ACA ARCHITECTS SEAMLESSLY BLENDS FUTURISTIC DESIGN STYLE WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF FENG SHUI IN THE MINIMALIST HOME OF KR RESIDENCE
TEXT: PHARIN OPASSEREPADUNG
PHOTO: WATHAN STUDIO
(For Thai, press here)
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At first glance, KR Residence appears as a pristine, white, two-story minimalist box. Sharp lines of lighting trace the building’s edges with surgical precision, subtly evoking the atmosphere of a sci-fi film. It is minimalist architecture infused with a quiet sense of futurism. Yet beneath this restrained exterior lies a far more layered logic. Every corner, every angle, and even the placement of the house itself are quietly informed by the principles of feng shui, a belief system deeply valued by the homeowners. Designed by ACA Architects, the result is a residence that feels both decisively contemporary and gracefully respectful of long-held traditions.
From the outside, the house is deliberately enclosed and vertically proportioned, establishing a strong sense of privacy as requested by the owners. Solid white walls are articulated by slender lines of warm golden lighting that gently sweep along the building’s edges, lending sharpness and depth while preventing the form from feeling overly static. Carefully placed greenery softens the composition. Yet the moment one steps inside, the atmosphere shifts dramatically. The interior opens up into a light and airy space, with all four sides of the house designed to receive natural daylight. Transparent glass walls allow uninterrupted views of a central courtyard from every angle, animating the otherwise restrained minimalism and transforming the house into a lively, restorative environment for everyday living.
The conceptual heart of the project originates from a ‘nine-square grid’ provided by the homeowners, a Hong Kong–Taiwanese couple, as a starting point for the architects. Within this grid, each square was clearly designated with a specific function: a living area in the lower right, kitchen and dining spaces in the upper left, a wealth corner in the top left, service areas along the far left, and a home office assigned to the lower left square. The brief also specified proportional rules for door openings and emphasized the necessity of a central courtyard.
When the design progressed to a detailed reading of the site plan, it became clear that the most favorable view lay at the upper-right corner of the plot. Feng shui consultation, however, prescribed positioning the house toward the left. Rather than resisting this constraint, the architects transformed it into a defining architectural gesture. The second-floor structure, which accommodates the home’s primary bedroom, is designed to cantilever more than seven meters, spanning over the vehicular entry below and extending toward the direction that fully captures the lake view. This bold move has become one of the residence’s most distinctive features, simultaneously honoring the feng shui directive while enhancing the owners’ everyday comfort.
Another challenge emerged in the circulation from the garage, which approaches the house from a different side from that of the main entrance. Here, the architects once again turned constraint into opportunity. Lines of light, echoing the illuminated edges that wrap the building’s exterior, are drawn diagonally and layered in elevation at the entry threshold. These luminous traces are subtly shaped into the letters ‘KR,’ the initials derived from the homeowners’ names. The result is a quiet signature, one that resolves a practical issue while adding a refined layer of identity and visual intrigue to the architecture.
One of the non-negotiable requirements emphasized by the feng shui master was the inclusion of a central courtyard. Crucially, this space was not to contain tall trees or large-scale planting; only a simple, open lawn was permitted. The courtyard allows natural light to flow in from all directions, keeping the house bright throughout the day with minimal reliance on artificial lighting. It also serves as a gentle connective void, linking every space together so that all sides of the house remain visually aware of one another at all times, as if the interior and exterior were part of a single, continuous realm. The nine-square grid, combined with this central courtyard, further ensures that the building’s own shadows provide just enough shading in the afternoon, tempering heat and allowing daily life to unfold comfortably without heavy dependence on curtains.
The house comprises two stories, connected by two staircases that perform distinct roles while complementing one another. A spiral staircase positioned beneath a skylight at the heart of the house draws the eye upon entry, functioning as both a means of circulation and a sculptural centerpiece, stitching the levels together vertically. On the opposite side of the courtyard, a more pragmatic staircase supports the rhythms of everyday use, offering efficiency and ease. Completing the spatial sequence, a double-height volume in the dining area allows the house to breathe more freely, opening diagonal views toward the lake.
Beyond feng shui considerations, the design of a house must ultimately reflect the identity of its owners, their personalities and everyday patterns of living. KR Residence is no exception. The male homeowner’s fascination with home automation and lighting design lends the architecture a composed, futuristic character, clean and precise, sharpened by carefully orchestrated lines of light that give the living environment a distinctly crisp edge.
The female homeowner, meanwhile, sought to soften this technological clarity by introducing a sense of warmth, allowing the house to feel more like a place of retreat. This is achieved through the use of warm lighting layered onto gold-toned aluminum surfaces, brown timber accents, and stone-textured walls subtly washed with amber light. Tropical planting further modulates the atmosphere, easing the mood of the interior. Despite these additions, the overall palette remains restrained: white and clean, offset by black, then gently enriched with beige and soft brown tones to create a feeling that is light, breathable, and never overly rigid. The presence of greenery, both in the landscape surrounding the house and within the central lawn, completes the composition, reinforcing the home’s suitability for everyday living and for raising children within the family.
In the end, KR Residence stands as a reflection of both homeowners. It brings together simplicity with an affinity for science fiction and technology, interwoven with feng shui beliefs, to form a design that is unmistakably personal. Every element, from the walls to the lines of light tracing the building, is shaped with intention and respect, while the interior spaces seamlessly reconcile symbolic belief with functional living.
