Designed by Thai firm Skarn Chaiyawat Architects, this family vacation home emphasises local materials and vernacular architecture, and was built to merge with the surrounding mountains and forests. Here Skarn Chaiyawat tells us more about the project

Design Anthology: How did you first meet the client?

Skarn Chaiyawat: The client is actually a relative of mine. They had a plot of land in Chiang Mai and wanted to build a vacation home there so their family can escape Bangkok for two or three months of the year. They wanted me design the home as I understand their lifestyle and requirements.

Can you tell us about them and their lifestyle?

They’re a family of three who live in a condo overlooking the Chao Phraya River in central Bangkok. All three of them work for themselves and have a flexible schedule. They love cooking and sharing dinners, so the kitchen and terrace occupies most of the usable space in their city home.

What was their brief to you for the project?

They wanted a winter house overlooking the mountains. The house had to be built with plenty of outdoor space to benefit from Chiang Mai’s cool winter weather, and had to be suited to entertaining guests.

What’s unique about the building and the location?

The location itself is quite unique. The site is nestled among the mountains and the forest while being just a short distance away from the bustling centre of Chiang Mai. This allows the family to enjoy the best of both worlds: the surrounding nature and the convenience of the city.

How did you approach the project — what design references did you try to incorporate into the space?

The house was designed in an ‘I’ shape to maximise all areas of the plot. We created two opposite open spaces on each side of the ‘I’ — a service area facing the main road, and the main open space, which faces the mountain to the west. This design allows each room of the house to have views of the mountain.

For the interior, we combined modern and local vernacular architectural elements. The open-plan design of the living area gives the space modern qualities, while local materials and locally made furniture fuse this sense of modern comfort with our Eastern culture.

Please tell us a little about the material choices for the space.

We designed the house to merge with the surrounding environment, both in terms of functionality and with the use of local materials. The floor and roof tiles were made by local artisans and we used reclaimed teak from a nearby abandoned house. We also built bamboo louvres along the eastern and western facades to protect the home from sunlight while still letting the breeze in.

Which of the pieces are custom designed?

We custom designed a bamboo furniture set for the second-floor living room. The simplicity of the design emphasises the bamboo’s natural texture, while letting the uninterrupted view of the mountain be the main focus.

Do you have a favourite element or design detail in the architecture or interiors?

My favourite design detail is the teak sliding door and partition in the living area on the second floor. We sourced the teak from an old abandoned house, and it has a beautiful rustic texture. The sliding door provides a sense of privacy while letting natural light and breeze into the space.

Images / DOF Sky|Ground