Blog : thailand

Mash-up: Industrial Design and Green Space of Walllasia
livingasean

Mash-up: Industrial Design and Green Space of Walllasia

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Monosoda / Rewriter: Phattaraphon / English version: Peter Montalbano /

/ Photographs: Nantiya, Jirasak /

Cold black steel may not seem an obvious pairing for green plants, but one award-winning architect of Walllasia has matched the two in a unique and impressive way.

Walllasia

“Steel and the natural world present an interesting conflict to me,” said Suriya Umpansirirat, winner of the Silpathorn Architectural Award and owner of the design studio Walllasia.

“My childhood home was a rice mill in Phatthalung. I grew up playing ‘fix this, fix that’ in an industrial plant, but set in the midst of trees my father had planted.”

Adding to his compact two-storey house, he used a unique design based on childhood memories. The rawness of the black steel comes across as part and parcel of nature, meshing easily with the green leaves all about. Structural lines here are simple and straightforward, but full of architectural finesse.

Walllasia

AA9

When Suriya needed to expand his 64-square-meter townhouse, he bought and annexed the house directly behind, allowing no more width but creating two times the depth.

Between the two, he created a courtyard where the sun shines in. A metal frame is set like a ring around the courtyard, separating the two structures without physically attaching them to each other.

Walllasia

AA05

Every spot in the house has many varieties of plants and trees, looking as though they have sprung up naturally.

There is an automatic drip irrigation system which prevents water waste and also saves a lot of gardening time.

AA08

A workshop for artifacts and inventions. A big bike sits, waiting for a ride.
A workshop for artifacts and inventions. A big bike sits, waiting for a ride.

Suriya’s passion for nature’s fine details complements another side of him, which has him creating fine crafts in the workshop. His own artworks and a plethora of inventions and artifacts have become part of the house.

This award-winning architect of Walllasia has also done a lot of work on many religious sites, and this influence keeps his home a “work in progress”, never entirely finished, and saturated with Buddhist concepts and thought.

“Religion is about how to deal with human life,” he spoke about his inspiration.

“Each religion has a philosophy for finding happiness. Architecture grows from that: how can we express our own esthetics without encroaching on others? I tried to design this house to look simple and straightforward, for comfortable living without too many frills. For me, practical considerations are what’s important.”

Perhaps for a person of passion, practical living shouldn’t involve hoarding or accumulating, but reduction, or letting go instead, until what is left is the core essence of a home.

Walllasia
His concept: a house like a vase of flowers that’s also a car repair garage.

Owner/Architect: Suriya Umpansirirat of Walllasia (www.walllasia.com)

You may also like…

A Beautifully Renovated 60-year-old Mid-City HouseShipping Container House amid an Enchanted Forest Garden

Tiny Home Studio of Fashion Designer
livingasean

Tiny Home Studio of Fashion Designer

Home studios need not be large to win big. Blending the worlds of fashion and interior design in her city workspace, this fashion designer is doing great creating beautiful collections in a condo.

/// Thailand ///

Story: skiixy /// Rewrite: Phattaraphon /// Photography: Nantiya /// Style: Praphaiwadee /// Owner: Thanchanok Thiranont /// Design: Juti Klipbua, JUTI Architects

HS01

HS07

Thanchanok Thiranont is Style Editor for Seventeen Thailand magazine. The birth of her own “Thiranont” brand of womenswear was reason for the complete makeover of this two-bedroom condo, where she had lived here for ten years prior. True to the essence of her fashion ideas, she did it in style, transforming a cluttered, untidy 69-square-meter condo into a great place to live, plus a hot new studio worthy of producing and showing off the vitality of her style.

The basic concept is that this should be a multipurpose space, not only a residence, but also a factory, shop and showplace.

This table is the centerpiece of this home studio.
This table is the centerpiece of this home studio.

HS06

The renovation project takes shape with a big table placed at the center of the main room. Here the owner works on fabrics, make patterns, measure pieces of material, and tailor clothing to fit individual customers. It also doubles as a dining table, and is party ready for entertaining sisters and friends. The workspace connects to a more private living room through a sliding glass door with metal frame. It can be easily adapted for use as a guest room if need be.

HS08

HS09

“My style: vintage, but not antique. Simple but functional,” said Thanchanok.

Since the owner had her own clothing brand, new equipment and furnishings were installed to make the boutique capable of handling increasing demands of the fashion world. The decorator accommodated her specific needs with creative vertical storage ideas. Keeping things off the floor, the decorator put the main storage space up the wall with a wheel-fitted ladder.

