/ Story: Atto Otto / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Sungwan Phratep /
If living in a minimalist, rustic farmhouse is your thing, but what you’ve found so far isn’t cool enough, then this hip house amidst the rice fields of Chiang Mai may change your mind. The hybrid wood and concrete home stands in nature’s peaceful embrace. It’s attached to paddy fields on a rural road leading to the city. Here, misty morning mountain views can be seen from miles around.
Albeit a little plain and unpretentious, the two-story family home has some modern elements to it. That’s reason enough for Keatnapin Sobhinnon and Patsa Attanon to buy it for their quiet country retreat away from hectic urban life.
Building a home on sloped ground typically calls for a split level floor plan, and in this particular case stepped foundations become necessary. This results in utility spaces and service rooms being assigned to different levels.
On the outside, an open air car park is leveled out for safety. It’s supported by a concrete retaining wall to prevent erosion on sloped yard. The front entry area is easily accessible via a wooden footbridge, an architectural feature that makes the house façade look calm, cool and welcoming.
Walk in the door, and you find living room décor delightful and attractively old-fashioned. Do-it-yourself crafts and decorating ideas add fun touches to every part of the room.
Chiang Mai being a handicraft capital, the homeowners enjoy the freedom of creating their own design for every piece of furniture. Then they simply ask local artisans highly skilled in woodworking to make the pieces to their specifications.
Needless to say the interior decorations convey a great deal about their fun and vibrant personality – warm, inviting and without pretense.
To create extra living space outdoors, the couple make the terraces larger than originally planned. This is achieved by connecting the platform next to the house to a nearby rice granary, or “Ruaen Long Khao” in the vernacular of the Northern Region.
Strictly speaking, it’s a storehouse on stilts for threshed grain common in the area. The old granary has since transformed into lodging accommodation for visiting houseguests.
An expanded terrace space connects to the nearby “Ruaen Long Khao,” an old rice granary-turned-lodging accommodations for visiting houseguests.
As Patsa described it: “It’s beautiful out here all year round. I especially love it when it rains as rice paddies and the surrounding hills come alive with all shades of green, entirely different from our home in Bangkok.
“When we came here for the first time, it felt like being in another world. No need to say we were filled with joy. I think this house was made for us.”
With a breathtaking panorama of mountain landscapes and the comfort of their home, it’s easy to get why the couple love this country home among the rice fields so dearly.
Owner/Designer: Keatnapin Sobhinnon and Patsa Attanon
/ 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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
Set among lush greenery and a relaxing atmosphere, this light and airy house with gardens brings the whole family closer to nature.
The swimming pool area features a large open space for walking. For simple maintenance, in some places plots of spike moss are planted instead of grass.
After living in an old house on this same plot for 30 years, the Srijakarin family bought additional parcels of land and rebuilt a comfortable home with gardens for three generations of family members.
The newly rebuilt house is divided into three parts. The first is the old house, which was set aside for the owner’s parents. It was remodeled with the comfort of older people in mind.
The second building is a two-story house where the owner lives with his family, and the third a modern Tropical-style structure with a relaxing, resort-like atmosphere. The couple keep their belongings and stay here during weekends and holidays. In the fewest possible words, it’s about reconnecting with nature at home.
Trees and shrubs shade the semi-enclosed pathway connecting the two houses with the swimming pool, giving the sense of walking through a sparse jungle.The overall harmony of garden and house architecture creates a relaxing atmosphere.The stairway overlooks a courtyard between the two houses, showcasing the English style in landscape design.
The front yard is in the English style characterized by neat, clean lines. There are park benches set in corners and trees in zones, while bright flowers thrive in large weathered stone urns.
The inner zone is a Tropical rainforest garden. There’s a good-sized waterfall and the gentle sound of a small brook. The garden is filled with verdant green mosses under the shade of trees carefully selected with the help of the landscape architect.
A delightful Tropical forest garden provides an oasis of calm in the courtyard between the two houses.A veranda along the outside of the house lies in the warm cocoon of a lush Tropical resort atmosphere the owners really love.A wide-angle view shows the interaction relationship between residential architecture and surrounding lush vegetation.
It’s not easy to put together a landscaping combination like this, but in the end a skillful and artistic integration of components, textures, patterns, and colors brought about a lasting and unified harmony of two garden styles – English in the courtyard, and Tropical forest upfront.
