black timber clads IDIN architects' tranquil office space in bangkok

amid a chaotic district of bangkok, IDIN architects has carved out a tranquil creative space for their own office. considering the busy location within ratchadaphisek, the concept behind the design sought to create a private and peaceful place that is perfectly concealed from the surrounding urban context.

all images courtesy of IDIN architects

the building comprises three zones. the architecture office denotes the main space and covers most of the built area. there is also a cafe that both welcomes coffee lovers and serves as a reception for IDIN‘s clients, as well as providing the social area for staff during the day. and finally, the program also includes a private residence for the office’s principal.

the design process began by fitting all the functions tightly within the site and surrounding them with tall trees, which offer protection from the busy surroundings while also providing a relaxing view of green. due to the narrow plot, the building was developed as a long compact volume that is stretched out for inserting terraces and courtyards in between, maximizing the connection between the indoor environment and natural light and vegetation.

there are three types of spaces: public, semi-public and private. the public space, a cafe and meeting room for company clients, is at the front of the ground floor. the semi-public work area and supporting space for architects is in the center of the second floor. the private space, a residence for the owner, is located at the rear of the third floor. the cafe is the only function that can be seen from the main entrance, while the remaining program is revealed as visitors walk through the building.

the architects’ space at the heart of the building is designed to afford creative work by maintaining a relaxed atmosphere, a good quality of light and a comfortable temperature. to achieve these elements, this area is enclosed with a low-e glass wall that faces the north for an entire green view and optimum light. conversely, in order to block the harsh heat from the western and southern light during the day, almost all the west side of the building is a solid wall and staircase.

the staircase, which is aligned along the south, is the main circulation that links every function together. each void in the staircase is located on a significant platforms, such as a stair landing, in the corner of the corridor or the work area entrance hall, to let natural light into the interior space. this organization of functions prevents the work space from gaining too much direct heat but still allows views outdoors and quality light.

another significant design process was to select the material of the main feature wall which runs continuously from the exterior wall to the interior space. the main desire was to hide the architecture from the surroundings, therefore a dark color was chosen. the burnt cedar timber was specified to represent IDIN architects’ distinctive method of design. its unique black color and texture do not come from painting or coloring, but from the result of the burning process which protects from fire and termites. in the same way, IDIN architects believes that architecture should be simple and honest and ‘the result of problem solving based on function, site context and the program’.

project info:

project name: IDIN office

location: ratchadaphisek, bangkok, thailand

design: IDIN architects

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom