Blog : steel frame

A Cozy, Eco-Friendly Steel Frame Home in Khao Yai

A Cozy, Eco-Friendly Steel Frame Home in Khao Yai

/ Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand /

/ Story: BRL / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul /

“O+O House” is a single-level steel-frame country retreat created by Junsekino Architect and Design. Tucked away in a peaceful rural setting at KhaoYai, Nakhon Ratchasima, it belongs to a homeowner planning for life after retirement. It’s built using a framework of steel to achieve a lightweight look that merges into a beautiful hillside. From a distance, the house appears as if it were floating or lightly tapping the ground. To create the least impact on the environment, it involves no landfill or alteration of any kind. The building itself gets its inspiration from a wildlife observatory. For relaxation, there is a center courtyard that brings in natural light and fresh air.

From a distance, the house’s entrance appears to sit at road level. Opaque facades provide privacy by blocking direct lines of sight from the outside.

As we all know, the areas surrounding Khao Yai National Park in Thailand top the list of destinations for building a home that offers the tranquility of the countryside. Plus, they lie within easy reach of Bangkok. For precisely that reason, owners decided to purchase a parcel of land within a development project called “Pirom At Vineyard”. And the rest was left in the good hands of the architectural firm Junsekino Architect and Design. Their quiet, secluded mountain retreat in Nakhon Ratchasima is aptly called “O+O House”, derived from their cute nicknames.

Balancing present lifestyles with long-term investment value, the couple wanted a house that serves as a weekend getaway with the intention of making it a full-time retirement single-story home. The architect responded with a single-story living space with open floor plans and easy accessibility that’s perfect for a family with dogs. Being situated on a corner lot ensures that panoramic vistas of nearby mountains can be seen from anywhere.

steel frame
The house’s rear facade is elevated on a sloped landscape with a panoramic deck overlooking rolling hills below. The foundation that distributes the weight evenly onto the soil contains three distinctive parts working alongside each other to support the superstructure, the service area, and opposite ends of the building.

High ground that opens to views of rolling hills below provides the architect with invaluable inspiration, culminating in a home that looks like a wildlife watchtower hovering over the landscape. The overall effect is impressive thanks in part to significant underfloor spaces, a sight that evokes the image of traditional Thai houses reimagined to blend cultural aesthetics with modern practicality.

steel frame
Panels of glass and operable wall openings foster feelings of openness, calm and purpose. They make the home feel more spacious, well-lit and well-ventilated.

To nurture a connection with nature, the architect chose a box-shaped massing to create the perception of the house’s shape, form and size focusing on geometric simplicity, clean lines and open spaces. As is expected, the house exterior is surrounded by a system of verandas that bridges the gap between indoor and outdoor living. Large glass openings in the walls enhance the home by taking in stunning mountain views, while all the rooms give access to the roofed platforms along the outside of the house.

steel frame
A courtyard enclosed by the house’s glass walls blends nature with living spaces. The overall effect is stunning thanks to operable wall openings that bring natural light and fresh mountain air into the home. The roof that slopes inward direct rainwater into the center courtyard, while grating under the roof edge creates calming visual effects during rains.

And wait, there’s more. A courtyard in the middle of the home offers a tranquil oasis boosting physical and mental health. All of these features are designed to bring more natural light and fresh air into the home, while open floor plans maximize social interaction and visibility to ensure care and safety.

A welcoming foyer features a bench for removing shoes upon entering. It serves as a transitional space between the outside world and the home’s private living areas.
steel frame
An open-concept living room fosters the sense of openness, while transom windows installed above glass doors, windows and walls reconnect with the sky and trees creating a deep, calming bond with nature.

The house plan is simple yet clearly defined focusing on comfort and functionality. An attached garage gives access to a hallway leading to a welcoming guest bedroom on the right side and other functions on the left including a kitchen, pantry, living room and the main bedroom at the farthest end of the first floor.

steel frame
A concession window with sliding glass panels is designed for easy food transport, a clever hack to keep cooking smell out of the living room.
steel frame
By raising the main living space over sloped ground, versatile underfloor rooms are created, transforming empty spaces into functional areas, ranging from sitting room to swimming pool to vegetable gardens and semi-outdoor entertainment spots.

