Blog : open plan

Sanctuary Villa: A Modern Suburban House Embraces Nature, Comfort and Privacy
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Sanctuary Villa: A Modern Suburban House Embraces Nature, Comfort and Privacy

/ Phnom Penh, Cambodia /

/ Story: Kangsadan K. / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Robert Kleiner /

Every project has challenges to overcome. This modern suburban house in Phnom Penh is no exception. Aptly named “Sanctuary Villa”, it’s the residence of a factory owner determined to make his home a haven of comfort and peace despite being in close proximity to an industrial facility. The secret lies within. It overcomes site constraints by integrating natural features in design, ultimately creating an open and airy home that’s relaxing, cozy and private.

Well-kept areas of grass, trees and a parking space give access to the front door of the house.

“Sanctuary Villa” is an example of outstanding works by BLOOM Architecture, a Phnom Penh-based architectural firm. By design, it separates work from personal life, presenting an escape from busy movement and activity in the workplace. Plus, it affords beautiful views and connects people to the outdoors without being affected by the nearby factory.

A drawing of the house plan illustrates how green spaces can improve the quality of life at “Sanctuary Villa” despite being in close proximity to an industrial facility. / Courtesy of Bloom Architecture
The living room at the center of the house plan is enclosed by full-height sliding glass doors. Fresh air flowing in over a nearby pool keeps the home comfortable when the weather is cool and there’s no need for air-conditioning.

The house has 600 square meters of usable space. It’s raised above the ground level to protect against flooding and separated from the factory behind it by protective wall barriers. The front yard is filled with well-kept lawns and a parking space giving access to the entryway. As the architects intended, the atmosphere is very positive, promoting a sense of peace amid a comfortable and stress-free environment.

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The kitchen area is open and airy, thanks to glass walls that let in more natural light creating a seamless transition between indoors and outdoors.

Interestingly, natural features are incorporated into architectural design to make life more livable. Among other things, the living room at the center of the house plan is open and airy, enclosed by sliding glass doors that extend from the floor to the ceiling.

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Overhead wood slat panels on the perimeter of the building cast shadows and patterns on the wall and polished cement floors.
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Flexible furniture arrangements are ideally suited to an open floor plan.

They are a perfect match for the open-concept floor plan that emphasizes natural light in the home. On the perimeter, overhead wood slat ceiling panels block sunlight during the hottest hours, casting shadows that form distinct patterns on polished cement floors.

Wood furniture in warm hues proves a perfect complement to polished concrete, creating a warm, inviting and comfortable atmosphere.
Where appropriate, bedroom walls are glazed using clear glass designed to bring the outdoors in.

The house’s left and right wings hold personal living spaces, including the principal bedroom, guest bedrooms and multipurpose areas. Each individual room is equipped with its own private balcony, the best way to connect with areas of grass, trees and other vegetation in the yard. Together they increase natural ventilation and light, allowing the house to stay comfortable on days not hot enough to turn on air conditioning.

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This house on the outskirts of Phnom Penh reveals a remarkable capacity for problem-solving, where the architects overcome challenges through innovation. The result is a place of abode that’s not only aesthetically pleasing, but also peaceful and safe despite being in the immediate vicinity of a factory. The answer lies in letting nature permeate.

Architect: Bloom Architecture

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1+1=1 House: A Modern Home Beautifully Designed for Multigenerational Living
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1+1=1 House: A Modern Home Beautifully Designed for Multigenerational Living

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Phattaraphon / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Panoramic Studio /

Every name tells a story. Here’s a modern home on Pattanakarn Road that impresses with beautiful architecture and a love of open spaces.  Named “1+1=1 House”, it’s the pride and joy of a multigenerational family. Three generations, including grandma and grandpa, mom and dad, and their children under the age of adulthood, live together in one household. The house has 650 square meters of usable space with enough personal room for everyone to live comfortably, not to mention common areas and amenities that are integral components of modern living.

Designed by Poonsook Architects Co, Ltd, a Bangkok-based architectural firm, the house comprises three main functional spaces, namely, the living area for mom and dad and their children, the living area for grandma and grandpa, and shared spaces arranged in the shape of the letter C.

The exterior walls are positioned to face the north, south and west directions so as to protect a central courtyard filled with greenery and a paved outdoor area for relaxation. Together they go to work shielding the interior from the summer sun, balancing temperature and enhancing home comfort.

