Photo: Kukkong Thirathonrongkiat KARJVIT RIRERMVANICH OF PHYSICALIST HAS REVITALIZED HIS FAMILY’S FORMER RESIDENCE AND THE LIYUNCHIANG LATHE WORKSHOP UNDER THE IDEA OF ‘REGENERATION’
TEXT: NATHATAI TANGCHADAKORN
PHOTO CREDIT AS NOTED
(For Thai, press here)
The first question we asked Karjvit Rirermvanich—architect, resident, and occupant of the workspace—was, “Would this be considered a renovation project?” Having visited the site during its construction phase, we noticed that, unlike many newly refurbished buildings, this one retained much of its original character. The key difference lay in its added functions: Vanich House café and a small Airbnb called The Mechanic’s Room, both of which infused the space with new energy and attracted a more diverse mix of visitors.
Photo: Kukkong Thirathonrongkiat
In the past, this site was a timber-framed structure divided into two sections: one half housed the Lee Yuon Cheong Lathe Workshop, while the other was a two-story home where Karjvit grew up. After the workshop closed, he envisioned restoring the building for reuse—both as a residence and as the office for Physicalist, the architecture studio he co-founded. The design process for the project began with a straightforward goal: repair and restoration, with the additional functions emerging organically during the construction phase.
Photo: Kukkong Thirathonrongkiat
At the heart of the redesign was the concept of ‘regeneration’—not a complete transformation of function or spatial arrangement, nor an attempt to make the building look brand new, but rather an adaptation that allowed it to belong to the present generation. The workshop’s expansive long-span structure, with its high ceilings and broad roof was preserved. The ground floor, which once housed machinery and seamlessly extended into the family’s common area, has been repurposed while maintaining the openness of the airy, interconnected space—free from partitions, yet still fluid and cohesive.
The view of Vanich House and Physicalists from a parking area | Photo: Ketsiree Wongwan
Physicalist undertook a meticulous elevation of the two-story wooden house, ensuring structural stability while maintaining its architectural integrity. New concrete foundations and footings were introduced beneath the original timber columns, reinforcing the building’s framework. To address the deterioration at the base of the façade—where prolonged exposure to ground moisture had taken its toll—a slatted screen was integrated. The expansive roof, once reliant on a pulley system to retract corrugated metal sheets for controlled daylight access, underwent structural reinforcements. The roofing materials were strategically reconfigured in an alternating pattern, allowing natural light to permeate the interior and dispel the once-dim atmosphere of the former lathe workshop. Karjvit further designed the roofline to correspond with a small garden below, fostering a seamless connection between architecture and landscape.
living area | Photo: Kukkong Thirathonrongkiat
At ground level, the program is organized into three primary zones: a parking area, Vanich House café, and a residential space. The café and living area are positioned beneath the elevated structure, while the parking area occupies the cleared-out footprint of the former workshop. What makes the relationship between these three functions interesting is that they are not entirely separate. Vanich House and the living area are seamlessly connected without walls, instead using a curated assemblage of salvaged objects to create both visual screening and spatial separation. At the rear, a simple chain barrier maintains permeability, allowing light and air to flow while establishing a gentle threshold between the residential realm and the parking zone. Though unconventional, the workshop’s distinctive steel framework creates a striking visual backdrop for the space.
Vanich House | Photo: Kukkong Thirathonrongkiat
Vanich House | Photo: Kukkong Thirathonrongkiat
The café’s interior has remained unchanged since the building’s early days—low wooden platforms, tables, and chairs that have long been integral to the space. The only addition is a raw concrete counter with a rough-hewn texture, positioned to greet visitors. This deliberate intervention reflects the family’s architectural ethos—a conscious decision to leave behind visible traces of the building’s past. In a profession that often demands precision and polished presentation, this tactile, unrefined element stands as a rare expression of authenticity. The material palette—concrete, brick flooring, and timber walls—further reinforces the sense of cohesion and harmony.
Physicalist | Photo: Soopakorn Srisakul
Physicalist | Photo: Ketsiree Wongwan
The second floor is organized into two distinct zones: a private residential space at the rear and, at the front, a shared pantry and workspace for the Physicalist team. Here, the design team introduced a lightweight steel and glass enclosure, preserving the existing timber floorboards and structural columns. The steel framework was conceived not only as a structural element but also as an adaptable system for integrated shelving. Subtle detailing at the junctions between the steel structure and the upper walls accentuates a sense of weightlessness and openness.
Physicalist | Photo: Soopakorn Srisakul
Physicalist | Photo: Kukkong Thirathonrongkiat
To refine the spatial experience further, the studio’s glass enclosure is set back one meter from the building’s edge, with the surrounding perimeter transformed into an expanded metal grating floor. This intervention allows natural light to filter through the roof and down to the ground floor, softening the once-enclosed interior. Additionally, the setback creates a buffer zone, offering a degree of privacy for the workspace, which is an essential consideration for a workspace requiring focus and concentration within the dense fabric of the urban neighborhood.
Photo: Kukkong Thirathonrongkiat
Photo: Ketsiree Wongwan
The upper-level common area—a semi-outdoor dining space—functions as a transitional zone, bridging the architectural studio and the private residence. Designed as a gathering space for both Physicalist and the family, it remains adaptable throughout the day, shifting in purpose as needed. A timber bridge extends from this space, linking the dining area to the living quarters, reinforcing the fluidity between work and home. Positioned directly above the main entrance, the design incorporates a central void, allowing those at the dining table to observe visitors arriving at the front door while simultaneously introducing additional daylight to the lower level.
The Mechanic’s Room | Photo: Soopakorn Srisakul
The Mechanic’s Room | Photo: Soopakorn Srisakul
The Mechanic’s Room | Photo: Kukkong Thirathonrongkiat
Beyond these spatial strategies, the project is layered with subtle interventions—ranging from the complete reworking of the building’s systems to the transformation of the former workers’ quarters into a guest accommodation named The Mechanic’s Room. Material rediscovery also played a key role: salvaged ceiling boards, uncovered serendipitously during demolition, were repurposed as bedroom wall cladding, seamlessly integrating past and present. While traces of different eras are discernible—revealing the distinct periods from which various old and new elements originate—the composition never feels disjointed. It remains intact, held together by the underlying essence that has been passed down.
“What do you call this place?” we asked Karjvit before leaving. Physicalist and Vanich House each define parts of the whole. His response remained unchanged—both names coexist, inseparable from one another, reflecting a space built by him, for this moment in time, under the ethos of ‘regeneration’. Here, renewal is neither a radical reinvention nor a complete functional reprogramming, but a subtle evolution of the building’s life. A testament to this continuity, the home still welcomes guests under the original Lee Yuon Cheong sign, alongside the same swing that has quietly endured for generations.
Lee Yuon Cheong | Photo: Kukkong Thirathonrongkiat
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