Underfloor rooms serve as versatile storage space with dedicated areas for household equipment. From a distance, the building looks like a piece of paper resting over undulating countryside, securely supported by pillars at the center. As the architect intended, it merges into the mountain landscape, rather than sitting on top of it.  According to Jun Sekino, of Junsekino Architect and Design:

“I want to create a house that blends into the environment. Not black. Not white. But a gray-toned house characteristic of homes in the countryside. It’s the kind that grows faint and disappears into the background. This is achieved by maximizing horizontal lines while keeping vertical structures out of sight and using cantilevers that span 4 meters from end to end. The result is a building that appears lighter than normal.”

The architect chose structural steel framing for its superior strength and durability. At the same time, all key elements are carefully thought out to appear lightweight, including the fascia covering the ends of rafters. The platforms along the outside of the house are roofed over with acrylic panels, creating bright, weather-resistant outdoor rooms. The same applies to gutters beneath the roof edge designed to carry off rainwater. Together they create calming visual effects during rains. By design, the verandas act as an extension of living space, providing a place to enjoy coffee on a rainy day and the breathtaking panoramas you won’t find in the city.

Aside from being low-maintenance and highly durable, steel frames are clearly the right choice for projects located in the provinces and remote areas. They can be manufactured to meet precise specifications and demanding work environments. Steel frames are easier to check for correctness than concrete construction. And by lessening the environmental footprint of the building, they create a mesmerizing floating effect, not to mention being totally recyclable at the end of their useful lives.

steel frame
The covered veranda with artificial wood plank flooring offers a perfect outdoor escape, come rain or shine.

A few words succinctly describe this place. Here’s a home that gives a practical exhibition of how structural steel can merge into the environment through sustainable design, one that blends with the sky, thanks to an elevated structure that creates a floating effect. Enhanced by natural light flow, rains and mountains that appear to stretch farther than the eye can see, it’s a piece of architecture designed to answer present and future lifestyle needs, meanwhile creating the least environmental impact.


Architect: Junsekino Architect and Design


You may also like…

you may also likeHNP House: Gable House in the Woods Where the Veranda Opens onto Bright Sunshine and Lush Green Trees

An Urban Townhouse Renovated for the Comfort of an Aging Parent

Red Riding Wood: Red Forest Cabins in Chiang Mai Bring Fun Back to the Holidays

Red Riding Wood: Red Forest Cabins in Chiang Mai Bring Fun Back to the Holidays

/ Chiang Mai, Thailand /

/ Story: Kangsadan K.ม Kor Lordkam / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul, Kranchanok Boonbamrung /

Here’s a design project that fills a family’s teak wood plantation with enthusiasm and energy. It’s home to a cabin vacation destination oozing with the serene beauty of nature. Named the “Red Riding Wood”, the project boasts simple two-story houses that are a source of pride. They sit well on four rai of land (roughly 1.5 acres) snugly tucked into the forest of Chiang Mai’s Hang Dong District.

forest
A red steel frame cabin can be seen in full view from the entryway, creating a good first impression on arrival.

Evoking a timeless charm through simple materials and craftsmanship by local builders, the forest cabins are the brainchild of SHER MAKER, an architectural practice renowned for using ordinary items in such a way that brings about amazing life experiences.

forest

forest

Bi-fold wooden doors with glass panels open from one end to the other, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor living.

In essence, the “Red Riding Wood” is the story of an old family-owned hotel that has since undergone a complete transformation. It now includes peaceful vacation cabins in the woods, a couple of pool villas, and children’s playgrounds amid lush greenery designed for families to reconnect with nature.

forest
The pavilion overlooking a playground is designed to accommodate future businesses on the property.

There are two vacation cabins that serve as the most prominent features on the old teak wood plantation. Just a stone’s throw from them stands a pavilion used for multiple purposes, ranging from business spaces to pop-up stores and cafés to workshop venues.

