Southwest House | Photo: Beer Singnoi EXPLORE HOW TO MAKE ‘EMPTY SPACE’ SHAPE THE EXPERIENCE OF LIVING THROUGH A CONVERSATION WITH TANTAI ARCHITECTS, AN ARCHITECTURE STUDIO BASED IN UBON RATCHATHANI
TEXT: TANTAI ARCHITECTS
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WHO
TANTAI ARCHITECTS was founded by Tantai Matthapha.
Southwest House | Photo: Beer Singnoi
WHAT
We are an architectural studio that works through the design of ‘voids,’ using light, shadow, and wind as tools to shape the experience of living.
WHEN
We began our practice in 2019 and were officially established in 2022.
WHERE
Mueang Ubon Ratchathani District, Ubon Ratchathani Province.
WHY
Because we believe architecture is not merely a built structure, but a spatial experience that connects people with nature and everyday life.
Southwest House | Photo: Beer Singnoi
Southwest House | Photo: Beer Singnoi
How do you define your own style of work?
We do not define our style in fixed terms. Instead, we are interested in exploring new possibilities in each project, taking the context of the site as a starting point and designing spaces that relate to nature and the realities of everyday use.
What inspires you, and what principles guide your work?
Our inspiration often begins with observing small details in everyday life, from human behavior to natural phenomena. These might include people on motorcycles taking shelter from the sun beneath the shadow of an overpass at an intersection during the summer, someone laying out a mat to rest under a tree on a day off, or subtle details such as the changing color of the evening sky, the shadow of leaves cast on the ground, or even condensation forming on glass after the rain. We reinterpret these ordinary moments and develop them into ideas for our architectural design.
Living with Nature | Image courtesy of Tantai Architects
Which project are you most proud of and why?
At the moment, there are two projects we are especially proud of.
Southwest House is a residence that tells the story of ‘Isan space’ in a new way. It takes the southwest wind as a point of departure in shaping the form and spaces of the building, expressed through a simple, straightforward architectural language.
Living with Nature | Photo: Celestia Studio
Living with Nature Exhibition is our first exhibition, which presented our work at TIME SPACE EXISTENCE 2025, organized by the European Cultural Centre in Venice, Italy, with support from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Both projects have allowed our ideas to gain wider recognition.
Which part of the process do you enjoy the most during work?
Every stage of the process is important, but the part we enjoy most is the first site visit. It is a moment filled with excitement when we begin to understand the actual place, from its light, wind, atmosphere, and surrounding context.
Sunshade House | Image: Gamol Ruttanasang
Another stage we enjoy is construction. We like visiting the site because it is the moment when imagination gradually takes physical form, and when we get to see architecture coming into being.
If you could invite any ‘creative’ for a coffee, who would it be and why?
We admire the work of Le Corbusier and Mathar Bunnag. Both are architects who have sought to create new directions for architecture through the experience and ideas they have accumulated throughout their lives. Given the chance, we would like to speak with them about the ways they think and the life experiences reflected in their architecture. We believe these conversations would open up new perspectives and continue to inspire our own work.
Sunshade House | Image: Gamol Ruttanasang