ASA JOURNAL 11/2023

theme / review
CONCRETE IN THE WOOD
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The two projects have noticeable similarities in their
physical appearances. Each consists of a group
of concrete pillars and boxy structures erected in
a complicated placement that corresponds with
the inclining terrain of the land and is situated
under the lush, expanding canopies of mountain
cedars. However, beneath the commonalities lie
distinct construction techniques and architectural
concepts, demonstrating how, despite the fact
that the two projects use concrete as the primary
material, the final goals intended for these two
architectural creations are markedly different and
interesting in many ways.
JOYS Architects, which includes Suebsai and two
other founders, Prasert Ananthayanont, and Nutt
La-iad-on, conceptualized the Yellow Mini design
from the geographical characteristics of the hilly
terrain extending from the original building. With
that as the primary factor, one of the project’s key
concepts was the use of architectural elements to
accentuate the inclining features of the landscapes
and craft novel spatial perceptions and experiences
with the original building as the meaningful backstory.
The design does not attempt to
conceal the fact that the house
is built with the column-beam
system. It can be seen in the
purposeful exhibit of imperfections
of surfaces created by the
concrete casting process, from
perforations to the way gravels
are visible on the concrete finish
rather than being concealed.
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The architecture team began by determining the
placement of the large, flat roof above the sloping
ground. The idea was for the roof to be an overhead
horizontal plane that covers the ground. The
structure serves as a boundary marker, defining
the characteristics of the space beneath it, with
the one condition that the space be as open and
airy as possible. The final result is a massive, flat
concrete roof measuring 8 by 27 meters. There
are five designated weight-bearing points determined
by the inclining terrain.
The architect also chose to have additional skylights
at various parts of the roof, particularly where
the roof gets significantly close to the ground, so
that visitors can walk through and up the steps
to ascend the above landscape. In general, the
expanding mass, minimal weight-bearing points,
and openings made at several sections of the roof
collectively made construction and engineering
possibilities incredibly challenging.
The unique application of concrete was the answer
to these engineering challenges. High-strength
concrete and high-strength steel allowed the
structure to bear weight while remaining within its
intended size and proportion. Another important
factor that helps anchor the entire structure is the
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foundation. The project’s engineer, Paisan Phontphai,
designed the foundation to be extra-large
and expansive, with varying attributes determined
by changing conditions and requirements. The
foundations and the functional benefits they provide,
as well as how they expand in various configurations,
inspired the architect to keep the ground
level exposed and use the foundations’ finished
surface directly as seating areas. With that in
mind, the engineer was required to reinforce the
thickness of the bottom edges of the foundations
to prevent the land from collapsing in the future.
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วิศวกรออกแบบฐานราก
เป็นแบบแผ่ขนาดใหญ่
พิเศษ และมีรูปร่างไม่ซ้ำา
กันตามความเหมาะสมใน
แต่ละจุด และเสริมความ
หนาของขอบฐานราก
เบื้องล่างเพื่อป้องกันไม่ให้
ดินไหล
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ผัง Yellow house แสดง
ส่วนของคอร์ทภายในบ้าน
ที่สัมพันธ์กับสภาพโดยรอบ
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ไดอะแกรมแสดงเอกลักษณ์
ของคอร์ทที่แตกต่างกัน
สัมพันธ์กับระดับความสูง
ของดินในคอร์ทนั้นๆ
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