The pool villas have since been restored to a good state of repair that blends well with the vacation cabins in front. Where appropriate, large openings are installed to reduce opacity in red concrete walls

Playground equipment for kids lies at the center of the property. The two vacation cottages are positioned in front overlooking the road. Not far away, two pool villas were recently renovated to accommodate visiting extended families. The project has all of its goals achieved, at the same time avoiding the unnecessary cutting down of trees on the property, ultimately creating architectural design that blends with the surroundings.

forest
The building facade glazed using clear glass allows parents to keep a watchful eye on kids in the playground.
forest
Playground facilities include a circular sandbox that’s more friendly to kids.

As to be expected, the cabin’s front façade is glazed using frosted glass to protect personal privacy. There’s a playground for kids on the side. The two cottages are made of timber from teak wood farming that was cut down to make room for an extra living space expansion.

Weathered wood beams contrast with structural steel members painted a beautiful deep red color.
The villas are raised above the ground on vertical posts to avoid damaging tree roots.

The building’s structural steel members, such as beams and columns, are painted a deep red anti-rust color coating, while wax finishes protect wood surfaces from the ravages of sun, rain and temperature fluctuations. In the living room, bi-fold doors glazed with transparent glass open to a deck with spectacular views, blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors.

Vertical posts recycled from much older homes find a new purpose as structural support for the pavilion designed for a future pop-up café and workshop space.

The area adjacent to the cabins holds a pavilion that provides plenty of room for pop-up stores, cafés and interactive workshop activities. It’s designed to meet the needs of extended families and groups holidaying together. Meantime, clear glass walls enhance natural light to create a sense of openness and allow parents to keep an eye on children playing outside.

The pavilion is built out of timber recycled from components of the roofs of two old villas that were torn down as part of the expansion plan. It’s put together by local builders highly skilled in making and repairing wooden structures. Precisely, it’s the aged, rustic look of old wood that gives the forest cabin project its character.

A narrow passageway hemmed in by red walls arouses curiosity. It’s inspired by a scene from the fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood”, where the girl ventures into the woods looking for grandma.

Next, we come to the two villas that were recently restored to a good state of repair to accommodate large families and travel groups. A small gate giving access to the front door has since been rebuilt after the old one was torn down and wood recycled to serve new purposes elsewhere. The villas stand environed by perimeter fences painted shades of red color that interact directly with nearby buildings.

forest

Red is the color of choice for good reason. It serves as a focal point that makes the forest cabin project stand out in the neighborhood. Plus, it blends well with clean lines that foster calm and clarity in spaces and cement plaster finishes on the walls. In a way, the project got its inspiration from “Little Red Riding Hood”, a fairy tale about a little girl and a cunning wolf.

The company logo is inspired by the fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood”. It’s a way to express rich and subtle meanings about life in the wild and its influence on design concepts.
forest
The project’s visual appearance and design concept got its inspiration from the red millipedes that thrive in the teak forest.

Everything about it conveys a great deal about the project owner, who is a creative always curious and inquiring as a child. With regard to the project’s visual appearance, the architect picks the color of the red millipedes that thrive in the teak forest, subtly telling the story of fascinating colors of wild animals. This pretty much explains the presence of red fence panels and the narrow passageway that evokes memories of an unforgettable holiday experience.

Red cement plaster walls are everywhere. They connect all parts of the forest cabin project, from the front entrance to concrete edges lining garden walkways, to children’s playgrounds and the pool villas at the rear. Among other things, they divide the project  site into different zones, provide outdoor privacy screens, and give information about the distance and direction to places on the property.

Together they bring all the parts together as one. Combine that with the property owner’s character, and you get a development project that’s in and of itself a work of art. All things considered, it’s a fascinating place to visit, a world of curiosities in the middle of a teak forest.

forest

A vacation not only provides the way to escape the daily grind. It’s also about gaining fresh perspectives, broadening one’s horizons and living a more fulfilling life. In this particular case, the little houses in the forest of Chiang Mai represent the coming together of a team of architects with pragmatic approaches and the property owner who proves creativity knows no bounds.

