Designing a house in the tropics should respond to the climate. With climate change, designing a house to be more responsive, is essential.
Bruma is a four-unit housing complex within the jungle of Tulum. Each of the units has its own outdoor space, where the main concept is to create a sanctuary of comfort and disconnection, with spaces that provide privacy and contact with nature.
BANGKOK / The result is an airy tropical home with warm sunshine, plus an image of the friendliness of the people living here.
Attracting New Year with Home Renovations with white living room furniture setsYour white Living room furniture sets is at the core of all activities involving leisure, conversation and comfort in your living space. As its centrepiece, it serves as the meeting spot for friends and family members while children and pets settle down for movie marathons or quick naps.Furthermore,
It took a genius to redesign this Sri Lankan stable into the architectural landmark it is today—it also took friendship to turn it into a home
World Architecture Community News - RAW Architecture designs multi-purpose building addressing tropical climate in Indonesia
This family home by Indian boutique firm Thought Parallels, designed amid the picturesque rubber plantation in Kerala, embraces nature with contemporary minimalist features.
The Acharapan House is located some 60 km west of Bangkok in the Baan Suan Kwan Estate a tranquil, bucolic landscape of paddy fields. The house is also referred to as the Pa Ji (Aunty Ji) House after its owner, Acharapan Paiboonsuwan, a popular Thai TV personality and veteran stage actress. The secluded site, located alongside a large pond flanked on two sides by drainage ditches, has been protected by the construction of berms on three sides to prevent flooding. The buildings are also elevated. The residence consists of two pavilions with simple hipped roofs. One incorporates a dining/living space, a principal bedroom and an en suite bathroom and toilet. The other serves as a guest pavilion. There is rich materiality in the teak-framed pavilions, both of which have high timber-lined ceilings and are roofed in traditional clay tiles without gutters. The floors, too, are polished teak. The house is orientated to benefit from the southwest and northeast breezes, while trees shade the external walls. It is an extraordinarily sensitive design that responds well to climate and context. The house has walls that can be opened up entirely to the broad, shaded verandah, and the ‘in-between’ space that is the essence of all good houses in the tropics is thoroughly exploited. The owner craves silence when she arrives here, and surrounded by rice paddy she finds it, for the surrounding gardens, designed by Monthon Jiropas, are serene and tranquil. The architect, Boonlert Hemvijitraphan of Boon Design, explains his design: ‘I appreciate buildings that are humble, so that when you enter you feel at peace. It is also important to experience nature the wind and the rain.’ His philosophy is simple: ‘Do not fight with nature.’ The house replaces an older dwelling on the site that was connected by a timber walkway to a traditional Thai pavilion built on stilts which is used as a kitchen and servants’ quarters. Pa Ji had consulted four other architects, but eventually settled on Boonlert who advised that she demolish the main house and start anew while retaining the service building. The architect designed the house to reflect the lifestyle of Pa Ji and it is pared down to the essentials. She has no desire to collect paintings or souvenirs. ‘I want to live in a tidy and clean house. I require only necessary furniture like a bed, bench and closet. I don’t like a messy house full of unnecessary and unused things.’ The result is a traditional form but there are some elements of modernity the mosquito net is motorized and concealed, and the HÄFELE television retracts into a timber box. The elegant wooden house is comparable to a large sala in a garden. The walls are essentially open to the elements though protected from sun and rain. When the owner arrives at the house, she is happy to live a simple life amidst natural surroundings. ‘When I have to work I stay in my house in Bangkok,’ she remarks. ‘But whenever I am free from all burdens, I will head to my second home, my favorite place, to relax my body and soul. Boonlert talks about other architects’ work that he admires. ‘I love Frank Gehry’s architecture the first of his buildings that I experienced was Loyola Law School in California (1978). It is very clever and reveals the complex program. I would never say no to complexity but I like things to be simple.’ He continues: ‘I once attended a lecture by Peter Zumthor at the AA in London. He talked about the Therme Vals and what impressed me most was his emphasis on sensory aspects of architecture.’ Boonlert reflects that ‘two aspects of life that will be expensive in the future are nature and culture’. In 2008, Baan Lae Suan magazine voted Pa Ji’s house one of the ten most beautiful homes in Thailand. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google Plus RELATED POSTS
Image 3 of 26 from gallery of Bamboo Veil House / Wallflower Architecture + Design. Photograph by Marc Tey Photography
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