Blog : urban living

An Urban Townhouse Renovated for the Comfort of an Aging Parent
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An Urban Townhouse Renovated for the Comfort of an Aging Parent

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

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

/ Photographs: Nantiya June /

A three-story townhouse nestled in the heart of Bangkok’s downtown tells the story of a family in the good old days. Photographs from 40 years back show Mom and her two daughters, documenting an account of past events in their lives amid change driven by city growth. When it came time to update and make it comfortable and safe for everyone, the homeowner decided to leave it in the good hands of a team of architects to bring it to a good state of repair.

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It’s a restoration townhouse project that came at the right time as Mom was getting older. Among others, a lift was installed to make moving easy from one floor to another. The opportune use of the elevator also saved floor space, making the whole house interior feel large, warm and cozy despite being in the middle of a big city.

A drawing illustrates space utilization on the first floor. / Courtesy of WOS Architects
A drawing of the second floor plan. / Courtesy of WOS Architects
A drawing of the third floor plan. / Courtesy of WOS Architects
A diagram of the covered rooftop deck. / Courtesy of WOS Architects
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The family living room lies next to an oblique stairwell set at a 45-degree angle.
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The dining room feels bright and airy, thanks to an open floor plan illuminated by large windows at the rear of the building.

To maintain structural integrity, the renovators make certain that the framework of the split-level townhouse remains intact. The townhouse consists two parts, the front and the rear accessed via an oblique stairwell set at a 45-degree angle in the middle of the house plan. A skylight system built into the rooftop deck lets natural daylight shine through from the uppermost point all the way to the first floor.

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A view from above. The non-parallel, angled staircase is set at 45 degrees, adding visual appeal to the interior.

The overall strong, well-designed house makes it easy for the architects to make slight adjustments to achieve a perfect fit. The result is a bright and airy interior with spatial arrangements tailored to specific family lifestyle needs. In essence, it’s a design that takes the precaution of safety and comfort for the aging parent.

First things first, the architects searched out the best spot to install the elevator to make sure there is no negative impact on the existing structure of the house. For a more wheelchair-friendly interior, the first floor entrance hall in front of the lift boasts an open plan that’s conveniently connected to the living room and dining room nearby.

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The wash area at the back of the house is well-lit and well-ventilated as a result of well-thought-out design.
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The workspace holding a kitchen and a bathroom is a memory come alive, thanks to the walls painted a mix of cool-toned white and yellow colors.

Where appropriate, a gently inclined ramp is put in to join two different levels while the room at the rear of the house transforms into a kitchen with a bathroom close by. A few steps away, a wash area feels open and airy, thanks to a volume of space overhead that rises three stories high all the way to the upper covering of the building.

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The firstborn’s bedroom on the second floor has a balcony designed to admit natural daylight and catch the breeze.

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The second floor holds two bedrooms. Mom’s bedroom occupies the front wing of the house while that of the firstborn is tucked away at the rear. The younger daughter’s bedroom is on the third floor directly above that of her sister. All three rooms give a feeling of comfort and relaxation with furniture doubling as room dividers. Mom’s room is more special, thanks to a semi-outdoor gallery protected by a façade of louvered panels.

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Mom’s bedroom on the second floor is especially large, equipped with modern facilities for the comfort and convenience of the aging parent.

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Together they keep the sitting room cool, well-lit and well-ventilated. By and large, it’s the picture of faux wood slats filling up the angled face of the building. Meanwhile, the two bedrooms at the rear create a sense of connection to nature, as a result of generous openings in the wall letting fresh outdoor air into the home.

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Large windows and, beyond, a façade of mesh wire infill panels admit light and fresh outdoor air into the bedroom on the third floor.

A work of outstanding design is evidenced by the storage cabinets built flush with the walls in many parts of the townhouse. The interior living space is light and airy, while warm paint colors paired with vintage wooden furniture make it feel warm and inviting. In a few words, it’s a home characterized by the power of storytelling about strong family bonds. Here, a relationship made in heaven is expressed in a rich, subtle and happy way.

Architects: WOS Architects

This house appears in the special Baan Lae Suan issue on the theme of “Cozy Living in Urban Homes” is out now. Design lovers, this one is for you. It’s the latest in the ongoing “ASEAN Tropical House Series”.

The exciting new bilingual edition (Thai-English) is a nice little collab between the Baan Lae Suan Press and its English language media arm Living ASEAN. It’s the coming together of ideas for dealing with the problem of limited space, turning site constraints into solutions. Precisely, it looks at problem solving techniques, ultimately creating small urban homes that are right within the context of Southeast Asia. In this issue, ten houses are chosen for their exemplary designs that inspire. It’s meant for architects, designers, and homeowners searching out new ideas for creating a living space that’s cozy and comfortable plus it blends in beautifully with the environment.

