24H architecture: children’s activity and learning center, thailand

‘children’s activity and learning center’ by 24H-architecture, koh kood, thailandimage © boris zeisser/ 24H-architectureall images courtesy of 24H-architecture

our friend olav bruin with dutch practice 24H-architecture shared the ‘children’s activity and learning center’ with us, part of the six senses’ soneva kiri resort on the island of koh koodin the gulf of thailand. as the most striking of a series of ecologically-charged icons designed for the resort, the children’s center is a locally-sourced and labored bamboo structure out of a child’s paradise designed to provide a place for them to play, eat, learn, discover, share, watch, laugh, and listen all the while being infused with an environmentally friendly and local message. the manta ray-inspired form is anchored into a rocky slope and launches out towards the bay, with a large organic translucent canopy that cantilevers up to eight meters over all the program to provide adequate shading from the intense sun and protection from the heavy rains. the interior program contains an auditorium/ cinema for films, lectures and plays, a library with books on permaculture and local traditions and culture, an art room, music and fashion rooms, a ‘hang-out’ balcony and slide. nearby satellite structures provide the bathrooms and a small kitchen that invited kids to pick their own vegetables and cook their own lunches with the aid of a specialized chef. the set back footprint of the program means that the interior is always well ventilated and lit from indirect light, helping to maintain a comfortable temperature at all times.

view from uphill, the roof transitions into the rocky mountainsideimage © kiattipong panchee

the massive domed roof creates a sheltered microcosm of mini-structures that all have their own distinct character, from several rooms clad in dispersed bamboo members reminiscent of the beijing national stadium’s skin, or the seemingly cantilevering (in reality suspended) basket filled with pillows. the interior is composed of a combination of local plantation river red gum wood for the flooring and solid rattan members that are weaved almost like a large-scale wicker to make smaller structural elements or for decorative purposes. the construction uses all sizes of bamboo reeds, taking full advantage its versatile characteristics. larger poles are used for the two anchoring columns that end directly into a large concrete pylon. as the column base transitions into the roof structure the size of the members diminishes, instead creating beams out of grouped members on perpendicular grids. the canopy tiles are made from split and flattened pole sections.  

view from below, the structure seems to soar out towards the seaimage © boris zeisser/ 24H-architecture

two bamboo columns anchor the structure (left) image © kiattipong panchee(right) image © boris zeisser/ 24H-architecture

grouped members create flexible composite beamsimage © kiattipong panchee

pinned together with nut, bolt and washerimage © kiattipong panchee

interior is an open plan under an umbrella-like canopyimage © kiattipong panchee

reading room with a mesh bed offering views to the groundimage © kiattipong panchee

specialized roomimage © boris zeisser/ 24H-architecture

view inside the suspended basketimage © kiattipong panchee

music room with sheet music wrapping the outer structure over the bamboo reed frameimage © kiattipong panchee

door detailimage © boris zeisser/ 24H-architecture

view out to the bayimage © boris zeisser/ 24H-architecture

primary construction materialimage © kiattipong panchee

roof tilesimage © kiattipong panchee

construction of the canopyimage © olav bruin / 24H-architecture

construction of the canopy: placing the tilesimage © olav bruin / 24H-architecture

interior structure constructionimage © olav bruin / 24H-architecture

(left) local manual labor built the structure(right) column assemblyimage © olav bruin / 24H-architecture

constructionimage © olav bruin / 24H-architecture

a mix of power and hand tools were used through the various stagesimage © olav bruin / 24H-architecture

site plan

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1 : enrtrance

floor plan / level 2

roof structure

section

section

elevation

elevation

elevation

ventilation diagram

roof and internal structure construction details

bamboo connection detail

concrete footing and column detail

bamboo structural diagram

model

model

model

concept sketch

project info:

client: six senses resorts and spasreference client: sonu shivdasaniarchitect: 24h-architecturedesign: boris zeisser, maartje lammers with: olav bruin, anne laure nolenprogram: auditorium/cinema, library, art room, music room, fashion room, chill balcony and slide.site address: soneva kiri resort, 110 moo 4, koh kood sub-district, koh kood district, trat 23000, thailanddesign: 2007construction: 2008-2009completion: 2009floor area: 165 sqmbamboo consultant: jörg stamm, colombialocal architect: habita architects, thailandstructural engineer building: planning & design, thailandstructural engineer for wind-tunnel tests: ove arup thailand