‘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.

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 2view 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.  

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 3view from below, the structure seems to soar out towards the seaimage © boris zeisser/ 24H-architecture

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 4two bamboo columns anchor the structure (left) image © kiattipong panchee(right) image © boris zeisser/ 24H-architecture

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 5grouped members create flexible composite beamsimage © kiattipong panchee

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 6pinned together with nut, bolt and washerimage © kiattipong panchee

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 7interior is an open plan under an umbrella-like canopyimage © kiattipong panchee

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 8reading room with a mesh bed offering views to the groundimage © kiattipong panchee

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 9specialized roomimage © boris zeisser/ 24H-architecture

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 10view inside the suspended basketimage © kiattipong panchee

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 11music room with sheet music wrapping the outer structure over the bamboo reed frameimage © kiattipong panchee

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 12door detailimage © boris zeisser/ 24H-architecture

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 13view out to the bayimage © boris zeisser/ 24H-architecture

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 14primary construction materialimage © kiattipong panchee

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 15roof tilesimage © kiattipong panchee

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 16construction of the canopyimage © olav bruin / 24H-architecture

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 17construction of the canopy: placing the tilesimage © olav bruin / 24H-architecture

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 18interior structure constructionimage © olav bruin / 24H-architecture

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 19(left) local manual labor built the structure(right) column assemblyimage © olav bruin / 24H-architecture

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 20constructionimage © olav bruin / 24H-architecture

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 21a mix of power and hand tools were used through the various stagesimage © olav bruin / 24H-architecture

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 22site plan

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 23floor plan / level 0

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 24floor plan / level 1 : enrtrance

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 25floor plan / level 2

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 26roof structure

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 27section

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 28section

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 29elevation

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 30elevation

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 31elevation

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 32ventilation diagram

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 33roof and internal structure construction details

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 34bamboo connection detail

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 35concrete footing and column detail

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 36bamboo structural diagram

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 37model

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 38model

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 39model

 

 

24H architecture: children's activity and learning center, thailand - 40concept 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