A courtyard that’s the center of the C-shaped house plan creates a family-friendly outdoor living space in the backyard.

The C-shaped floor plan creates a tranquil retreat enclosed by the walls of the house that keep it in shade for much of the day. The result is an outdoor oasis that’s comfortable and pleasant.

There are two sets of stairs located on either side of the living room. They give access to the upstairs bedrooms belonging to grandma and grandpa, mom and dad, and the children, plus a workroom close by. The downstairs common area is clearly defined. There’s a carport conveniently connected to the house entrance.

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The first floor boasts an open-concept design with features for living and dining in a single, uninterrupted space. To the side, large sliding glass doors can be stowed away neatly, allowing fresh air into the spacious living room.

Walk in the door, and you see a courtyard landscape with a level paved area that makes the home feel warm and welcoming. There’s a shade tree that provides a focal point in the yard and doubles as a privacy screen for the sitting room upstairs.

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The downstairs dining room lies under a higher-than-normal ceiling, 5 meters tall to be exact. As would be expected, it makes the interior living space feel spacious, bright and airy. There are large, east-facing folding doors that open to connect with the veranda and a courtyard garden nearby. It’s everybody’s favorite hangout, a place for the family to get together and shoot the breeze.

1+1=1 House
The living room enclosed by glass walls has a modern sofa set in a creamy white that goes together well with wood furniture, creating a calm environment for elderly parents.

Taking everything into account, the ground floor boasts a beautiful open floor plan. There’s a sitting room with a pantry and dining area close by. Large sliding doors glazed using clear glass open onto the central courtyard, creating a visible impression that makes the room feel longer, wider and well-ventilated.

1+1=1 House
The courtyard is accessible via floor-to-ceiling glazed doors located to the side.

Grandma and grandpa’s private sitting room is connected to the kitchen area. The nearness in space to the central courtyard provides physical ease and relaxation in their sitting room. From here, a flight of stairs gives access to green spaces on the second floor that also contains their bedroom and a multipurpose area nearby.

1+1=1 House
The corridor leading to bedrooms on the second floor is enclosed by a glazed façade overlooking a lush courtyard garden.

1+1=1 House

By design, it’s a modern home that fulfills the needs of an extended family, one that provides enough private space plus a communal area shared by everyone. Among other things, the dining room is dedicated to foster social interaction and strengthen a bond of understanding in the family. It’s rare to find a multigenerational home these days when the nuclear family gradually becomes the norm.

Architect: Poonsook Architects

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Banyan House: A Country Villa in Cambodia Provides a Perfect Off-the-Grid Getaway
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Banyan House: A Country Villa in Cambodia Provides a Perfect Off-the-Grid Getaway

/ Siem Reap, Cambodia /

/ Story: Kangsadan K. / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Hey Chhorn, and Makara /

Looking for a perfect escape from noisy, chaotic and fast-paced city life? Here’s a country villa immersed in nature’s grace. Known as “Banyan House”, it reconnects with the physical world in a way that’s visually pleasing. The brainchild of Asma Architects, a Siem Reap-based architectural firm, it’s achieved by integrating natural materials, colors and patterns in the design, culminating in a peaceful home that inspires a sense of space in nature and freedom in every movement.

“Banyan House” is the story of a contemporary rustic dwelling whose name depicts a scene of renewed vitality and well-being beneath the crisp, cool canopy of healthy trees. There are lush lawns hemmed in by green foliage that offer a quiet spot to relax and unwind in nature. To avoid disrupting natural energy flows, every precaution is taken to reduce detail in the basics, thereby creating in a light and airy place that has less impact on the environment.

The house plan is carefully thought out to blend with lush landscapes, meantime reducing detail to enhance focus on key elements that give a sense of openness, well-distributed lighting and good ventilation.
Bedecked with the lovely colors and patterns of tropical foliage, a garden path gives access to the entryway, extending a warm welcome to the modern rustic villa in Siem Reap.

The overall atmosphere feels relaxed with good summer vibes and a fine view of the landscape. From the gate, a tree-lined garden path gives access to the large front door made of wood. Walk in the door, and you come to a comfy living room on the ground floor complete with modern conveniences for everyday living. The kitchen has a freestanding island that provides additional storage and work space. The dining room is a hub of social activities conveniently connected to the sitting room nearby. Step outside, and you discover a veranda giving access to a swimming pool enclosed by well-kept gardens.

