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

first image
'children's activity and learning center' by 24H-architecture, koh kood, thailand
image © boris zeisser/ 24H-architecture
all 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.

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 uphill, the roof transitions into the rocky mountainside
image © kiattipong panchee

view from below, the structure seems to soar out towards the sea
image © 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 beams
image © kiattipong panchee

pinned together with nut, bolt and washer
image © kiattipong panchee

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

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

specialized room
image © boris zeisser/ 24H-architecture

view inside the suspended basket
image © kiattipong panchee

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

door detail
image © boris zeisser/ 24H-architecture

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

primary construction material
image © kiattipong panchee

roof tiles
image © kiattipong panchee

construction of the canopy
image © olav bruin / 24H-architecture

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

interior structure construction
image © olav bruin / 24H-architecture

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

construction
image © olav bruin / 24H-architecture

a mix of power and hand tools were used through the various stages
image © 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 spas
reference client: sonu shivdasani
architect: 24h-architecture
design: boris zeisser, maartje lammers with: olav bruin, anne laure nolen
program: 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, thailand
design: 2007
construction: 2008-2009
completion: 2009
floor area: 165 sqm
bamboo consultant: jörg stamm, colombia
local architect: habita architects, thailand
structural engineer building: planning & design, thailand
structural engineer for wind-tunnel tests: ove arup thailand