A new family residence, W House II, designed by IDIN Architects, now stands elevated seven meters above the landscape of Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. This unique design responds to the owners' desire for both shared living spaces and unobstructed mountain views. The structure integrates living areas with a covered grazing space for the family's cows below, combining functional design with a strong connection to the natural environment.
Key Takeaways
- W House II is elevated seven meters to preserve mountain views.
- The design supports both family living and a functional space for livestock.
- A waffle slab structure provides both technical stability and aesthetic appeal.
- Operable wooden screens offer adjustable privacy and light control.
- The interior design emphasizes natural materials and an open, connected living plan.
Elevating Living Spaces for Panoramic Views
The W House II project represents an evolution of the owners' previous home, W House I, which now serves as a guest retreat. The primary goal for the new dwelling was to create a single-story home where the family could maintain visual connection throughout the day. Crucially, the owners also wished to retain the expansive mountain vistas they had enjoyed from the rooftop of their first house.
IDIN Architects addressed this by lifting the entire concrete structure a significant seven meters off the ground. This elevation matches the height of the former rooftop, creating a new elevated plane. This design choice provides both open sightlines and a sense of secluded refuge above the terrain.
Project Details
- Name: W House II
- Architect: IDIN Architects
- Location: Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
- Completion: 2024
Integrated Design for Family and Livestock
The innovative elevated configuration serves multiple purposes. While the main living quarters and a swimming pool occupy the upper level, the space beneath the house has been transformed into a covered garden and grazing area. This area is specifically designed for the family's two cows, showcasing a thoughtful integration of domestic and agricultural needs.
A continuous balcony wraps around the entire upper level of the house. This feature allows for dynamic, long-range views that change with the time of day and natural light. From this perimeter, the horizon appears both accessible and sufficiently distant to create a serene atmosphere.
"The solution was to lift the entire concrete house seven meters above the ground to the height of that former rooftop, thus creating an elevated plane that combines open sightlines with a sense of refuge," stated IDIN Architects regarding their design approach.
Structural Innovation and Material Palette
The W House II's form relies on two long concrete walls that act as anchors for the building. These walls allow the internal plan to be largely free of additional supports, creating open and flexible spaces. Between these anchoring walls, the floor plate uses a Waffle Slab structure. This design effectively resolves the span requirements while also creating a distinct patterned relief on the underside of the house.
According to IDIN Architects, this rhythmic pattern is both technical and expressive. It reflects the firm's focus on structural clarity as a fundamental element of architectural language. The precision evident in the structure extends to the building's double-skin facade.
Nakhon Ratchasima Region
Nakhon Ratchasima, often called Korat, is a large province in northeastern Thailand. It is known for its diverse landscapes, including open fields, distant hills, and national parks. The region's natural beauty often influences architectural designs that seek to connect with the environment.
Adaptive Facade for Light and Privacy
The facade consists of two layers. The inner layer is made of glass, providing expansive views and natural light. The outer layer features operable wooden screens. These screens serve to filter sunlight and can be adjusted to meet the family's needs for privacy throughout the day.
When the wooden screens are closed, the house presents itself as a solid, muted volume of concrete and timber. When opened, the structure becomes permeable, allowing its edges to visually dissolve into the surrounding landscape of air and foliage. This adaptive facade enhances the connection between the interior and the exterior.
Interior Design and Connection to Nature
Inside W House II, exposed concrete surfaces continue from the exterior, creating a unified aesthetic and firmly rooting the volume to its site. Against this neutral concrete backdrop, maple wood introduces warmth and a detailed tactile quality. The material palette remains disciplined, focusing on wood, concrete, and stone, yet their interplay generates a calm and inviting domestic atmosphere that feels both grounded and open.
In the kitchen, slabs of Green India stone add visual depth and color. Their polished surfaces catch daylight, contributing to the overall brightness of the space. The natural tones of the chosen materials throughout the house echo the subtle greens, dry earth hues, and pale grays of the distant mountains, reinforcing the connection to the surrounding terrain.
The Heart of the Home
At the center of the living area, a large modular sofa serves as the home's primary gathering point. This sofa is designed for versatility, allowing it to be reconfigured for different activities such as reading, conversation, or relaxation. This design choice directly reflects the owner's desire for a shared and connected living space.
From this central vantage point, family members remain visually connected across the open-plan layout. Sightlines extend towards the swimming pool and further out to the distant landscape, ensuring a constant visual link to the expansive views that define W House II. The interior floors are also slightly elevated, approximately forty centimeters above the balcony. When the large glass doors slide open, residents can sit at the edge with their feet suspended, creating an intimate connection between the interior and the outside world.
- The house features exposed concrete inside and out.
- Maple wood provides warmth and texture.
- Green India stone adds color to the kitchen.
- A modular sofa is central to the living area.
This integration of architecture, landscape, and daily life makes W House II a notable example of contemporary residential design in Thailand. Its thoughtful elevation and material choices prioritize both human comfort and a harmonious relationship with nature.