all(zone) installs habitable dwellings within an abandoned bangkok parking lot

presented at the chicago architecture biennial, bangkok-based studio all(zone) has developed an alternative dwelling that seeks to free itself from structural rigidity and solid materiality. named ‘light house’, the prototypical unit has been designed for individuals living in large tropical metropolises. the scheme is composed of several layers of perforated walls, which both shapes the 11.5 square meter living space and selectively filter external elements.

‘recent housing projects are so closely tied up with global real estate investment, that it makes it almost impossible for a young middle-class or a new generation of urban poor to live in the city’, explains the design team.

in response, all(zone)’s scheme has been conceived as a solution to today’s global housing crises, where many young workers are unable to find a good standard of living accommodation. additionally, the studio believes that today’s ever-changing social and economic situation renders one-off housing purchases invalid. simultaneously, several modern high-rise buildings are often left idle, either unfinished or uninhabited. the home’s semi-temporary nature allows individuals to begin to occupy these previously neglected spaces.

all images by soopakorn srisakul

‘we are interested in a context where architecture stems from less solid materiality’, explains all(zone). ‘architecture is no different from furniture or utensils. a vernacular house is so light and flexible that it can be moved easily from one place to another. in the tropical climatic context, the vernacular house allows us to live in an environment soaking with light and air.’

the prototypical unit has been designed for individuals living in large tropical metropolises

the home can quickly be installed on a platform and covered with a roof, forming an urban living unit for the short to medium term. the residence can then be dismantled and reassembled somewhere else. the actual prototype was built in an abandoned parking lot in the middle of bangkok, where two young design professionals lived for a few days. a documentary shown at the chicago architecture biennial details the home’s living potential.

the scheme is composed of several layers of perforated walls

the living space measures 11.5 square meters

the scheme has been conceived as a solution to today’s global housing crises

the home’s semi-temporary nature allows individuals to occupy previously neglected spaces

the home can quickly be installed on a platform and covered with a roof

sleeping accommodation within the design

the residence can be readily dismantled and reassembled

the two units have been erected within a parking lot in bangkok

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project info:

size: 2.40 x 4.80 x 2.10 per unit
area: 11.52 sq.m. per unit
materials: ready-made PE coated metal frame, nylon net, spun bound fabric, polyester fabric, polycarbonates sheet, plastic laminated plywood
budget: $1,200 USD per unit
project team: rachaporn choochuey, sorawit klaimark, ruchanan patarapanich, aroonrod supreeyaporn, asrin sanguanwongwan, tanya thapanand, archaraporn vashirasirsuntree, weerachai sirilorsakulpetch
film: off scene films
photography: soopakorn srisakul
music: pakawan ngarmlamiad (DJ paka)

the chicago architecture biennial provides a platform for groundbreaking architectural projects and spatial experiments that demonstrate how creativity and innovation can radically transform our lived experience.

the inaugural chicago architecture biennial, north america’s largest international survey of contemporary architecture, launched in october 2015. through its constellation of exhibitions, full-scale installations, and program of events, the biennial invites the public to engage with and think about architecture in new and unexpected ways, and to take part in a global discussion about the future of the field.

the chicago architecture biennial is the vision of mayor rahm emanuel for a major international architectural event and an outcome of the comprehensive cultural plan developed by chicago’s department of cultural affairs and special events. it is presented through the support of BP, and in partnership with the city of chicago and the graham foundation for advanced studies in the fine arts.

the chicago architecture biennial remains open to the public until january 3, 2015.

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