Together they tell the story of a realistic, interactive experience about travel into the woods. It’s a chance to discover the extraordinary, relax, wake up fully rested and ready for the day.


Architect: SHER MAKER


You may also like…

Maerim House: A U-Shaped Steel Frame Home Fosters Harmony with Nature

Proud Phu Fah Muang Chiang MaiProud Phu Fah Muang Chiang Mai: A Hotel at Nature’s Edge Embraces a Mix of Modern and Traditional

Ton Corner Coffee Shop: A Backstreet Café in Hue Embraces the Beauty of Ordinary Materials

Ton Corner Coffee Shop: A Backstreet Café in Hue Embraces the Beauty of Ordinary Materials

/ Hue, Vietnam /

/ Story: Phattaraphon / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Ton That Hoang Anh /

There are plenty of good reasons to visit Hue, the former capital of Vietnam. Rich in history and cultural heritage, it’s home to imperial palaces, holy shrines and a wealth of architectural treasures. Who would have thought there’s a cute small café tucked away in a backstreet far-removed from the teeming thoroughfare of the city center?

Named Ton Corner, it’s a café constructed using basic, locally sourced materials, a strategy that matches a short-term rental agreement. Plus, the area is prone to seasonal flooding during heavy rains. That’s exactly the challenge that tests the ability of the design team at TON Architects, an architectural firm based in Hue. And the final outcome is worthy of admiration, thanks to well-thought-out design aimed at creating a good customer experience.

Café
Ton Corner Coffee Shop is the perfect example of how knowledge of materials and building strategies can be put to good use, creating a business space that’s simple yet attractive. Plus, it’s easy to put together and taken apart if there is a need to relocate to a new place.
Courtesy of TON Architects

Against all the odds, the architects successfully accomplish their goals by picking out ordinary items as being the best and the most appropriate to the location. They include structural steel framing, corrugated sheet metal, reclaimed timber and tempered glass. They are easy to be put together and taken apart just in case the business relocates to a new place in future when the lease expires.

Like so, corrugated sheet metal normally found on roofs and walls now serves new purposes as decorative materials and other components of the building. And it’s done in an interesting way, plus it’s strong, durable and suitable for the hot and humid climate prevailing in the central region of Vietnam.

Because it rains a lot in this part of the country, corrugated sheet metal comes in handy to prevent damage caused by a water leak. Sheet metal is easy to install, easy to care for and suitable as a building material for the coffee shop. Plus, it provides an inexpensive solution that blends smoothly with others in the neighborhood.

Café
Industrial building materials such as structural steel framing and corrugated sheet metal go to work alongside reclaimed timber in shades of brown, showcasing a contrast in appearance, color and texture that complement one another. The result is a home-like atmosphere that’s very relaxed, warm and inviting.

Café

Imagination helps them think up new ways to solve problems. The architects are quick to combine industrial building materials, such as steel frames and corrugated sheet metal, with timber recycled from much older buildings, resulting in a welcome contrast between the two kinds. The building’s outer shell crafted of sheet metal showcases a noticeable difference in texture, appearance and feel, while reclaimed wood adds visual interest and depth to design.

Step inside, and you find a home-like atmosphere that’s impressive, warm and inviting. The overall effect is up-to-date and appropriate for the kind of weather it is in. More than anything, it’s handcrafted by local builders and skilled artisans, which translates into big savings and contributes to the local economy.

Café
An open-concept floor plan makes the cafe space feel light and airy, while large windows glazed using tempered glass allow natural light into the interior. Plus, they open to take in views of lush greenery both on the storefront and at the rear.

As to be expected, open-concept floor plans are easy to understand and easy to follow, ultimately creating a lively interior space rich in pattern, color and texture. Lust shade trees on the storefront and in the backyard can be seen in full view from inside the café. The scenery becomes visually stunning when it rains. The sound of raindrops tapping the window panes can be mesmerizing for nature lovers. On sunny days, both downstairs and upstairs rooms are filled with energy and excitement, thanks to daylight streaming in through large storefront windows and other openings at the rear.

