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

Sustainable Principles Applied in the Retrofit House:

● A micro-climate responsive design enhances the building performance and maximise its internal comfort taking into account of the constraints highlighted in the previous page.

● Considering that Bangkok is characterised with heavy precipitation, the adoption of a sustainable drainage system can therefore help alleviate flooding and inadequate infrastructure . It also reduces natural resources that is wasted in the network expansion by scaling down the growth of sewerage construction. This irrigation system is installed beneath the vegetations in the central courtyard.

● Solar Roof Tile Ventilation is installed to address the problem of overheating in tropical homes. It utilises passive cooling including cross ventilation and stack ventilation, in conjunction with active cooling powered by solar panels . Ceiling ventilators are also installed to help accelerating and stabilising the heat transfer process to ensure consistent internal comfort.

Daily Life of a Ceramicist

A ceramic studio is a smallscale manufacturing operation that demands the space to accommodate four key activities: forming, fire, glazing, and storing ceramic works. It is essential to have a sufficient number of shelves to store the finished goods and equipment.

The activity cycle was created to understand and tailor the spatial allocation according to the ceramic process to allow a smooth transition between each phase of work, making it convenient to travel around the studio unit. The idea of separating the living and working spaces aims to improve working productivity and maintain a work-life balance.

The central courtyard connects all the habitable rooms in the centre and brings amenity to the indoor environment. It serves as a transition between the living and working areas, emphasising the open-plan layout by allowing the outdoor scenery to enclose the building. The user could see through the building fabric while performing daily tasks via the translucent agriculture net , a wind-permeable membrane that filters direct sunlight. Sitting in the ceramic studio and looking out the window towards the green landscape could relieve work-related stress and boosts attention and creativity.