From the outside, this home sits quietly within the Lam Plai Mat District of Buriram Province in northeastern Thailand. Whilst its exterior is different from the rest, it is unassuming. However, step inside and you’d be impressed with the simplicity of its contemporary spaces that are clean and streamlined yet highly efficient and pleasant to be in.
Designed by award-winning designer WOS Architects, the “EE House” serves a dual purpose, functioning both as a residence for one and as a communal space for a closely-knit family residing in proximity.
“The project originated from the homeowner’s plan to retire from business and relocate from a shophouse to a single-story house with more space, greenery, and no staircases. Settling within a housing estate adjacent to her sister’s residence, the primary challenge lay in creating a house capable of facilitating various family activities, inclusive of the homeowner’s siblings and grandchildren, who frequently gather for cooking sessions and communal meals. However, there was an issue with a neglected space separating the two houses, which was an undeveloped road,” the architect explains.
The architect addressed this challenge by transforming the house into four distinct zones. The first zone, located to the north, is a private residence complete with a bedroom, bathroom, living area, and a compact kitchenette. The second zone, positioned to the south, features an expansive communal space, including an outdoor kitchen and dining area that opens onto a spacious balcony. This area benefits from natural ventilation and shade from surrounding trees, making it an ideal spot for family gatherings.
The third zone is a garden area that bridges the house with the renovated road-turned-garden, creating a seamless connection to the sister’s home. The fourth zone to the west includes practical elements like a parking area, pump room, storage room, laundry room, and guest bathroom, all designed on a single level for the convenience of elderly residents.
The architect elaborates: “Each space, whether indoors, on the balcony, in the garden, or even along the house fence, is designed to seamlessly connect. This is evident in the sliding doors of the living room, which can open fully to merge with the balcony. Architecturally, the garden is designed to resemble an extension of the house, with beams and walls extending from the house to form fences around the garden area. This creates a sense of the house expanding and brings nature closer. ”
Inside, the L-shaped seating in the living room serves multiple purposes, from providing a cozy spot to watch TV to extending into the bedroom as a daybed and further outdoors, offering views of the garden.
Attention to detail is evident in the maintenance and system designs of the house. Utility systems, including electrical, signal cables, ceiling fans, CCTV cameras, and streetlights, are cleverly integrated into the architecture using I-beams. These beams are painted red to not only enhance the aesthetic but also to create a visual connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces.
Project & images: WOS Architects
Article: Lily Wong