Café
The mezzanine floor is designed to avoid feeling claustrophobic despite being a small place. It provides a peaceful spot for those looking for a more personal space to sit back, relax and enjoy a good cup of coffee.

To avoid feeling claustrophobic despite being a small place, the architects put in a mezzanine floor and second floor for customers who prefer a little more privacy, a quiet reading nook and personal space in which to work or relax while enjoying a good cup of coffee. The second floor gives the appearance of being inside an attic of a building with a view of urban landscapes that changes over time.

Café

Café

In a nutshell, Ton Corner Coffee Shop is a perfect example of what makes a building comfortable even though there are problems on site. The answer lies in an awareness of the surroundings, knowledge of materials, clever building strategies and, most important of all, forward thinking. The same concept can apply to both commercial and residential design. In this particular instance, using simple, readily available materials can translate into big savings and reducing human impacts on the environment.


Architects: TON Architects


You may also like…

Lei Ơi Càphê: An Airy, Well-Lighted Shophouse-Cum-Bistro in Da Nang


Ruen Lek: A Modern Cottage Café Celebrates the Enduring Allure of Chanthaburi

Ruen Lek: A Modern Cottage Café Celebrates the Enduring Allure of Chanthaburi

Ruen Lek: A Modern Cottage Café Celebrates the Enduring Allure of Chanthaburi

/ Chanthaburi, Thailand /

/ Story: Wuthikorn Sut, Kangsadan K. / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul /

A home and café combination merges into the countryside vernacular of Chanthaburi, a province in Thailand’s eastern corridor bestowed with pristine forests, mountains and sea breezes. Designed for the Tropical climate prevailing in the area, it boasts the simplicity of extended eaves overhanging the walls. Together they provide protection from the elements keeping the interior cozy and cool in summer, while the gable front glazed using clear glass affords the view of a beautiful garden landscape.

Named “Ruen Lek”, the small contemporary home consists of two parts; a semi-outdoor café located downstairs and a living space upstairs with wrap-around balconies made for coffee or just chilling out.

The brainchild of GLA Design Studio, a Bangkok-based architectural practice, the home and café combination offers 110 square meters of usable space. It stands parallel to a nearby homestay destination called “Baan Lek Villa”, separated only by a center courtyard lying in between.

The upstairs living space with a garden view is enclosed by a wrap-around balcony made for coffee and floor seating ideas.

By design, the yard filled with greenery and fresh air provides a respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life, while lush lawns hemmed in by healthy trees and shrubs create a cooling effect during warm weather.

A diagram of the first floor plan shows the positioning of the coffee shop, customer service areas and support facilities in relation to outdoor environments. / Courtesy of GLA Design Studio
A drawing of the second floor plan shows the living space with a home office enclosed by a wrap-around balcony made for relaxation. / Courtesy of GLA Design Studio
A front elevation view shows the small home and café combination on the right side of the property, separated from the main homestay villa on the left by a center courtyard filled with greenery. / Courtesy of GLA Design Studio

Thoughtfully devised to run cool in summer, the first floor is kept closer to the ground, slightly raised at plinth level. For good ventilation, the storefront and a side wall are fitted with bi-fold door systems that fully open from one end to the other, while the other side wall lined with a souvenir display shelf is glazed using clear glass paneling for visibility.

Awning windows at the top of the glass wall open to admit fresh outdoor air. Underneath them, glass paneling lined with a souvenir display shelf lets natural daylight shine through.

The coffee bar itself is set further towards the back with plenty of room behind it for cooking light meals. From here, the nearby “Baan Lek Villa” homestay can be seen across the center courtyard. Up front, a few sets of tables and shares are ready for customers who prefer relaxing and dining in the open air.

A place to hang out with friends, the coffee bar is set further towards the back, creating a sense of depth. There’s plenty of room behind the countertop for making drinks and cooking light meals.

Taken as a whole, the small café makes a good first impression as a peaceful place to enjoy a nice cup of bean juice, lean back and chill. Besides good local food, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, thanks in part to the crisp cool canopy of overhanging trees, native shrubs and vines thriving luxuriantly. Together they bring back memories of Chanthaburi in times past like the architects at GLA Design Studio intended.