Sharing a slice of her paradise, Thanchanok said: “My brand has a smooth and simple look, like there isn’t much detail. But look closely, and you see patterns on the material. It’s like this home, full of hidden details. Customers can come here and get measured for two dresses at a time. Since we don’t have a separate shop, we have to have complete functionality here even though it’s not obvious. But we have to be completely set up for both living and working.”

HS03

Living in Fond Memories of the 70’s
livingasean

Living in Fond Memories of the 70’s

However long ago, it seems the charm of the 70’s still lingers on in contemporary design. And this condo is proof that the groovy style of yesteryear has pride of place in modern times.

/// Thailand ///

Story: Montra /// Rewrite: Phattaraphon /// Photography: Jirasak, Nantiya /// Style: Praphaiwadee /// Owner/Designer: Chanchalad Khanjanawong

LM05

LM08

Although born in the late 70s, Chanchalad Khanjanawong has a high regard for the hippies time that began a decade prior. The art instructor and owner of “Grey Ray,” a hip desktop items brand, said:

“From age 5 or 6 there was an uncle who visited Mom and Dad and hung out at our place all the time. An art student at the time, he came dressed like a hippie, long hair and all. Sometimes he would sit and paint. I visited his room, which was done up in the style of that time, and it really enchanted me.”

Chanchalad’s rooms altogether take up about 100 square meters. They are full of all sorts of items and collections held in fond memories of a happy childhood.

“Everything here has its origin in a song,” he explained. “I have a great memory for songs. My mom’s favorites – Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra – are in my head, along with recollections of my uncle and his art student friends playing the guitar in our house. All these things combine to make me feel really at home.”

LM03

LM04

LM01

From memory, the experience of yesterday is reflected in the furniture, the decoration, and a few tchotchkes that he bought back in his school days. There’s a mix of old stuff and new. Wood, metal, leather and fabric cushion upholstery, and bamboo blinds blend together with that retro-vintage Scandinavian flavor. Some of the pieces came from his childhood home. They included a set of tea-colored glasses that his mother used to entertain houseguests, as well as old-fashioned Thermos flasks with beautiful graphics.

Chanchalad aims for the most efficient and aesthetically pleasing way of space utilization. The central area is both a place to hang out with friends and to relax alone listening to music. On the left is the bedroom; to the right a workroom. His favorite place, where he spends most of his time, is a restful corner of the main room, where the eye is drawn to the cassette deck, music players, and records from the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and many Thai artists.

LM02

LM07
Music before functionality: Nostalgia from his days in college speaks to wistful affection for the past.

Anyone can put sentimental longing for the past to good use. If you have memories that constantly have you under their spell, maybe you should pull them out and make them a part of your interior decor. They can turn a mundane home into an enchanting place in which to live.

“Waking up to the sound of ‘Welcome to My World’... it’s miraculous how memory comes rushing in,” said Chanchalat.
“Waking up to the sound of ‘Welcome to My World’… it’s miraculous how memory comes rushing in,” said Chanchalad.
Stunning Authentic Tropical Garden
livingasean

Stunning Authentic Tropical Garden

For an escape from the chaos of the concrete jungle, nothing compares to this garden with an authentic tropical look. The salubrious backyard has got them all – the rainforest canopy, bird sounds, and the mellifluous music of rustling leaves and waterfalls.

/// Thailand ///
Story: Isara Sonsart /// Photos: Sitthisak Namkahm /// Garden Decorator: Suansuay Landscape Co., Ltd.

TP08

TP01

 

Even as he lives in the city, the owner of this house considers himself a nature lover. Without hesitation, he sets aside more than half of his property for forest gardening incorporating trees, shrubs, perennial vegetation and water features.

When he told the garden designer what he wanted, the designer not only set up a Tropical garden, but also made the house an inextricable part of the lush oasis. Beautiful black palms were planted to shade the house against the sun. Australian rose apples were put in along the perimeter wall to camouflage the house from the outside. And a backyard waterfall was built near a sundeck designed for family activities.

TP04

TP05

The heart of this little forest is a pavilion overlooking a really beautiful garden with a fishpond. Visitors can gaze in admiration at brightly colored carps swimming in it. One has to cross a small wood bridge to get there. Mimicking real forests of the Tropics, it’s a health giving place and a perfect sight to see.

