to design it. ”
Lattice awning on the front façade protects the interior spaces from scorching sunlight and improves the home’s general appearance. The exterior is kept simple, modern, and fuss free.From the main entrance, with stepping-stones that stretch across the pool. Super high ceilings and transparent partitions make the atmosphere light and airy.
This simple white house looks like the joining of four big boxes. The first-floor interior is light and airy thanks to super high ceilings.
They are two stories tall to be exact. There is a sense of interior elegance. The spacious, well-ventilated hall is well connected to other rooms around it. One of them is a living room, which is clearly separated from the dining area and the kitchen.
There is visual continuity from the cozy dining area all the way to the pool and beyond.
The second floor has two spacious bedrooms, each with a private balcony to take in the view and cool breezes. The swimming pool below is clearly visible from here.
Interior design emphasizes crisp, clean lines and white tones that go together well with shades of gray. Furniture comes in warm earth tones that enhance the charm of natural wood flooring.
Transparent sliding glass creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere in the bedroom. There are windows that open to improve air circulation and bring in cool breezes. Lattice awnings under the roofline provide added privacy and protect the second-floor bedroom from intense heat during the day. /// Part of the bathroom wall is made of transparent sliding glass equipped with Venetian blinds to control the amounts of natural light.
The third floor is a penthouse deck with a view and great for stargazing. It is an ideal living space for relaxation as a family.
There is a large Buddha room on one side, where the owners come to pray and perform religious rites.
Part of the penthouse deck is remade into a reception area with marble countertops and matching bar stools.
Simple design makes this Western style home stand out in the old town neighborhood.
It’s well thought-out plan ensures there are plenty of functional areas and modern amenities for comfortable living. It is energy efficient thanks to passive cooling strategies, such as large windows that open to bring in cool breezes and natural light. Where necessary, lattice awning is installed to minimize the amounts of sun on the exterior wall. That reduces the workload on air conditioning.
All things considered, the design scheme of this simple white house is well suited for Asia’s hot and humid climate.
[left] Temperature control: Made of stainless steel and tempered glass, lattice awnings protect doors and windows from intense sunlight and heavy rain. They reduce the amounts of heat penetrating into the interior and fit in well with the home’s modern appearance. [right] Different textures: The interior walls and ceilings are for the most part covered in real wood siding. In the penthouse bar, rough textured surfaces are put in to create a hint of interest. Where appropriate, ceramic mosaic tiles in various colors are used except for the countertops, which are crafted of marble in cream tones. Meantime, the floor is covered in beautiful, black ceramic tiles.[left] Safety and Transparency: Tampered glass and wood handrails mark boundaries on the upper floors. They provide safety against tripping and falling without obstructing the views below. For increased durability, the handrails are held together using stainless steel fasteners. [right] Light and ventilation: An array of overhead windows let natural light shine in to illuminate the stairwell during the day. The smart design cuts down on utility bills since electric lights are never turned on during the daytime. Lattice awnings: The front façade gets a lot of sun during the day. The architect solves the problem by putting in lattice awnings to keep the area cool and comfortable. The awnings effectively reduce the amounts of heat without darkening the atmosphere inside. Where possible a patch of greenery is put in to absorb heat energy and add a natural touch to the overall design scheme.
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