The second floor contains a humble abode and office space with a large drafting table. Simple, well-lit and well-ventilated, the room is enclosed by a wrap-around balcony designed for sitting on the floor with legs hanging. The side entrance at the top of the stairs affords views of green spaces and, beyond, the Baan Lek Villa homestay. For privacy, the second floor of Ruen Lek is set slightly lower than that of the main villa.

The upstairs living space with a garden view is enclosed by a wrap-around balcony made for coffee and floor seating ideas.

For privacy, the second floor of the home and café building is set slightly lower than that of the nearby main villa.

Except for the glass façades on two sides, the walls are built of handmade bricks and the floors covered in fireclay handmade tiles sourced locally. For charm, good looks that blend into the community and local traditions, door and window casings and decorative materials are made entirely of real wood.

Morning light creates a warm ambience, enhancing the brown of wooden balcony floors and the orange of fireclay tiles on the home office floor.

From a design point of view, it’s a home that speaks volumes for a desire to be close to nature and a love of the allure of Chanthaburi’s unspoiled countryside. And the team at GLA Design Studio has succeeded in doing exactly that. The result is a cozy dwelling that’s a little bit modern, a little bit country mixed in one place that’s simple yet attractive, inviting and warm.

A center courtyard filled with shade trees and lush foliage separates the home and café combination from the nearby Baan Lek Villa homestay.
A way to connect with nature, the center courtyard is kept cool by shade trees and lush vegetation. Nearby, a driveway surfaced with gravel gives access to the main villa raised on piles.


Architect: GLA Design Studio


You may also like…

Mitbury the Public House: A Café in Pastel Brown Humbly Camouflaged in Nature’s Embrace

BAAN LEK VILLABaan Lek Villa: A House-Cum-Homestay in Chanthaburi

Maerim House: A U-Shaped Steel Frame Home Fosters Harmony with Nature

Maerim House: A U-Shaped Steel Frame Home Fosters Harmony with Nature

/ Chiang Mai, Thailand /

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

/ Photographs: Markus Gortz /

Amidst a beautiful mountain landscape, a steel frame home looks lightweight under a canopy of overhanging trees in Mae Rim District, roughly 15 minutes’ drive from Chiang Mai’s downtown. It’s tucked away in a cozy corner of a peaceful neighborhood blending seamlessly into the dark green of nearby woodlands. Upfront a natural water pond lies hemmed in by the U-shaped house plan, creating an environmentally friendly living space. Needless to say, it’s invitingly comfortable, calm and peaceful thanks to the crisp cool mountain air passing through all day. Nothing compares to living close to nature.

Its spacious floor plan affords a whopping 800 square meters of living, functional and utility spaces snug by the warmth of a northern countryside. The brainchild of Design Qua, an architectural practice based in Bangkok, the house among the trees is designed to be in harmony with nature. This can only come from a profound understanding of the place, knowledge of the local climate and efforts at maintaining ecological balance long term.

A drawing illustrates the various component parts of a U-shape house plan in relation to the courtyard under tree cover and a water pond that’s the centerpiece of landscape design. / Courtesy of Design Qua
A diagram of the second floor shows the private residential wing at the far end, utility areas on the left, and the multipurpose wing holding a welcome area in the foreground. / Courtesy of Design Qua
A side-elevation view of the U-shaped house plan in cross section illustrates the physical interactions between man and nature, as evidenced by the positioning of living spaces linked by a system of corridors, balconies and verandas overlooking the courtyard with a water pond. / Courtesy of Design Qua

That being said, structural steel framing comes in as a handy building technique. Among other advantages, vertical steel columns take up less space than do concrete ones. This helps to avoid damaging the root system of a rain tree standing close by. Steel frames provide a stronger, more durable structure than concrete does. Plus, it’s lightweight and faster to construct. Overall, they are the key attributes that give the home its character.