Available at bookstores nationwide. Or go online. Order now at https://www.naiin.com/product/detail/621643

For bulk international orders, contact livingasean.bkk@gmail.com

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Bangkok Bastards: Chatpong Chuenrudeemol’s Vision of Urban Ingenuity in Everyday Architecture
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Bangkok Bastards: Chatpong Chuenrudeemol’s Vision of Urban Ingenuity in Everyday Architecture

/ Bangkok, Thailnd /

/ Story: Lily J. / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Courtesy of CHAT Architects /

Chatpong Chuenrudeemol, of CHAT Architects, Thailand, is an architect and researcher renowned for what he called “Bangkok Bastards”, a project that investigated unsightly urban areas, such as construction site camps, inner-city slums and retail stalls abandoned and reclaimed by nature. Rethinking them from a new perspective, he was able to restore them to life in an interesting way.

Outstanding products of “Bangkok Bastards” included the Samsen Street Hotel, a downtown lodging inspired by scaffolding wooden planks and metal poles on the outside of a building. Together they gave rise to exciting new design bearing some resemblance to the raised platforms attached to a building during construction.

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Samsen Street Hotel / Courtesy of CHAT Architects
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Samsen Street Hotel / Courtesy of CHAT Architects

In a way, the Samsen Street Hotel is a revelation of previously unseen aspects of building design, a conceptualization that culminates in a thorough change in the form, character and experience in a very open and visible way. Taken as a whole, it’s a piece of architecture designed to promote social interactions, a community hub for hosting events and spaces for people to meet in the Samsen Street neighborhood. That’s not all. He also has other projects in the making, basically focusing on reuse and rethink as ways to create places of higher quality than he found it.

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Angsila Oyster Scaffolding Pavilion / Courtesy of CHAT Architects
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Angsila Oyster Scaffolding Pavilion / Courtesy of CHAT Architects

A little bit about Chatpong Chuenrudeemol

Chatpong is founder of CHAT Architects and winner of the 2020 Silapathorn Award in Architecture.

After completing his master’s degree at Harvard University’s School of Architecture, Chatpong returned to Thailand where he set up a business called CHAT Architects. He was very interested in architectural styles that reflected the true values, experience and the way of life of ordinary people. His research in urban planning and development was inspired by a feeling of wanting to know more about happenings in the street. They included events in the community, construction site camps and deserted retail stalls, to name but a few. Their untidy outward appearances belied the quality of being honest and truthful to others.

Like everything else, the buildings built by non-architects based on local needs and available materials deserved a second chance. So, it’s up to the architect to rethink them from a different point of view and put them to good use once more. After all, there is value in everything.

(Re)Thinking inside the Box is a series of discussion events focusing on the issues abovementioned. It’s all a matter of perspective about what can be done to address the problem of limited living space in the city. It’s a forum for people to explore new possibilities and look at the problem from within, thereby turning a challenge into a solution. Hence, the title is (Re)Thinking inside the Box, as an alternative to outside-the-box thinking.

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Turning Neglected Areas into Lush Nurturing Urban Spaces

Sustainable Living in a Narrow Space: Reinterpreting Narrowness along More Creative Lines

Turning Neglected Areas into Lush Nurturing Urban Spaces
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Turning Neglected Areas into Lush Nurturing Urban Spaces

/ Bangkok, Thailand /

/ Story: Lily J. / English version: Bob Pitakwong /

/ Photographs: Courtesy of Ng Sek San /

Ng Sek San is a landscape architect famous for his untiring energy and passion that give areas lacking proper care the power of fresh starts. He’s the go-to guy when it comes to creating clean outdoor environments that produce positive effects on society and urban area. His masterpieces consist of a broad range of not-for-profit public space projects. Together they speak volumes for his role as an architect and productive member of the community, especially his native Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

He’s currently playing an important role in the restoration of Kebun-Kebun Bangsar, a midtown garden oasis occupying eight acres of land (about 20 Rai) with scenic views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline. Formerly home to thriving community orchards and farms, much of it was left in less than desirable condition when he found it. And that’s precisely what gave rise to a concerted effort to restore it to a good state of repair, thereby creating a public green space for recreational use that’s accessible to everyone.

Kebun-Kebun Bangsar at present provides space and facilities for essential public services ranging from seminars, to workshops for discussing agriculture and ecosystem health, to venues for social gatherings and cultural activities. The story of Kebu-Kebun Bangsar isn’t one without obstacles. Like everything else, there were many challenges that had to be dealt with at various stages of development. In the end, it’s hard work, learning and the ability to create an understanding with the community that led to success. Outside, life goes on as usual. The park now serves as a desirable model of sustainable urban planning.

A little bit about Ng Sek San

A bachelor of civil engineering product of the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, Ng Sek San went on to complete his master’s degree in landscape architecture at Lincoln University, also in New Zealand. He founded his own architectural practice, named Seksan Design Landscape Architecture and Planning, in Kuala Lumpur in 1994. Needless to say, his works represent an amalgamation of 30 years of experience in landscape architecture and design for both residential and commercial projects large and small. Over the past three decades, he has done the work in both design and non-design capacities, a distinguished career in which being earth friendly is among the top priorities. Precisely, it’s about protecting ecosystem health and doing what is right in the best interests of the community as a whole.

(Re)Thinking inside the Box is a series of discussion events focusing on the issues abovementioned. It’s all a matter of perspective about what can be done to address the problem of limited living space in the city. It’s a forum for people to explore new possibilities and look at the problem from within, thereby turning a challenge into a solution. Hence, the title is (Re)Thinking inside the Box, as an alternative to outside-the-box thinking.

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