The living room showcases the beauty of open-concept design, while a double-height ceiling gives the feeling of openness and relaxation, all with a view of the garden.[Left] The multipurpose room has a big natural wood table ready for all sorts of activities, from casual work to comfortable pleasure reading. / [Right] The pantry is in white, designed for increased light and a feeling of space and comfort.The dining room is ringed by glass to let in natural light during the day. The dark furniture color reinforces a warm, welcoming atmosphere.
All things considered, it’s a house with beautifully landscaped gardens that’s the perfect fit for an extended family, an expression of pleasure and the combined happiness of the three generations that live here.
[Left] The master bedroom is furnished in a chic, fashionable way that invites relaxation. / [Right] The downstairs bathroom has a classic décor, with natural stone floor, walls, and washbasin counter. To one side, mirrors give a sense of spaciousness.For an elegant and practical look, pantry décor is primarily in natural materials and colors.[Left] An outdoor “living room” for the family elders. / [Right] A large sculpture adds dimension and narrative to the Tropical forest garden.A spot in the garden where plants grow as naturally as they would in the wild. The natural effect is enhanced by setting plants at different heights, from ground cover through low shrubs, on up to tall vegetation.
Architecture/Interior Designer: Architecture and Interior Office Co., Ltd. (AIO) by Kowit Suriyporn (www.aiodesigns.com)
Good ventilation, the core concept of traditional Thai houses, is adapted for the modern age in this contemporary house. From the outside it looks slick and belonging to the present, but this building has the heart and soul of conventional Thai residential architecture.
The owner has been living in this house with his father and mother since he was young. Now he has a wife and kids, and it’s become too cramped to hold all of them. But instead of moving elsewhere, the young couple built a new place where there used to be a garden right next to the old house.
The new design connects the two homes both inside and out, so family members can easily take part in common activities. This modern living concept is actually not a new one, but arose out of the structure and functionality of houses of earlier times.
[Left] To fit the unusual shape of the building and glass walls on two sides, furniture in this fashionable high-ceilinged reception parlor is positioned diagonally. / [Right] A colorful painting with chic graphic patterns adds panache to a light-colored room, brightening up the straightforward house design.[Left] Reception parlor design follows the traditional Thai “Sala” concept. The room is enclosed by glass walls that open wide to the natural world of plants and trees outside. / [Right] The bathroom has uniquely stylish lines.
There’s a pantry in the middle of the house plan, a nice place for family members to sit and talk.
The dining room and living room are similar to an open “Sala” in a traditional Thai house. All the rooms are connected through a large wooden balcony. Both buildings share a main entryway, carports and service areas.
A staircase runs along the wall of the entryway with high ceilings, creating a relaxing visual effect.The continuing space from the first floor to the hallway on the second floor is bright and airy, clearly visible from a wide-angle perspective.The living room on the second floor has a large window with a view of the old house.
Inside there are lots of windows for good ventilation. Beautiful large trees such as Black Afara (scientific name: Terminalia Ivorensis) are planted all about to provide shade. Excellent landscape architecture components such as ponds, a rock garden, and pathways paved with flagstones are added for a relaxing mood.
Trees and shrubs planted outside the bedroom give a nice view and enhance privacy.
This contemporary house is an example of how a residence you love can be expanded and transformed beyond its limitations into a bigger home. As this family has discovered, you don’t always have to abandon the old ways to find happiness.
[Left] To make good use of daylight, a small skylight is cut in the upstairs bathroom. / [Right] The main staircase projects out from the wall. Light cream-colored genuine wood paneling and a clear glass railing make the stair look light, as if floating.The house extends out above the outdoor family area while requiring only minimal support posts.
/ Story: Wutthikon Sut / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul /
Nestled in the countryside at Baan Rai Thawsi just outside of Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima, this light, bright and airy home is bursting with joy. Away from city lights, it’s built around a tree to reap the health benefits of fresh air, sunshine and cool trees providing shade in the environment. Here, the towering mountains of Khao Yai National Park to the south can be seen from miles around.
Seen from a distance, the transparent house façade is designed to take in an expansive panorama of countryside landscapes. The upper floor under a mansard roof holds calm and peaceful bedrooms.
Homeowner Piyaporn Taepaisitphongse was first introduced to Baan Rai Thawsi while her mother was attending a meditation retreat at nearby Baan Boon village, taught by the revered Buddhist monk Ajaan Jayasaro.