“I feel relaxed physically and mentally every time I come into this garden,” said the owner. “After a hard day at work, I need this delightful ambience to make me feel rejuvenated and better prepared for the future.”

TP03

TP10

The Tropical garden setting has charmed small animals. The owner said that birds and squirrels always visited here, giving him the opportunity to study their behaviors closely, which didn’t occur often in the urban area.

A perfect retreat from city life, it’s where you can feel the breeze blowing in your hair and leaves rustling in the wind. The sounds of moving water make it feel like an escape to another world – one embraced by Mother Nature.

TP07

Hipster’s Nest Boasts Industrial Scandinavian Charm
livingasean

Hipster’s Nest Boasts Industrial Scandinavian Charm

Were you wondering if designers of hipster hangouts do live in hip places as well? Perhaps the answer lies in this Industrial Scandinavian style home.

/// Thailand ///
Story: skiixy /// Rewrite: Phattaraphon /// Photography: Nantiya, Damrong //// Style: Praphaiwadee /// Owner/Designer: Natthaphat Suriyakamphon

HN01

HN02

The fourth floor of “Casa Lapin X49,” one of Bangkok’s hippest cafés, is the home of designer Natthaphat Suriyakamphon, an architect at Be Gray Co, Ltd. Sharing his slice of paradise he said that when his career brought him to Bangkok, this commercial building was just too big for a single guy to live. So he got his friends to join in and did a makeover, turning the space downstairs into a favorite hangout place for hipsters.

Like the café, his accommodation is stylishly furnished. It’s a harmonious marriage between Scandinavian and Industrial styles. The crisp interior combines organic and industrial materials for a perfect compromise. The warm and inviting living space boasts the fresh-air aesthetic appeal of wood furniture, brick walls, and decorative ironwork designs.

HN03

HN06

Natthaphat intentionally designed openness into it. Everything connects easily to everything else in a natural way. The dressing room-cum-bathroom splits into two distinct areas – wet and dry rooms. The bedroom comes complete with sumptuous fabrics, ornaments and furniture with unique character. The decorative pieces get switched around and rearranged from time to time.

HN05

This used to be a desk. Now it doubles as a washbasin, too.
This used to be a desk. Now it doubles as a washbasin, too.
HN04
No balconies to put plants? Let life-giving light shine right into the rooms.

“My space is 60 square meters, so I have to make the most of it,” explained Natthaphat. “Whatever I keep has to be something I like a lot and can’t bring myself to get rid of. However small, there’s always a place to put something that I think belongs here.”

Natthaphat said he liked things that were not overstated. Instead of being done up or carried to excess, materials should show their true nature. He doesn’t mind scratches on the floor or other imperfections that come with ordinary use. As he puts it, everything has wear and tear over time, but it still looks cool.

HN09

HN08

That pretty much summarizes the decorating ideas at all Casa Lapin coffee shops. The hip hangouts are the embodiment of his passion. They are the signatures of an architect, who puts so much of his personality in the design.

HN07

 

Leaning House: An Out-of-the-Box House Design
livingasean

Leaning House: An Out-of-the-Box House Design

/ Chiang Mai, Thailand /

/ Story: Nutt / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Nantiya, Jirasak / Styling: Praphaiwadee /

This leaning out-of-the-box house design may make you feel dizzy. But you will feel better if you see the inside and know the story behind it.

out-of-the-box house design

“The property itself was an odd shape, four sides, but not with equal lengths, so it wasn’t expensive,” said Sirisak Thammasiri, the owner and designer of this slanting house.

“But it had charm, a nice natural look, and I designed it with terrain features in mind.”

First floor: big open space with light and air. Cool metal stairway. Feeling free.
The image of the first floor presents big open space with a light and cool metal stairway.

When Sirisak was little, his run and play space was the dikes separating flooded rice paddies with mountains in the backdrop.

So he designed his house as one big box popping up out of the ground, bringing a feeling and memory of the mountains to mind.

There’s also a grass lawn in the front yard to remind him of the good old days running in the fields.

out-of-the-box house design

The stairs, walls, and roofing are designed with inclined surfaces and diagonal lines. He got the idea from the bicycle frame and was struck by the strength of diagonals.

Sirisak has found a challenge in designing unconventionally and drawing on concepts from the outside of textbook architecture.

LH03

Beams extend outwards seven meters at an angle to the ground. Clever design makes the drainage plane of the wall a part of the roof.

In the meantime, the roof also doubles as the exterior wall. The house sits facing south, so the front facade is surfaced with wood to protect the house from afternoon sun.

