SAN HOME | Photo: Korawith Chanthong TALK WITH APART OF ARCHITECTS, WHO BRING VISIONS TO LIFE THROUGH SIMPLICITY, THROUGH THE BELIEF THAT ARCHITECTS ARE INSEPARABLE FROM THEIR WORK
TEXT: APART OF ARCHITECTS
PHOTO CREDIT AS NOTED
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WHO
Apart of Architects is an architectural studio founded by Toon-Suppaaut Puttakul. We define our belief as: ‘An architect is a part of the work, and the work itself is also a part of the architect.’
WHAT
We are an architectural design studio that aims to help people understand and feel the identity of each project, including that of its owner. We believe that even with a limited construction budget, it is still possible to express the true character of a project.
BAANLAELAY RANOD | Photo: Tirasak Khumruk
WHEN
Apart of Architects was established in 2024.
WHERE
Our studio is located in Songkhla, the hometown of the founder, Toon-Suppaaut Puttakul. One of his intentions was to return and establish an architectural studio in his hometown. After graduating from Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Songkhla Campus, he moved to Bangkok to work and gain professional experience at leading firms while continuing to develop his design thinking. Once his ideas and professional identity became more defined, he decided to return to his hometown and establish the studio.
BAANLAELAY RANOD | Photo: Tirasak Khumruk
WHY
Our studio believes that architecture should breathe with its context and respond to the emotions of both owners and users. Each project, therefore, brings new challenges and new collaborations, allowing us to constantly learn and grow. Over time, these experiences naturally become part of the studio’s identity.
BAANLAELAY RANOD | Photo: Tirasak Khumruk
How do you define your own style of work?
Simple but meaningful design. Honest, approachable, and emotionally responsive. Each project reflects the identity of its brief and its owner, translated through the designer’s straightforward expression, becoming a piece of architecture that can also be seen as art in its own way.
What inspires you and guides your design process?
Our inspiration comes from creating architecture through a shared process between the owner and the designer. We believe that developing ideas together leads to architecture that can truly stay with the owner over time.
BAANLAELAY RANOD | Photo: Tirasak Khumruk
Which project are you most proud of, and why?
I feel proud of every project because each one is unique and represents a shared identity between the intentions of the owner and the designer.
However, if I had to choose one, it would be SAN HOME. It is the first project designed in the studio’s hometown. The main concept is material honesty, allowing everything to feel sincere and straightforward.
SAN HOME | Photo: Korawith Chanthong
The primary material is clay brick, which becomes the narrative element of the project. It is combined with a modern massing approach, using large wall planes to clearly separate the kitchen area from the living and guest areas. At the same time, people in both spaces can still sense each other’s presence, reflecting the everyday dynamics within a home.
Another aspect I appreciate is how the project expresses local character. Columns with base details and the use of wooden columns create a sense of simplicity and warmth, making the space feel familiar and approachable for local residents.
SAN HOME | Photo: Korawith Chanthong
Which stage of the design process do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy the very first stage, when the owner shares their dreams and the kind of space they imagine. It is filled with intention, personal identity, and trust in the designer to help turn those dreams into reality. This stage becomes the driving force that carries the project all the way through to completion, making the entire process an enjoyable one.
NEW CHATHAM HOTEL | Image courtesy of Apart of Architects
PANDA HOTEL | Image courtesy of Apart of Architects
If you could invite one creative person for coffee, who would it be and why?
I would choose Ya-Suriya Umpansiriratana, an architect and landscape designer from WALLLASIA. He is also from the southern region of Thailand. His work carries strong energy and spirit, seamlessly blending architecture, landscape architecture, and art into a unified whole. I would love to sit and listen to him talk about his ideas and philosophies.