Set on the outskirts of the city on a plot of land planted by Khun Prabhakorn's father with seeds collected from around the country, the three-story house showcases mature trees at every turn. Built predominantly from steel and glass, it is light, airy and cool; it can either be fully air-conditioned, or parts of its structure may be opened up to encourage cross ventilation. Thus, there are minimal boundaries separating it from its lush, untamed natural environment.
"I wanted to prove that modern construction materials are not at odds with nature," explains the architect "I also wanted to show that you don't need solid walls to separate the inhabitants from their surroundings." Hence, Khun Prabhakorn and his wife experience a type of indoor/outdoor tropical living style that perfectly suits site, setting, context and climate.
An avid aviation fan (both he and his wife are pilots), Khun Prabhakorn brings his lifelong obsession with the mechanical into the design of the house. Stainless steel tension cables, doors in the shape of plane doors, a long custom-designed bench on the terrace in the shape of a plane wing, steel mesh walkways and exposed pipes combine with strictly utilitarian materials to give an industrial feel. This is softened and humanized by the plethora of vegetation all around - as well as by the pool and use of wood.
In keeping with the architecture, aggressively sculptural Mario Botta furniture is used sparingly throughout. Made from steel, perforated sheet metal and polyurethane, its rigid forms complement both the architecture and the owner's collection of mechanical toys. However, it needs to be stressed that this glass-and-steel house never for a minute seems out of place in its jungle situation. Rather, by inviting in light air, the breeze and the trees, it becomes a modern take on a traditional tree house.
The house took about six months to design and two years to complete with the ground-breaking ceremony taking place on the 19th day of the 9th month of the year 1999 at 9:00am. This view shows the wooden deck that leads into the front door of the house. Note the door handle- a propeller from a plane.
The exterior of the house as seen from the side in its jungle setting. According to the architect, steel structures can be slimmer than heavier concrete ones, thus enhancing the feeling of light and space within.
The expansive dining room looks out on to a downstairs deck with hammock and loungers facing a pool that seems to melt into the trees beyond. Decorative cabbages in glass vases from any room nestle in a potpourri from Siamrak on the black galvanized steel table; the pot pourri of seeds was chosen because Khun Prabhakorn's father planted the garden with seeds collected from all over Thailand.
The open-plan living room features polished sandstone floors, unadorned walls, simple furniture and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Khun Prabhakorn says that these glass "walls" act only as space indicators- and give views on to the garden from all sides.
An open wood staircase leads up to the first floor. The treads were designed to replicate the flaps on a plane wing.
The upstairs deck leads off the master bedroom -and affords superb views of the forest. Some of the trees are as high as a ten-story building, and even though the plot is surrounded by huge shopping malls, shophouses, highways and traffic, you'd never know it once you are ensconced in this private arboretum.
A metal and shiny canvas lounger on the top deck.
At the front entrance Khun Prabhakorn installed a modern take on the traditional foot bath used to wash the feet before entering a Thai home. Made from one slab of granite, it is situated just before the front entrance landing.
The long lap pool as soon from above. Tiled in aqua-marine, it is surrounded by mature trees and overgrown heliconias.
The master bedroom sports polished cement walls, with factory-style light switches. Light wood parquet flooring and a low-level platform bed with fluffy white duvet soften the hard architectural edges.
All the bathrooms are fitted out with plane doors on sliding wheels, industrial-style fittings and exposed concrete walls. The dow n-stairs cloakroom is quite utilitarian, the only decoration taking the form of steel "wheels" on the sink.
A shower cubicle showcases exposed water pipes, a metal showerhead, and unconcealed nuts and bolts. It isn't really "boarding house basic," but comes close for sure!
Part of the owner's collection of mechanical toys.
ARTFUL LIVING
The home of Ek-Annong Phanachet and Carlos Manalac is elegant, clean-lined and serene. Originally designed for a Thai businessman with a Japanese wife by noted French interiors and furniture designer Christian Liaigre, it retains design stamps from its first owners and its present ones. Although vastly different in background, both sets of owners have a love of art- and this goes some way to explaining the large gallery-style spaces with in. It also explains the "real" art gallery next door (see right, below).
High ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, spacious rooms and floor track up lighting are statement-making aspects of this well-designed house. Comprising about 800 square meters (8,600 sq ft) in total, it has a pan-Asian feel that is both contemplative and contemporary. Apt then to find understated Christian Liaigre-designed furniture- in neutral tones- laid out with symmetry and simplicity in the perfectly proportioned living room. Here, massive glass windows are covered by three layers of amber-colored Jim Thompson unlined silk curtains; these contain the harsh glare of the Bangkok sun, but allow for glimpses of garden behind. They also allow for a slightly diffused light within.
Christian Liaigre is perhaps best known as the interior designer of New York's Mercer Hotel, but confesses to prefer smaller, residential projects. His combination of exotic dark woods and luxurious fabrics is illustrated in the dining room of this house, where a slatted wooden screen door opens to reveal a calm, formal dining room. Three silk lampshades above the dining table echo the color of the curtains, while the heaviness of dark furniture is alleviated by light parquet flooring. The room is calm, formal and understated.
Leading off the dining room is a more informal, relaxed family room, where Noon the pug curls up for a snooze and Ek-Annong and her husband take time out from their busy schedules. Natural furniture in modern designs by award-winning young Thai designers give the room a funky feel. The organic factor is furthered upstairs where a simple, meditative swimming pool shares space with the three bedrooms on the second floor. Here, more art pieces in wood and ceramic are displayed in peaceful poolside surrounds.