A single house designed for a small family who used to live in a condominium with limited space and now seeking a house to expand the family. The architect comes up with an idea to bring green space into every corner inside the house by stretching building form to enclose a small courtyard in the center which can be reached from all areas of the house. This is also convenient for the owner in terms of maintenance. The building exterior facing the road and neighbourhood is designed to be enclosed massive wall of screening and plants while the inner building surfaces around the inner court are mainly open and all round connected, with an outdoor terrace and a walkway providing vista to the inner garden and the living areas of the house. The materials used are low maintenance and mainly are of warm and homely touch such as stones and composite wood.
Location: Bangkok, Thailand Building Type:Adaptive Reuse / Architecture Interior Completion:2019 Architect: Imaginary Objects Interior Designer: Imaginary Objects Structural Engineer: Ampersand Ace System Engineer: March Utilities Contractor: New Siam First 999 Building Area: 800 sq.m
HOW DID THE PROJECT GETS STARTED We were approached by Vespiario as they plan to open a new flagship store for a new brand that they just partnered with. They sought an innovative approach for this first flagship in Bangkok. IO was just starting up and we were willing to experiment. We were also quite excited to work on a project so close to our office.
WHAT WAS THE DESIGN BRIEF FROM THE CLIENT In principle we needed to accommodate two restaurants, retail space, exhibition space, a motorcycle workshop and the necessary back-of-house programs. The brand is an established name with a clear branding strategy. It was also crucial for us to become familiar with their other projects around the world.
WHAT’S THE CONCEPT OF THE PROJECT The project is defined by the insertion of an architectural object into an old warehouse. This object acts both as a spatial divider as well as a container of multiple programs, art gallery, workshop, lecture space, playscape, etc.
WHAT ARE THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURES/IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THE PROJECT The main entrance is a strong axial corridor penetrating into the warehouse from the exterior. It divides the interior space and leads directly into the most distinctive feature of the design, a centralised oculus defining and surrounding an event space. There are other interesting features. We invite everyone to come and see them once the project is completed.
WHAT’S THE PRIMARY BUILDING MATERIAL USED AND WHY We wanted the architectural object to have a strong industrial quality and simultaneously create an unexpected encounter. Corten steel is industrial but due to its rusty appearance it can also convey the passage of time. We like to stay true to the qualities of the materials we use. We find unpolished surfaces more compelling.
WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS/CONSTRAINTS AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THE CHALLENGE We always struggle to find the desired form and proportions whilst delivering a functional plan. At the end the struggle is worth it. If we want to arrive at unexpected solutions we think it’s important to not immediately succumb to functional constraints. Challenging them helps us think outside the box.
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