LH09

The interior living space gives the feeling of airy comfort. Windows abound, which helps with ventilation and openness. They allow natural light in and save electricity.

Downstairs, the living room connects seamlessly to the pantry, and through it to the split-level kitchen.

Not far, a set of stairs crafted of bent steel plates leads to bedrooms above. The second floor boasts beautiful glass paneling designed to take in panoramic views of the mountain landscape.

out-of-the-box house design

LH08
Sirisak takes in pure mountain air from the second floor balcony, his favorite hangout.

“For this odd shape, the folks around here have given it several names, including ‘the house with laid-back shape,’ ‘the slanting house,’ ‘the boat-shaped home,’ and even ‘that house that points towards the sky,’” he said jokingly.

“My neighbors were always asking things like: ‘Don’t you get dizzy inside that thing?’ Or ‘How can it possibly be comfortable in there?’ Sometimes I invited them in for a look-see.”

To achieve his goals, Sirisak needed a fair amount of confidence and courage to be different in a stylish way. That’s what it means to have a passion for this out-of-the-box house design.

out-of-the-box house design
“This house itself is like a teacher to me. It gets me running experiments all the time,” said the owner.

Owner/Designer: Sirisak Thammasiri of NOTDS Co., Ltd. (www.facebook.com/noneotherthandesignstudio)

You may also like…

A Modern Home That is Quintessentially Thai

303 House: A Modern Narrow Townhouse on a Narrow Lot

Fashion Designer Home Embraces the Elegance of a Bygone Era
livingasean

Fashion Designer Home Embraces the Elegance of a Bygone Era

In the trendy world of fashion, leading designers rise to fame for having good taste and style in their collections. The home in which they live also shows their impeccable fashion acumen. Check this out.

/// Thailand ///

Story: Monosoda and Phattaraphon /// Rewrite: Osatee Ularangkoon /// Photography: Nantiya /// Style: Praphaiwadee /// Design – Décor:  Thita Kamonnetsawat and Phongsak Kobrattanasuk

01

04

“Rotsaniyom” is one of the most recognizable up-and-coming brands on the Thai fashion scene. The millennial clothing brand grew out of a love affair that young women have always had with elegant lacy things. In a tiny alley of Bangkok’s Thewet neighborhood stands a white house filled with passions for bygone times. It’s the home of big ideas. Thita Kamonnetsawat and Phongsak Kobrattanasuk, proprietors of the aforementioned brand, live here.

“We wanted a single-family home in Old Bangkok, where we grew up,” Phongsak explained. He said the old house that had stood here for more than 70 years was brimful of historical charms. He and his better half fell for it immediately.

The old house was later torn down to make room for a new one.  For the couple, it was the opportunity to begin blending their different tastes and personalities, turning it into a sophisticated Bangkok abode filled with handsome details. The new house speaks to the concept behind their brand. It’s not only a residence, but also a completely equipped studio and showroom.

09
Thewet neighborhood, Bangkok.
05
The wardrobe holds their latest collection.

06

The couple had everything they needed both for modern comfortable living and for work. The smooth, precise style is evident in polished white marble surfaces on the lower floor. The upstairs studio has the easy grace of an earlier era, full of creamy white lacework from both vintage and newly designed collections.

“Besides lace fabrics, I liked working on ornaments ideas.” Thita said. “Phongsak was more interested in furniture. We wanted our clothing store to look like an antique shop, one that’s capable of adapting old-world lifestyles to fit in with the modern brand. It’s like bringing in work and making it a part of our lives. We do everything according to the way we have always been, driven by passions that the two of us share.”

02

03
The studio doubles as an exhibition gallery for lace collections.

Overall the new home is tastefully furnished to the couple’s lifestyle and desire.  It fits the definition of “Rotsaniyom,” which is Thai for a taste for fashion or fashion sense

08
“Famous or not, our designs offer a compelling alternative. They thrive on imperfections and forever-changing fashion trends,” said the owner.

Links: http://www.rotsaniyom.com/

American Industrial Loft Style
livingasean

American Industrial Loft Style

Old things can have a refined charm. They show dedication to detail in design that’s hard to find in present-day products. Sharing a love for all things retro, two homeowners have turned them into an online business, “The Kasama.”

