RETROFIT HOUSE

Live/Work Space with Sustainable Considerations

There is a known persistent concern regarding the haphazard plot arrangements around the outskirts of Bangkok, which stemmed from the ineffective government control over pre-existing urban informalities. This proposed retrofit house was designed based on the understanding of existing construction and is tailored to the demands of inhabitants and their line of work to establish a user-friendly house.

Due to the developer’s intention to maximise the number of residences on a constrained site, retrofitting a house presents an opportunity to integrate sustainable measures that the building lacked. The inflexibility of the existing design posed a challenge to the modern trend of live-work dwelling, which has grown in popularity as a result of technological advancements and the COVID-19 pandemic . As a result, the new design visualises an approach that enables long-term housing that can adapt to future changes. The design was influenced by ceramic art and the tranquil atmosphere perceived during its manufacturing process, which will take place in the integrated area of the front façade for the client’s daily work.

Characteristics of the Existing House:

• Low thermal mass materials (no insulation)

• Redbrick wall and reinforced concrete structure

• Front facade in North direction to minimise direct sunlight and maximise wind access

• Steep pitch roof to enhance water evacuation

• Large attic space for passive cooling

• Large openings in two aspects for cross ventilation

• Consistent internal temperature with plenty of shadings due to the tropical climate

Constraints of the Existing House:

• Solar Access: A 4-metre property wall blocks sunlight from the East, allowing only small quantities of light to pass through the gaps between timber cladding, resulting in insufficient daylight in the ground level

• Acoustic Problem: Thin shared wall with no insulation

• Internal Comfort: Excessive direct sunlight in the South during the afternoon that raises the temperature in habitable rooms

Daily Life of

A ceramic studio scale manufacturing that demands accommodate four forming, fire, storing ceramic essential to have number of shelves finished goods

The activity cycle to understand spatial allocation ceramic process transition between of work, making to travel around The idea of separating and working spaces improve working maintain a