It’s easy to get why she came away impressed. Out in the foothills, it’s calm and peaceful. In her words: “Mom brought me here and I liked it. She wanted a country house, so here we are!”
A healthy tree thrives in the middle of the house plan, a focal point for people going from one part of the house to another.
Piyaporn’s mother added: “We built it here for a lot of reasons. As Bangkok people, we feel safe living in a housing development. Here neighbors watch out for each other, plus it’s a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere.”
This was certainly clear to our team. Most households are also practicing meditation, adding to the pleasant ambience.
In a creative way, the tree at the center of the house plan connects the home with nature. Nearby, concrete walkways around the building fuse into a single path reminiscent of classic Japanese design.The walkway around the building connects people of different generations. For Grandmother, it’s a place for walking meditation. For the little ones, it’s a semi-outdoor area to run and play in.
Piyaporn said: “We wanted a place to live after retirement, when we get old. And Mother is making plans now. We like the design by Rujnumporn Keskasemsook, of Sook Architects. He’s the one who created this open and airy house.”
The tree at the center of the house plan blocks the sun’s harmful rays from penetrating the walls, keeping the living room cool and comfortable during daytime hours.The kitchen conveniently connects to the dining room and living area, thanks to an open concept floor plan that promotes interactions and socialization processes in the family.
Architect Rujnumporn’s design also includes lodging accommodations for houseguests staying overnight and pathways to get out there and experience the natural surroundings firsthand. From the front, we get a wide view of the duplex style home that blends right in with the environment.
The downstairs external envelope is glazed using clear glass standing tall from floor to ceiling, surrounded by covered walkway systems that also double as a porch.
The upstairs is quiet and secluded, sheltered by a mansard style roof that makes the house feel roomy and light. The mansard boasts the beauty of subdued color combinations of whites and grays, adding to the home’s proper, orderly look. At the same time, the tree in the middle stands out from the surfaces, easily noticeable from afar.
The little children’s bedroom boasts bright furniture colors silhouetted against the walls in cool-toned white. As might be expected, the bed has drawers for storing toys.
Overall, interior décor is simple, partly because it’s a vacation home. Plus, the homeowner prefers it that way. Furniture for the most part is movable, except for the kitchen that contains built-ins for ease of maintenance.
Flooring and ceiling materials are made of dark-colored artificial wood, creating a visual contrast with the building’s glass enclosures. It’s a design that seeks reconnections with the natural world outside while creating a warm and peaceful ambience inside. In the evening, sunlight shining softly through the tree creates breezy patterns like poetry in motion on the white walls.
Easygoing décor in the bedroom with a slanted ceiling that matches the mansard roof. There’s quiet reading nook by the wall.
From the outside, the two wings stand separated by a tree in the middle of the home plan. One wing serves as small hostel with eight beds for guests; the other wing holds the family residence with a bedroom downstairs for Mother, and the other bedrooms upstairs for the homeowner couple and their little children.
The “house built around a tree” in Pak Chong seems like the perfect example of a co-living arrangement, one that gives special importance to family togetherness and the joy of staying in close touch with nature.
Little children enjoy tending plants thriving in the backyard garden; among them, sunflowers, okra, and other green vegetation. It provides a conducive learning environment for kids. Out here, nature is the best classroom.
If the relaxed ambience of a country home is your ideal of what life should be, here’s a contemporary white house in the sun-kissed rice fields in Chiang Mai that will warm your heart. Needless to say, it’s built into nature. The famous Mount Doi Luang Chiang Dao is clearly visible from miles around.
The contemporary white home stands in the middle of it all under the big blue sky.
For many people, a calm and peaceful home atmosphere is everything and everlasting. This white house under the big sky is exactly that — simple, humble and comfortable to live in.
The two-story home amid the sea of rice paddies belongs to Fasai Viseskul, an art therapist. As one would expect, interesting works of art are practically everywhere inside the residence inspired by French Colonial architecture.
Climbing rose plants thrive in the sun making their way up to a lattice awning over the front porch.[Left] Door panels are made of wood recycled from much older homes. Nearby stands a bench seat crafted of unused materials left over from house building. / [Right] A set of wood slab table and bench seat comes in free form. It is made out of a tree trunk.A large dining table is set facing outward to soak up spectacular mountain views.