/// Thailand ///

Story: Gobbi Chirawat /// Photography: Nantiya /// Style: Praphaiwadee /// Designer: Natthaphon Siriphanit and Pitikon Ariyakhajon of TIMEOUTCAMP

 

009

Entering their midsize townhouse was like walking into another time. The front door – black steel with a glass façade – leads into a room done up in what you could call an “American industrial” loft style. The living room’s walls bear the marks of the wooden frames, giving them a raw texture to complement the antiques and collectibles on display here: old cameras, tools, and equipment used in factories during the Second World War.

The workroom on the third floor, with its beautiful wall of white brick, is used as a studio where they take pictures of merchandise to be posted on Facebook. Scattered about we see such miscellaneous items as a fine collectible leather “U.S. Mail” bag from the World War II era.

007

The owners with their lovable collection: wooden shelving creates order.
The owners with their lovable collection.

“The Kasama started out almost five years ago,” said one of the owners. “We started out with all girls’ and women’s clothes, but with smallness as part of the concept. We kept that in mind as we branched out to sell things people depend on, and coined the name ‘lifessories’ for another store to sell useful items, bric-a-brac, and house decorations. We want the concept to reach further than to just what people wear, to be an expression of their lifestyles.”

Their personal tastes have mixed with ideas coming from creative circles in the industry to find a place in every detail of the interior décor. Each spot in the house has a story begging to be researched.

“The house itself is not so detailed, but the little things here are. The beauty is in their details and their narratives, and these themes are repeated everywhere in our house and possessions. We always give a lot of consideration to the origin of each thing. And the detailed elements must contribute to functionality, too. Yes, the kitchen should be pretty, but you have to be able to actually cook there!”

008

The owners are fortunate to share so many preferences and styles. That makes the house something greater than just a place to show off private collections. It collects happiness and contentment, too, and here this couple can share things they both admire and make use of, in a setting that reflects both their passions.

And here are last words from The Kasama owners before we left. “We’re surrounded by little things we love. This gives us happiness and the feeling that this is our own special space, where we can be who we truly are.”

“We designed things so as to mix our collections together in a harmonious way.”
“We designed things so as to mix our collections together in a harmonious way,” said the owner.

Link: www.facebook.com/thekasama

Home Renovation / Classic Meets Avant-Garde
livingasean

Home Renovation / Classic Meets Avant-Garde

Classic meets avant-garde in this unique space, yet it still has the warm feeling of a real home.

/// Thailand ///

Story: Wilasinee /// Photos: Nanthiya, Damrong /// Style : Praphaiwadee /// Designers – Decorators: Butsakon Sapsanthitikun and Radikan Wetsawan

02

01

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.

03

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.

Mother's bedroom.
The mother’s bedroom.
The older daughter's bedroom.
The eldest daughter’s bedroom.
The youngest 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.

 

05

ALIVE by Alex Face
livingasean

ALIVE by Alex Face

Alex Face is a remarkable Thai street artist. Now, he is revealing the perspective of his art in his latest exhibition, “ALIVE”.

/// Thailand ///
Story: Wuthikorn Suthiapa /// Rewrite – Translate: Osatee Ularangkoon ///  Photos: NathawutPengkamphoo, Wuthikorn Suthiapa

03

04

Street art has achieved recognition on the Thai art scene over the past decade. The leading artist in this genre is Patcharapol Tangruen, also known as Alex Face. He created the three-eyed baby in fluffy bunny outfit character that appeared on the walls across Bangkok, Jakarta, Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei, London, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Berlin.

While he was an art student, his friends and professors didn’t understand why he kept spraying in public space, and thought it was ridiculous. But Alex Face disagreed. “Street painting is a kind of expression and could draw many audiences,” he said. “If it’s hard for people to engage with art, we should take it to engage with people instead.”

With that idea in mind, Alex Face hit the street with his colorful graffiti and the signature character that was inspired by his daughter. He also met fellow street artists from around the world, got the invitations to work abroad, and became an internationally-renowned street artist.

05

06

“I studied art, so I’m interested in all kinds of art,” Alex Face answered when asked about his style of work. “Not only did I graffiti, I’ve also painted, printed and sculpted. I like it all. It depends on which techniques could be compatible with my concepts.” He also said that he set up “ALIVE”, his most recent event, to show his art experience from childhood till now.

“You will see what skills I had practiced, and encounter different kinds of works of art that you’ve never seen before,” he assured.

Alex Face’s ALIVE is taking place at Bangkok CityCity Gallery until February 19, 2017. For more information please visit www. bangkokcitycity.com.

07

02

01

X