In the midst of a remote area of Bangkok, Thailand, Ayutt and Associates took a facet of everyday life and turned it into an opportunity.
Because of security issues in certain parts of the city, wrought-iron screens are often added to doors and windows as protection. But, the metal bars and steel fences can disrupt architectural details, block views from the inside, and make some residents feel uncomfortable. That's why this firm decided to rethink how these screens were incorporated into a recent project. The team opted to use them as a major component of the overall design, outfitting them as multi-functional layers that work as safety and style.
Video of the Day
Video of the Day
Their first step was to create designated spaces for daytime and nighttime. In the lower level's daytime area, called the "white box," the living space is protected by white aluminum extrusion strips that are built to blend into the surrounding landscape. The upstairs nighttime area, otherwise known as the "black box," is more overtly private — its dark screens offer peace of mind in the bedroom, but also come across as minimalistic art.
Practicality was a high priority, too, and that's why the team built high ceilings for more air ventilation and a cantilever balcony for protection against sun and rain. It's a look that's undoubtedly design-forward, even if it harkens back to a home's most basic purpose: as shelter from the elements.
