Bangkok, Tailand
Located in a quiet alleyway in Bangkok, CPK75 House by Sivichai Udomvoranun of AOMO Architects is a 5-bedroom house designed around a central courtyard that allows for cross-ventilation and plays of light throughout the day.
The house is around 650 square meters and is located in a private alley, so the environment surrounding it is very safe and calm.
The brief from the owner was a reference image of a Japanese stone courtyard at Ryoanji Temple in Japan.
There were also site issues from the noise from a few Mosques around the area, and the bad smell from a dumpsite when it rains.
Typically, in such a tropical climate, one tries to avoid an enclosed courtyard due to the strong sunlight and heat.
This house was an exception, in turning the courtyard into an interior feature.
The designers brought the stone court inside the control environment from noise and smell.
They then created a closed stone courtyard with a large skylight the same size as the courtyard in order to have the sunlight come in and create shade and shadow on the pebble stones, the same as in the temple.
A chimney effect was created by lifting the skylight up with clerestory windows that can be operated manually via a roof hatch and catwalk around to open and close the windows to control smell and noise.
These also let the hot air out and enhance natural ventilation from below.
The design tries to have as many doors as possible and windows on the North and the South to create cross ventilation to avoid heat traps inside the house.
When the doors and windows are open, you feel the natural breeze through the house, so there is no need for air conditioning in the space.
There is a secret window behind aluminum slats that can be opened all day and night for safety.
The designers simulate the shadow direction from the skylight and minimize the frame to create clean shadow lines in the direction of the walls.
The shadow will move throughout the day from one side to the other.
The wall on the upper level around the courtyard was held off from the ceiling allowing a small gap to let heat in the corridor escape and bring the natural light inside the corridor, so there is no need to turn on the artificial light in the daytime.
This gap also creates a Japanese paper lantern-like effect floating inside the space.
The corridor wall with a small linear small cut out is to providing privacy for the bedrooms and accentuates the courtyard below.
The house is mostly white with natural wood color to represent simplicity and calmness.
The courtyard now connects the long bookshelf along the corridor and the living and dining room.
Project: CPK75 House
Architects: AOMO
Lead Architect: Sivichai Udomvoranun
Design Team: Panisa Jermhansa and Jarin Kanjanasorntong
Interior Designer: Ratchada Kijpan
Client: Private
Photographers: DOF Sky | Ground
