Stu/D/O wraps baan 33 apartment in expanded aluminum + solid walls in bangkok

Stu/D/O architects has completed a building combining a six-bedroom private residence and four service apartment units in bangkok, thailand, designed to provide all occupants with the highest amount of privacy while still maintaining a close connection to the natural environment. titled baan 33 apartment, the project has been developed with a focus on programmatic organization and zoning, as well as with the aim of creating a connection between the residents and nature through the subtraction of mass, which provides natural ventilation and daylight to interior spaces. all images by DOF skyground, visualizations by Stu/D/O

experimenting with the the spatial relationship between the mix-use programmatic requirement of the client, Stu/D/O architects positioned the private residence on the ground floor, where it can be closely connected to nature. from the second floor onto the fifth, the residence is positioned facing the front of the site, taking in view of the surrounding context, while the service apartments are positioned towards the rear. two separate circulation routes ensure maximum privacy for both the home owner and the apartment tenants, with the apartments’ circulation core and service area positioned in the east and south, where it is enclosed by the neighboring high rises. the vertical circulation for the private residence is deliberately positioned between the two functions, as it separates and provides privacy for both the residents and tenants.

by subtracting mass to create a connection between the residents and nature, the bangkok-based studio has developed a cohesive architectural form for the building’s mix-use program. the mass which houses the service apartments has been deducted in smaller blocks while still keeping the building envelope intact, as it protects the structure from solar heat gain generated by the intense western sun. additionally, a vertical void stretching from the interior to the exterior roof line has been subtracted from the mass, allowing for cross ventilation to naturally cool the whole building. for the private residence, the southern mass has been completely removed, providing residents with the best possible view.

transitional spaces functioning as both exterior terraces and shading devices for the interiors take the place of the void. in the service apartment, the building envelope is kept as solid walls, while the private residence utilizes expanded aluminum cladding as its envelope. this material strategy in able to simultaneously provide shading, ventilation, and views for the occupants. additionally, as a response to the limited space of the site, a common area is placed on the rooftop, accessible by both the residents of the private house and the tenants of the apartments to use for activities and relaxation.