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This house in Bangkok is designed around two majestic banyan trees

After inheriting a plot of land, the owner of this house created a sanctuary surrounded by nature for his family.

This house in Bangkok is designed around two majestic banyan trees

This house sits on a 1.38-hectare land, and was designed around two aged banyan trees towering over wetlands. (Photo: Soopakorn Srisakul, DOF skyground)

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When the owner of this house inherited a piece of land from his grandfather, he decided to build a home for his family on it. “It had been in his family for 50 years. There weren’t any buildings on the plot and it had been left unoccupied,” shared Phongphat Ueasangkhomset of Bangkok-based firm Anonym, who founded the architecture firm with his wife Roojnawate in 2016.

Ueasangkhomset added: “The owner hoped the house would become a tranquil haven for him and his family to escape the hectic city life they had experienced while living in an apartment in the bustling Thong Lor area of Bangkok.”

The owner was a triathlete who retired after having a son and now gives private diving lessons in his free time. He wanted a home where his child could enjoy active outdoor living, “to be near nature and experience the changing sceneries and have plenty of space to run around,” said Uesangkhomset. It was also to be a multi-generational home, where the parents of the owner’s wife could live together with them.

The L-shaped building frames the two banyan trees as the main feature on the plot. (Photo: Soopakorn Srisakul, DOF skyground)

While just a 40-minute commute away from the city centre, the 1.38-hectare land is a wild, tropical Eden with two aged banyan trees towering over wetlands.

Enamoured by the beauty and heritage of the banyan trees, the design team decided to make it the highlight of the home (the project’s name Baan Sakihoo means ‘twin banyan house’ in Thai).

“Although they are of different species, the trees have grown alongside each other, fostering each other’s existence. We placed the built structures embracing the trees from the west to frame the banyan trees so that every part of the house would have a clear view of the them,” explained Uesangkhomset.

There are several shaded areas in the house that allowed the occupants to feel comfortable when they're spending time outside. (Photo: Soopakorn Srisakul, DOF skyground)

The trees provide an incredible sight for the living and dining areas in one wing, and the owner’s office in the other wing of an L-shaped plan. They are like sculptures, with branches stretching this way and that, holding up a lace-like curtain of leaves that provide plentiful shade. At the base, their gnarly roots twist around in a dramatic display of frozen motion.

The swimming pool fronts the wing with the owner’s office and can be accessed by a separate entrance for his clients. The grandparents have their own space tucked behind the living and dining areas on the first storey, separated by a courtyard.

The bedrooms on the second storey of the main block have a good view of the Banyan trees. There is also another home office on this level that allows the owner and his wife to see their son and parents when the latter are on the first storey.

The family spend plenty of time outside. (Photo: Soopakorn Srisakul, DOF skyground)

In the juncture of the L-shaped plan is a barbecue area and spacious patio. Here, the ceiling tapers upwards, funnelling hot air out like a vent through a gap in the roof. In this informal lounging area, a single olive tree is a highlight against white gravelled flooring. This minimal scenery is a contrast to the unbridled greenery around the house’s periphery.

It is not only views of nature but also the comfort of living in the tropics through the design of naturally ventilated areas and shade from extended roof eaves that drives the house’s architecture. “We like to be able to move through different parts of the house without having to repeatedly open and close doors to keep the cool air inside air-conditioned rooms. We also wanted our house to have spaces where we can sit outside even when it’s raining without getting wet,” the owner commented.

The architecture is defined by a juxtaposition of warm timber finishing and exposed concrete structures. (Photo: Soopakorn Srisakul, DOF skyground)

Which is why there are ample spaces – both sheltered and open – for the family to enjoy. “Traditional Thai houses often feature this type of spatial programme, where the distinction of indoor and outdoor spaces is not clearly defined. The outdoor living spaces are as essential as the interior living spaces in this house,” Ueasangkhomset commented.