Fasai is a much traveled person, having been to many different places across the Northern Region. Impressed by the beauty of nature and landscapes, she recently relocated to Chiang Dao, a district of Chiang Mai known for its majestic mountains and pristine Tropical forests.
It’s a helpful place. Some colleagues of hers are stationed in the area, including those working with the Makhampom Foundation, an NGO.
The absence of solid room dividers on the first floor makes the interior living spaces very light and airy. Open concept design not only promotes visual continuity, but also makes it easy for future updates.The work room boasts the simplicity of a tabletop upcycled from unused door panels left over from house construction. The legs are crafted of square steel tubing.A relaxed living room is illuminated by natural light thanks to glass enclosed loft ideas.
Fasai selected all the decorating items for the home herself. They came from many different sources. She is very particular about fabrics, always insisting that everything is correct in every detail. She got traditional Lanna fabrics and ethnic materials from a crafts market in Chiang Mai. Bamboo basketry, rattan furniture, and other weaving crafts were obtained from nearby provinces.
The kitchen is Minimalist in style, intended for preparing simple meals. The counter is made of hand-hewn stone blocks made to look like brickwork.
[Left] The kitchen countertop and lower shelf made of hand-hewn wood slabs add a rustic appeal to the interior. / [Right] A medicine cabinet is made of reclaimed wood. The homeowner had her neighbor make the woven bamboo cabinet door for her, a design inspired by her Mom, who in turn got the idea from a vintage hotel in Luang Prabang, Laos PDR. The house is mainly white because Fasai wanted it to feel light and airy inside and out.The house among the rice fields was built mostly of reclaimed timber recycled from much older homes. They were taken apart and transported up here ready to be adapted for new purposes.
And yet the overall effect is very nice, although it was built of simple and inexpensive building materials. They included the house floors made of white cement in glossy finishes, and pieces of furniture made on site by upcycling unused building parts, such as door and window panels.
A vintage shade of white chalk on the staircase breaks the harsh appearance of dark colored wood.
Let’s take a look inside. The first-floor interior boasts the simplicity of a clean and uncluttered open house plan. There is ample space for a workroom, living room and kitchen plus two bedrooms tucked away in a quiet, more secluded area of the house.
The second floor holds a relaxed sitting nook by the wall with a flight of stairs at the center. There are four bedrooms, all with the view of the misty air above the mountains and seemingly endless paddy fields. All of them come complete with a bathroom en suite and a private balcony. To increase privacy, the bedrooms are disposed in four directions and located away from one another.
In all the bedrooms, lampshades on nightstands are crafted of beautiful traditional Lanna fabrics. Elsewhere, light fixtures are covered in bamboo woven shades to add a rustic appeal to the home. All interior décor accessories are handcrafted in either traditional or vernacular fashion.
A rustic paper lantern chandelier illuminates the stairwell. Fasai made it herself using a mix of traditional fabrics and raw paper rolled up and bundled together.Throw pillows on handcrafted floor mats are set up to entertain house guests in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere on the second floor.The bedroom is Minimalist in style. It is awesome to wake up and take in the same spectacular view every morning.
For Fasai, the lovely white home in the fields is a perfect country hideaway at least for now. It’s her intention to live here permanently in the end. With the beautiful rice fields, gorgeous plants in the garden and such wonderful weather, a visit here is an enchanting experience indeed.
The bedroom is simple, uncluttered and set entirely in cool-toned whites. Wood boxes in the recessed wall and on the floor provide extra storage space.The bathtub is crafted on site using white cement. For privacy, the window is hung with a blind made out of handwoven ethnic fabrics.
Despite the building being long and narrow, a team of architects at Studiomake managed to turn it into a perfect home office integration that would inspire productivity. The Bangkok-based team of designers, architects and educators is known for its specialized skills and experience in various types of architecture.
When it came to designing their own home office, Orapan Sarasalin Schafer and David Schafer opted for an architectural steel design for its lightweight look that’s right for the prevailing climate in Thailand. It’s a layout that emphasizes an open, uncluttered living space with plenty of wall openings, windows and doors for good ventilation and heat dissipation.
Furniture in the workspace is movable. It can be easily arranged to avoid visual clutter and improve traffic flow, lighting and air quality.
By design, the building performs a dual role. The first floor holds a fully equipped office space, while the second floor is used as a residence. Overall, it’s thoughtfully devised planning made easily adjustable for future updates. The crossbeams resting across the tops of columns support weigh over an extra long span, five meters to be exact.
