A blocky pink form and curving glass walls define House R3, a residence by Bangkok studio PHTAA on a compact roadside site in Thailand. Made from concrete, the 400-square-metre home features living spaces across five levels to maximise the available space for a family of five.
To give privacy from the nearby road, PHTAA infilled House R3’s road-facing facade with concrete panels so that it is almost entirely solid. Meanwhile, the opposite wall that faces a quieter street is lined with floor-to-ceiling glazing. On two levels, the glazed areas curve inwards to create a wavy facade.
Photo: Kukkong Thirathomrongkiat
The concrete stair core in the back position of the home had to be solid due to building regulations, so we utilised that law to serve the purpose of mitigating the vibration and noise pollution originating from the road. The front part of the home contains all the living spaces and faces the smaller road in the peaceful village, so we tried to put the open windows on this side.
Ponwit Ratanatanatevilai
On one side of the building angled towards the main road, PHTAA added a triangular terrace that is cut into the main volume and bordered by angled windows. A pink-toned, slatted gate separates the home from the street and offers access to the ground floor. Here, there is a parking area for the family’s two vehicles.
On the other side of the covered parking area is a circulation space with a curved concrete staircase and kitchen. Personal living areas and bedrooms for each member of the family are arranged across the other floors, excluding the second floor where there is a living room.
House R3’s bedrooms have matching plans and take advantage of the curved glazing, which punctures the rooms and frames views of the village below. To provide privacy, curtains can be pulled around the curving glass walls, which open onto covered balconies on both levels. The living room that takes up House R3’s second floor has a straight, glazed wall on one side. Its remaining walls are lined with wooden panelling as well as dark wooden joinery and mid-century furnishings that have been collected by the owner over time.
