archimontage designs sena house in bangkok with glass block walls

for their latest project archimontage design fields sophisticated has completed a private residence in bangkok, thailand. inserted between two narrow roads, sena house is designed to offer a variety of spatial experiences over three distinct levels.

all images by rungkit charoenwat

to the north of the site is a two-story house and to the east there is a small street that allows space for an entrance to parking. a busy road runs along the south elevation and a courtyard sits to the west. considering these site conditions, which confront the plot on all sides, archimontage positioned the house parallel to the length of the land. built close to the north side, this orientation leaves the front of the house with space for a lawn, which serves as a buffer zone between the opposite building.

upon entering the first floor level, residents walk past a fish pond and a double-height hall that connects to the stairwell and a living room above before entering the main door. this story contains a living room, a dining space, a pantry and a kitchen, all of which are embraced by an L-shape staircase rising up to the second floor. the angle of this set of stairs provides an open view and an extra wide space, allowing users to slowly observe and enjoy the lofty spatial experience.

on the second floor is a living room, where most time is spent. in this area, the glass block wall brings in natural light from outside, with different shades of light according to the time of day creating glimmering, playful shadows. from inside, the glass wall is made for perceiving the time of day while, looking from outside, this element functions as a glass curtain.

the third floor is used for the three bedrooms. the external walls of each bedroom are filtered with two-layers: a glass block wall that continues from the second floor as an outer layer and a mirrored wall that enhances the feeling of privacy as well as smoothing light from outside as an inner layer.

the three levels of the building are articulated differently. the top layer is covered by fine black stone flakes and orange-brown clay that are smoothly blended in, gently handled, and woven together with the long strip clerestories that scatter throughout the large glass block wall. besides functioning as an actual wall, this acts like a screen projecting life from outside to inside and from inside to outside.

project info:

project name: sena house
client: anakawee sinrut, patrapee sompoo
architect: archimontage design fields sophisticated
interior design: archimontage design fields sophisticated
location: bangkok, thailand
architect in charge: cherngchai riawruangsangkul, thanakit wiriyasathit, tanakul chookorn
site area: 4606.95 ft2 (428 m2)
built area: 4585.43 ft2 (426 m2)
project year: 2020
structural engineer: chaianuchit srihard
contractor: decha satapat 149 co.,ltd
photography: rungkit charoenwat

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