Home office design offers many benefits, among them the freedom to create the ideal work space like the owners intended, plus the peace and quiet that suits their lifestyle needs.
[Left] The work space is well lighted thanks to generous wall openings that let natural daylight stream into the interior. / [Right] A floor standing wall-mounted bookcase made of steel is designed by the homeowners. For practical purposes, the bookends are adjustable.
The workshop boasts high ceilings for better ventilation, plus it has ample space for equipment and tools needed to perform various tasks.
There is attention to detail in all parts, especially the integration of natural elements like plants and light into the built environment, making the interior work space feel light, airy and conducive to creativity. And they don’t come by accident. Rather, every building strategy and material is tested first to see if it’s suitable for a particular application.
This helps to understand whether a specific material is right for the task, plus it narrows down the choices to the best selection. And the same careful consideration applies to both upstairs and downstairs. Examples of this include high ceilings and a wall of bookshelves designed to maximize work space utilization.
Taken as a whole, the lower floor contains a fully functional work space and offices, while the upper floor in and of itself is a complete home, consisting of two bedrooms with a bathroom en suite, a relaxing living room, kitchen and dining room.
The headboard in subdued bluish gray color separates the main bedroom area from the dressing room. High ceiling design creates a sense of space making the room feel light and airy.Rooms on the second floor are accessed via a wide corridor with room for a small dining space and a nook beside the wall offering peace and seclusion.The translucent sheet seen here is of polycarbonate, which allows light to pass through, but not exposed to the outside.
With respect to the office area, the floor plan is simple and straightforward. Electrical wiring is neatly installed and piped to various locations hidden from view. The pillars supporting the tall vertical structure of steel are evenly spaced for proper load bearing, while the building façades are made attractive by crisp clean lines.
For indoor thermal comfort, important aspects such as heat insulation, soundproofing, and ventilation are carefully thought out and incorporated in the design. In the fewest possible words, it’s all about attention to detail that makes this modern home office a perfect place to be. Brilliant!
The steel building looks lightweight. It’s made strong and durable using semi-industrial materials, an interesting way to refresh the home’s curb appeal.
Don’t judge a book by its cover. This modern Tropical home in Kuala Lumpur is more than meets the eye. Precisely, all passive design strategies imaginable are integrated in the house plan, clever hacks to save big time on utility costs. The house is nestled among the trees on a piece of land where an old family home had stood for 60 years. It’s gone now, demolished to make room for a new residence.
The lacy shades of overhanging trees improve air quality and keep the house cool during the daytime.
Some things are better left unchanged. The relaxed ambience of the land is maintained, thanks to the homeowner and the architect together sparing no effort to preserve all matured trees on the property.
To ensure nothing goes to waste, Tan Loke Mun of ArchiCenter, an architectural practice based in Selangor, managed to incorporate building materials from the old house in the project codenamed, “S11 House” in Kuala Lumpur. Its environmental conscious design has earned the house a platinum award from the Green Building Index (GBI), Malaysia’s industry recognized rating tool for building sustainability.
The design makes use of stronger frames and larger concrete beams to avoid having too many columns in the interior living space.The ground floor boasts high standards of comfort – a light and airy interior living space. The absence of solid room dividers creates visual and spatial continuity between indoor and outdoor rooms.A living room looks spacious and bright thanks to the 3-meter-high ceiling. Brick walls in subdued shades of orange paired with gray naked concrete make the home feel warm and welcoming.
There is attention to detail every step of the way. Among other things, pieces of concrete from the old house were recycled and adapted for a new use as walkway pavers along the exterior walls. Old bricks were also given a new lease on life, while steel window grids were reused for their strength and durability. At the same time, recycled timber also found a new purpose as scaffolding during construction due to limitations on steel rods.
Naked concrete finishes add natural touches to the interior, while passive cooling systems and intelligent use of materials go to work reducing energy consumption.
Built along the north-south axis, the house stands to allow fresh outdoor air to enter on one side and exit on the other. Hence, large windows and other wall openings are installed to create cross ventilation that reduces heat buildup in the interior. In the meantime, west-facing exterior walls are made of lightweight anti-heat-absorbing materials. All of this translates into big savings in utility costs and improvements in the efficiency of air conditioning systems.
What’s more. In the backyard garden, lush vines and other trailing woody-stemmed plants thrive on trellises. They work in tandem with five full-grown trees to provide buffers against the sun on hot summer days.