A timber deck surrounding the banyan trees invites rest and respite under their widespread foliage “When we made the decision to preserve the banyan trees, we knew that this would become a favourite spot for everyone in the family. There is a bench placed to the left of the trees for the family members to sit and enjoy the surrounding landscape. Next to the deck is a garden with a fishpond,” the owner described.

He appreciates how the house differs from typical urban homes in the way it integrates nature into the family’s everyday lives. It is very common for everyone to take a walk around the house in the garden after meals. In fact, many meals are taken at the sheltered deck. In the evenings, the family gather here to spend quality time together, feeding the fish and enjoying the view.

The homeowner's mother-in-law enjoys taking care of the edible garden, where she grows various Thai herbs like chilli and holy basil, alongside other vegetables. (Photo: Soopakorn Srisakul, DOF skyground)

“A spacious outdoor area with a beautiful garden naturally encourages everyone to make use of the semi-outdoor spaces,” said the owner. He added: “My mother-in-law enjoys taking care of the edible garden, where she grows various Thai herbs like chilli and holy basil, alongside other vegetables that we use for cooking our meals.”

Nature also informs the choice of materials. “The elements we created and incorporated all revolve around nature, such as mixing rammed earth into the walls, wood, and finishing materials with a natural look and feel,” said Ueasangkhoemset, highlighting the earth-toned palette.

The sheltered patio has a sloped roof and gap at the top to funnel hot air out. (Photo: Soopakorn Srisakul, DOF skyground)
The lounge next to the owner's office, with a view of the two banyan trees. (Photo: Soopakorn Srisakul, DOF skyground)

The 40cm-thick concrete floor slabs are left unfinished in celebration of the raw texture. “The concrete slabs also function as canopies, protruding to provide shaded areas throughout the house in a strategic arrangement that results in an intriguing succession of indoor and outdoor spaces,” described Ueasangkhoemset.

The béton brut is the perfect canvas for changing light-and-shadow play throughout the day. “Most of the materials were used in their raw, natural forms, bringing together all of the interior and exterior spaces into an integrated story,” commented Ueasangkhoemset.

Other delightful spaces include the master bathroom, which has a unique design. The shower area is in the centre, partially enclosed by a low timber wall and with the showerheads placed low. “The design was inspired by traditional Japanese baths. The owner and his wife prefer a bathroom where they can sit down while taking a bath,” explained Ueasangkhoemset. Skylights and large windows flood the space with natural light as well as bring in unobstructed views of the sky and greenery.

On the second storey, the bedrooms also face the banyan trees. (Photo: Soopakorn Srisakul, DOF skyground)
The master bathroom with timber elements. (Photo: Soopakorn Srisakul, DOF skyground)

Throughout the house, the composed architecture offers a sense of calm. This is found in elements such as windows framed in neat rhythms, the humble palette and clearly expressed structure. Details such as pebbles embedded into flooring also help to give intimacy. Hence, while the house’s footprint is large, the building does not feel massive.

“We intentionally designed a clear horizontal line in the architecture by keeping the ceiling height and proportions moderate. The height of the house’s ceiling isn’t very high at around 2.6 metres. That way, the users on the first storey, whether sitting or standing, have full proper view of their surroundings,” said Ueasangkhoemset.

The open-plan living and dining area with sliding doors on both sides, opening up the spaces nature, light and wind. (Photo: Soopakorn Srisakul, DOF skyground)

The owner commented that the interiors feel extremely comfortable even without air-conditioning due to the well-designed architecture that accentuates airflow. “We began moving our belongings in two- to three-months before construction was fully finished. But on the day that the house was finally finished, and we arrived, we made the spontaneous decision that we would not be returning to our condominium in the city. Seeing the house and being inside, we could envision our future here and knew that this was the perfect place for us,” he shared.

He adds that his son spends plenty of time playing around the house and garden rather than being glued to digital devices. “The house turned out exactly as we had imagined it. We don't want to just stay home on weekends. We want to be here all the time. It has everything we need.”

Source: CNA/bt

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