Steel framing for building construction offers many advantages. Among others, it takes up less space and provides flexibility in design as evidenced by a system of pathways connecting to all parts of the home. Plus, it promotes good ventilation and interactions between nature and humankind.

Typical of homes in the Northern Region, passive design strategies take priority over any other matter. Correct building orientation ensures there are enough openings in the walls to admit natural daylight and fresh outdoor air into the home, while texture applied to walls and ceilings create shadows and an even concentration of warm soft light in the interior.

Named Maerim House, the two-story steel home is built on a U-shaped floor plan with a courtyard containing a natural water pond occupying the in-between space.

The house consists of three parts. First, the north wing holds a garage upfront leading to the main entrance with a warm and cozy welcome room. The ground is covered with new top soil, paved and polished to give it a neat and clean surface. The raised floorboard ensures safety in case of heavy rain.

The second part of the house plan is raised at plinth height 60 centimeters above the ground. All the equipment and utility spaces are here, among them washing and drying machines plus a work studio at the far end right next to a rather unique circular bathroom.

The third and final section of the home holds a quiet, secluded residential area. The downstairs consists of a kitchen complete with dining and sitting rooms plus a bedroom for guest accommodation. It’s accessed by a veranda tiled in different colors and textures that blend with surrounding courtyard landscapes. Close at hand, the overhanging branches of a rain tree spread above the water’s edge providing crisp, cool shade.

The counter enclosed by an overlapping clapboard of reclaimed timber adds vintage appeal to the kitchen and dining area.
For a good first impression, the welcome wing is enclosed by glass walls and sliding doors that open to admit natural daylight and fresh outdoor air into the room.

A set of steps illuminated by recessed lights gives access to a two-meter-wide veranda overlooking the water pond that’s the focal point of the courtyard landscape.

Nearby, an apparently lightweight set of stairs next to a breeze block wall provides access to the second floor holding the principal bedroom. From here, a hallway connects to a living area and a circular bathroom and, beyond, two other bedrooms tucked away at the far end. On the outside of the building, a spacious balcony affords beautiful views of the rain tree and lush courtyard landscapes.

Separate but not divided. Breeze block walls painted a muted shade of green clearly define the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, at the same time providing visual continuity between the two worlds.
A yoga pavilion at the rear of the house affords a beautiful panorama of wooded hills and surrounding mountains stretching farther than the eye can see.

For indoor thermal comfort, the house’s wooden floorboard is made up of long planks recycled from older homes, resulting in a feel and appearance that make people feel calm. The interior decor is simple yet elegant, featuring the simplicity of a mix-and-match between old and contemporary items. The furnishings mostly sourced from within the region bespeak the homeowner’s love for pleasingly graceful styles adorned with beautiful works of handicraft.

The upstairs bedroom boasts the simplicity of a floorboard made up of reclaimed wooden planks installed with narrow grooves in between, creating a texture that’s the only one of its kind.
Tall wall ideas provide ample room for an awning window hinged at the top. It opens and shuts as needed to regulate fresh outdoor air streaming into the upstairs bedroom.
An accent wall in the downstairs living room is tiled in different colors symbolizing variety, with a fireplace directly across from it radiates timeless appeal.

To create a restful atmosphere, perforate brick walls are painted earthy light green that visually blends with the darkness of nearby wooded hills in the landscape. For a lightweight look, the home is roofed over with metal sheeting with extended overhangs protecting the glass walls from the elements. At the end of the gutter, rain chains direct the flow of water from the rooftop to the ground in a more controlled way.

Taken as a whole, it’s a beautiful amalgam of natural and built environments. Built largely of bricks and reclaimed timber, the steel frame home successfully merges into the complex woodland ecosystems that are the pride and joy of this part of Chiang Mai. By design, it’s a simple structure inspired by a yearning desire to live closer to nature. And that’s exactly the point. Gorgeous!


Architect: Design Qua


You may also like…

Greenery Curtain House: Simple, Pleasant and Snugly Cocooned in Nature’s Embrace

Floating House in Thu DucFloating House in Thu Duc: A Home under the Canopy That Fits Right in Nature

X