To create thermal comfort in the interior, extra thick insulation is applied under metal sheet roofing. Where appropriate, the windows are glazed using low-emissivity glass to protect from the sun’s harsh glare.
The first floor bedroom features simple design. The entire space is well-ventilated thanks to a high ceiling and large openings in the exterior wall.Natural light illuminates the bathroom, creating beautiful visual effects and reducing electricity use.
To keep the heat out and the interior cool, the three-story home (including a basement) has an air duct system that lets hot air dissipate through rooftop vents. With this ingenious design, no air-conditioning machine is needed.
The second floor boasts a large living space with double height ceilings and transparent glass walls.
For the most part, building materials are used in their true forms. Painting and coating are minimized if ever needed. Otherwise, naked concrete, bare brick walls and timber in its neutral wood tones prevail. Where a layer of paint is needed, the designer chooses Low VOC paints (low volatile organic compounds) to minimize impacts on the environment.
In a nutshell, it’s a design that speaks volumes for architecture of the future – an environmentally conscious place of abode thoughtfully devised to perform in perfect harmony with nature.
The home’s double-swing gate is crafted of steel rods in a lighter shade of gray. Welded wire patterns ensure good visibility and uninterrupted air flow.
/ Story: Skiixy / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul /
Located in a suburb of Ho Chi Minh City, this minimalist-style house has plenty of ample space for a family. It’s the brainchild of A21 Studio, a homegrown architectural firm renowned for its creative designs in residential, public, hospitality and cultural categories.
Double-height space design makes the interior feel open and airy, allowing plenty of natural daylight and fresh outdoor air into the home
From a design perspective, the suburban residence codenamed “M11 House” boasts the simplicity of clean lines typical of a modern home, with many natural elements beautifully integrated into the plan.
The uncluttered ground-floor interior appears light and airy, thanks to glass partition walls that make a small space feel big. Nearby, a center courtyard offering an oasis of calm can be seen in full view from anywhere in the home. A work of outstanding design is the innermost section of the house that’s spacious and cozy, thoughtfully devised to promote soothing relaxation.
The bedroom on the ground floor is located in the cozy innermost section of the house, separated from the rest by outdoors privacy screens.Tall glass-wall systems separate the bedroom from the terrace along the outside of the building. There’s a platform bed with an oversized mattress and soft white lights emitting a warm and cozy light for deep relaxation.
Double-height space design offers many benefits. Among others, it creates a connected home by providing visual continuity between the first and the second floor, not to mention there is flexibility in design, too.
Here, the kid’s study room and sitting room on the second floor can be connected or separated as needed. The third floor is a different story. It contains a home gym with a bathtub, and room offering seclusion for a good rest after a long day at work.
Sunlight streams through the windows turning the stairwell into well-lit place.The second-floor living room is plain and uncluttered. A tree in the center courtyard blocks the sun’s rays from penetrating into the home.
Worthy of attention is the clean-cut edges between indoors and outdoors. The interior in general is an interesting amalgam of the bright shiny concrete floor, glass room dividers, and solid walls painted a cool-toned white, while streamlined furniture makes for comfortable living in a Minimalist style.
A minimalist-style built-in sofa with throw pillows in bright colors grace the living room. Simple design results in the least amount of disruption.The bathroom is enclosed in clear glass for visual continuity with the rest of the private room.
Overall, well-thought-out design ensures there’s the least disruption of airflow making it possible to do without air conditioning. That translates into big savings on electricity and other energy-related expenses.
The center courtyard is visible from every point of view in the home.A slat wood panel effectively separates the kitchen from the corridor without disrupting air circulation in the interior.
In the fewest possible words, it’s a well-made home tailored to answer the homeowner’s specific needs, one that bespeaks his passion for minimalist design and environmental awareness. At the end of the day, a good life can only be built with good relationships between man and nature.
The bedroom with an abundance of natural light and a garden view is in the snug innermost part of the house.An extra parking area under a shade tree is ready for future use.
/ Story: Ekkarach Laksanasamrit / English version: Bob Pitakwong /
/ Photographs: Sungwan Phratep /
The hot and humid climate in Thailand is inevitable. But where there’s a will there’s always a way. This energy efficient home clearly illustrates that. The old house belonging to Assoc. Prof. Tonkao Panin Ph.D., of the Faculty of Architecture, Silpakorn University was lovingly restored to its former glory. The result is a place of residence that’s very pleasant, airy and well-lighted.
