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BAAN NARATHIWAS

Narathiwas, Bangkok
Thailand
2005

BAAN NARATHIWAS

Narathiwas, Bangkok
Thailand
2005

BAAN NARATHIWAS

Narathiwas, Bangkok
Thailand
2005

Among the many challenges facing residential design today, a unique few became the determining factors in the design of this grand mansion on Narathiwat Rajanakarindra Road just off Bangkok's CBD. First is the fact that the location for this supposedly peaceful retreat is in the middle of the city, a place the architects described as an 'urban jungle'. The other, and perhaps more challenging factor, is the extraordinarily extensive spatial requirements which reflect the owner's personality. These comprise of unusual functional areas such as a mini museum/gallery to store and display the owner's enormous collection of fine antiques, three kitchens-two for family members who enjoy cooking, and a heavy kitchen where service staff prepare daily meals, formal living areas fir entertaining guests, and extra large bedrooms. A Japanese-style bathroom-or a contemporary version of it-fulfills the family's dream of a perfect retreat, whereas the spacious hallways and an elevator facilitate older family members in the long term.

With all these functional requirements, the total floor area is phenomenal. Yet, it is the design team's intention to furnish the house with a peaceful, cozy and intimate ambience rarely possible in a mansion of this size. Here, their technique is rather simple-hiding the entire ground floor behind a green slope, giving an impression of two rather than the actual three-storeys. This orchestration gives the house an unforeseen advantage, namely adding an extra layer of protection for the museum while shielding the sizeable mechanical and service areas from view.

Another technique which helps generate such an atmosphere lies in the way gardens and pools are interlaces between the different volumes, breaking up the otherwise hefty masses. This allows natural light and through-ventilation throughout. Similar maneuvering-a breaking up of spatial perimeters into multiple layers-lends a degree of complexity to the composition and results in openings that let light in during the day while acting as garden lighting at night. Moreover, to respond to the urban context, projecting eaves and layered exterior wall panels not only provide necessary sun shading, but also help block any possible visual intrusion from a neighboring high-rise. With clean meticulous lines and a refined neutral material palette the house emanates a sense of serenity.

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