Project details

KHAOYAI LAKE CONDO

The setting of this project is stunningly unique. In the vicinity of 90,000 square metres (56 Rai) near Khao Yai National Park, Nakhonratchasima, it is filled with full-grown trees and spacious six man-made lakes, scattering in-between the groves. The client envisioned an expansive residential development catered for holiday makers seeking a vacation home outside the capital city of Bangkok and around.

Rather than devaluing the natural atmosphere of the site by maximizing the allowable height and placing geometric residential blocks in a rigid and orthogonal fashion, the proposed master planning concept is focused on harmony between the configuration of building clusters and this particular landscape. Limiting the building top as high as the tree top (4 storeys), the appearance of the project is therefore less intrusive to the overall scenery. As a result of 4-storey limitation, the building clusters instead are spread out horizontally and then curved around the periphery of the lakes, maximizing panoramic view over the lakes from all buildings.

To follow the concept of the master plan, floor plans of a typical building are dissected in parts but still connected by single-loaded corridors at rear. The gaps between parts then become landscape areas where trees can be inserted and wind can flow through. In addition, every unit becomes a corner unit, taking full benefit of panoramic view through a full-height corner window. When looking from afar, it looks as if there were rows of very narrow buildings with only two units per floor and trees in-between. The man-made substances infuse with nature lightly.  

In terms of building morphology, it is an outcome of the harmonization between fluidity and solidity found in nature. Strong pebbles, for instance, representing solidity, are continually rubbed and gradually shaped by flux of water in brooks over time. Their round shape is a work in progress of natural force. The architectural space and form of the project reflects this notion throughout all elements. To create more depth and a timeless effect of light and shadow on the external wall, the texture of building skin is finished by white stucco, resembling mildly rough surface of river pebbles.