The house floor consists of prefab concrete slabs raised on a solid framework of steel. The lower floor right underneath it is covered with concrete in glossy finishes.
Located on the bank of a canal, the property faced a long-term problem. Flooding tended to happen often. This eventually necessitated a complete teardown to make room for a new home.
A short driveway covered in concrete pavers leads to the car park beneath the house.Well-thought-out design leaves plenty of room for air circulation, a nice way to create a comfortable home.
“We had full-grown trees on the land, which we intended to keep. So, the architects designed the building around them. Due to some limitations, parts of the old home remained intact. The space where the trees are standing now has since transformed into an atrium,” Tonkao said.
The staircase leading to the second floor has simple looking handrails that match the style of the house.Semi-outdoor passageways increase exposure to the sun and the wind.
“I want a home that’s open and airy – a house that breathes, so to speak. The new design calls for a system of wide corridors and ample spaces underneath it. The low land is now filled up to bring it to street level and create semi-outdoor multipurpose room.”
The energy-savvy double-wall corridor connects all interior spaces.
Tonkao chose steel for the main structure because it reduced construction time and enables a flexible construction schedule.
The two-story, L-shaped home splits into two wings located on either side of the warm and pleasant center courtyard. The canopy of tall trees keeps the entire living spaces cool and comfortable all day long.
For indoor thermal comfort, the exterior walls are made of hollow bricks to block the sun while allowing the wind to pass through. Plus, long eaves overhanging the outside walls protect the home from heat waves, while house-on-stilts design improves ventilation.
A sliding door separates the home office and sitting area on the second floor. The two rooms become one when the door is opened.
“We sleep soundly in a compact bedroom. A wide corridor helps when we walk pass each other. Semi-outdoor walkways enable us to keep abreast of current weather conditions and we don’t need air-conditioning,” said Tonkao apparently content with the design.
All things considered, it’s an energy efficient home, one that embraces natural light, increases airflow and makes daily living not only comfortable, but also enriching.
Louvered windows are ideal for increased air circulation. Clear glass alternates with translucent panels add curb appeal.[Left] An array of tall windows maximizes natural light, makes the home seem more inviting and accentuates the vertical design. / [Right] An all-white bathroom next to the bedroom is handy for everyday use and easy to keep clean.
Architect: Assoc.Prof.Tonkao Panin, Ph.D., and Tanakarn Mokkhasmita of Research Studio Panin (www.researchstudiopanin.com)
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![[Left] The multipurpose room has a big natural wood table ready for all sorts of activities, from casual work to comfortable pleasure reading. / [Right] The pantry is in white, designed for increased light and a feeling of space and comfort.](https://livingasean.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/010-9-1024x730.jpg)
![[Left] The master bedroom is furnished in a chic, fashionable way that invites relaxation. / [Right] The downstairs bathroom has a classic décor, with natural stone floor, walls, and washbasin counter. To one side, mirrors give a sense of spaciousness.](https://livingasean.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/012-5-1024x730.jpg)
![[Left] To make good use of daylight, a small skylight is cut in the upstairs bathroom. / [Right] The main staircase projects out from the wall. Light cream-colored genuine wood paneling and a clear glass railing make the stair look light, as if floating.](https://livingasean.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/011-5-1024x730.jpg)
![[Left] Door panels are made of wood recycled from much older homes. Nearby stands a bench seat crafted of unused materials left over from house building. [Right] A set of wood slab table and bench seat comes in free form. It is made out of a tree trunk.](https://livingasean.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/004-1024x730.jpg)
![[Left] The kitchen countertop and lower shelf made of hand-hewn wood slabs add a rustic appeal to the interior. [Right] A medicine cabinet is made of reclaimed wood. The homeowner had her neighbor make the woven bamboo cabinet door for her, a design inspired by her Mom, who in turn got the idea from a vintage hotel in Luang Prabang, Laos PDR. The house is mainly white because Fasai wanted it to feel light and airy inside and out.](https://livingasean.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/009-1024x730.jpg)
![[Left] An array of tall windows maximizes natural light, makes the home seem more inviting and accentuates the vertical design. / [Right] An all-white bathroom next to the bedroom is handy for everyday use and easy to keep clean.](https://livingasean.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/b.jpg)