Open floor plans make the sitting room look and feel good, hemmed in by lush gardens.
A kitchen island in marble finish adds a touch of elegance to the overall interior design.

What makes this country villa stand out from others is a larger-than-normal terrace along the front part of the building. It’s designed to blend together beautifully with plants indigenous to tropical countries. And that’s precisely where lush greenery and banyan trees come into play. They provide a focal point in the landscape, meantime, keeping the home cool in hot weather.

Glass windows paired with soft textures make bedrooms on the second floor feel warm and relaxed.

To increase privacy in the home, all four bedrooms are tucked away in secluded areas on the second floor. The principal bedroom with an en-suite bath lies at the farthest end, while the other three are disposed at various places. Regardless of their location, they share one quality that makes them look and feel good – a clean, well-lighted place with a lush garden view.

The floor finished in white and blue terrazzo creates a modern appeal in the bathroom.

As people try to get away from the chaos of city life, teeming streets and overcrowded places, “Banyan House” comes in handy as a haven of peace and tranquility. It’s a place to relax, recharge and wake up fully rested. Beyond everything, the positive effects of nature will benefit us all.

Architects: Asma Architects

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Nam House: A Beautiful Brick Home with Abundant Space and Fresh Air
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Nam House: A Beautiful Brick Home with Abundant Space and Fresh Air

/ Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam /

/ Story: Kangsadan K. / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Hiroyuki Oki /

This single-story brick home, offering 180 square meters of usable space, is the brainchild of CTA (Creative Architects), an architectural practice in Vietnam. It’s designed to fit in the climate prevailing in Ho Chi Minh City, where average temperatures are 8-10 degrees Celsius higher than in the countryside.

The living room is open and airy thanks to cool winds coming in over the water pond.

It’s thoughtfully devised to make the most effective use of materials to create a comfortable living space. Plus, it conveniently connects to the home of the owner’s mother. For the most part, the house’s exterior walls are built of fired clay bricks. To avoid heat buildup in the home, the walls are placed in relation to the sun and winds that change seasonally.

A view from above shows the brick house comprising three blocks of living spaces with the old home belonging to the owner’s mother nearby.

By design, the building comprises three blocks of living spaces with a sitting room, dining room and kitchen located at the center of the light and airy house plan. The rooms are disposed around a large water pond that doubles as engine drawing cool northeasterly winds into the home. The house of the owner’s mother located nearby can be seen in full view from here.

Living room furniture is positioned to take in the view of the water pond, while folding glass doors allow for a wide opening from one end to the other.

The center block overlooking the water pond connects the right and left sides of the house plan. The left wing holds the main entrance with a carport beside it, while the right wing contains a bedroom and reading room. Thick walls give the home a sense of privacy and protect from the elements. There are two other bedrooms and the  laundry located at the rear.

A lush yard provides the focal point and architectural feature drawing cool air into the living room.

The lovely place named “Nam House” features exterior walls measuring 250 millimeters thick. Designed to insulate the home against high temperatures, they contain two layers of protection with empty space in between. The outer walls protect from sun heat, while the void of space and the inner walls provide a buffer keeping the interior cool in summer. The holes in the bricks also add more thermal insulation capacity to the inner walls, thereby reducing heat transfer.

Exterior walls built of fired clay bricks insulate the home from outside heat.

Apart from that, bricks are used to build architectural elements that shield the interior from sun heat. They are set at an angle that draws fresh outdoor air in through openings in the walls. Meanwhile, vents above the level of the head allow hot air to exit the building, keeping the rooms cool and comfortable. Plus, the house is positioned in relation to the rise and fall of the sun and prevailing wind patterns, a passive design strategy that makes every day beautiful.

A bedroom opens to allow fresh air streaming in over the water pond while folding glass doors create a transition between indoors and outdoors.

The technique of building in an appropriate relative position can impact the house’s comfort and well-being. Like so, Nam House is designed to fit in with the surroundings. It looks the epitome of design that’s flexible and responsive to changing light and wind patterns that are the inevitabilities of life. The result is a home capable of overcoming site limitations, meanwhile expressing rich and subtle meanings.

Architects: CTA (Creative Architects)

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