oblique angles and tapering surfaces connote this thai residence in bangkok, by octane

given a loose brief from the owners to ‘design a house as if it were your own’, thai architecture firm octane architect & design created the Y/A/O residence in bangkok, thailand. taking advantage of the boundless opportunity, the architects developed a style they were personally interested in. over the last 5-10 years, they noticed an architectural language in which the external wall and the ceiling converge in oblique angles. seeing it only on building exteriors, the architects attempted to bring the oblique feature to the interior of their project.

all images courtesy of octane architect & design

once the architects managed to identify their design route, they were determined to apply it holistically, not only for decorative purposes. elements such as the floors, walls, exterior and interior surfaces would all naturally meet in non-orthogonal angles. additionally, the architects designed the residence around an open courtyard with a lower height than the surrounding structure. this meant a sloping ceiling and roof from the exterior of the building towards the courtyard. the sloped surface lets rain fall from the roof into the courtyard in the form of a thin water curtain.

first-time visitors will not have a complete view of the house until they walk in through the garage, which doubles as the entrance hall. the garage’s walls are clad with mirrors, creating a surreal feeling upon entering the dwelling. the reflection results in an infinite illusion, symbolizing the transition between the public space outside and the privacy within the home. as the visitors are about to walk through the garage, the tilting oblique wall reveals an entire panoramic view of the residence, a sight only perceived at that exact spot.

the reception building consists of two guest bedrooms, a fitness room, and a terrace. all three areas are connected to a courtyard garden, finished with a gravel path and blooming cape jasmines as focal plants in the center. the main rooms include a gym and two bedrooms that are open to the north. the bedrooms run parallel to a swimming pool and a multi-purpose yard. towards the south, there are the service areas including a restroom, a dressing room, a steam room and a shower room for washing before entering the pool. due to their orientation, these rooms serve as a sunlight buffer in the afternoon.

the guest room is a 6m (20ft)-wide and 12m (40ft)-long open plan space made up of a living, dining and pantry area. the spaces are open to the outside by an 8m (26ft) glass accordion door. due to the north-south orientation of the building, when the accordion door is open, the breeze will flow into the room, providing a natural ventilation method. the exposed joist ceiling of the living room reveals the building structure in an elegant aesthetic.

the second floor of the main building also expresses the sloped surfaces and oblique walls. from this floor, the courtyard can be seen and accessed from four sides: from the master bedroom, the master bathroom, the closet, and the terrace. these four areas convey the language through their tapering floors, diagonal wall lines and sloping ceilings that lead toward the courtyard, accurately following octane architects’ initial concept.

the master bedroom opens to a bold illusion of attraction towards the vanishing point. the illusion is a result of the tapering walls and sloping ceiling that lead to the courtyard behind the bed’s headboard. the entrance to the bedroom is a large vestibule with a higher ceiling, suitable as a living area, while the area further inside the bedroom has a lower and narrower ceiling providing an appropriate atmosphere for sleeping.

the master bathroom consists of a bathtub placed on the courtyard garden side, a relaxing backdrop for an evening bath. the roller blinds on the balcony edge can be rolled down for more privacy. on the other side of the bathroom is a counter with a mirror along the entire length of the wall. the counter holds the bathroom sink, a make-up area and a space for storage. the large mirror reflects the exterior courtyard and all the angled ceiling surfaces, creating a pleasing reflection of the architecture.