Safe Haven Library / TYIN Tegnestue

Aug 2009

Uploaded by Nico Saieh — Filed under: Featured ,Museums and Libraries ,Selected , Sami Rintala, Thailand, TYIN Tegnestue

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Architects: TYIN Tegnestue
Location: Ban Tha Song Yang, Thailand
Project team Professors: Hans Skotte & Sami Rintala
Project team Students: Pasi Aalto. Jan Kristian Borgen, Mari Folven, Ragnhild Førde, Sunniva Vold Huus, Olav Fåsetbru Kildal, Lene M. N. Kværness, Oda Moen Møst, Ørjan Nyheim, Karoline Salomonsen, Anne Sandnes, Ola Sendstad, Kristoffer B. Thørud, Caroline Tjernås, Anders Sellevold Aaseth
Client: Safe Haven Orphanage
Budget: 29.000 NOK (Approx. 4,650 USD)
Project year: January 2009
Sponsors: Norsk Betongforening, Bygg uten grenser, Minera Norge, Spenncon, Norwegian University of Technology and Science (NTNU)
Photographs: Pasi Aalto

In January 2009 TYIN invited 15 norwegian architect students from NTNU to participate in a workshop at the Safe Haven Orphanage. The workshop was led by Associate Professor Hans Skotte and architect Sami Rintala. The most immediate needs at the orphanage was a library and a new sanitary building. TYIN worked on a bathhouse, together with the Karen workers from Noh Bo, while the workshop participants put their efforts into the library.

The concrete base of the library is cast on a bed of large rocks gathered on-site. Walls made of plastered concrete blocks cools the building during the day, while the open bamboo facade gives a good ventilation. Iron wood makes up the solid frame construction and serves as comfortable floor for the children to play on.

The bookshelves run along the concrete walls in their full height, and the floor is left unfurnished to give room for different activities. The entrance, creates a comfortable buffer between the outdoors and indoors and divides the ground floor into a small computer area on one side and a larger library room on the other.

The most important thing to Tasanee is that her children are provided food and education. In the library the children at Safe Haven Orphanage now have a space to do homework, use a computer with internet and read books written in different languages. The new building has also attained the important role of a gathering space and is frequently used for play, games and crafts.

That NTNU, as an educational institution, contributes to workshops like this is of great importance. It creates a unique opportunity for young, skilled students to engage real problems and make decisions with real consequences.

: floor plan

Cite:
Saieh , Nico . "Safe Haven Library / TYIN Tegnestue" 03 Aug 2009. ArchDaily. Accessed 04 Feb 2012. <http://www.archdaily.com/30764>

Comments (57)
Tweets (9)
Links to this entry (39)

martin says:

PERFECT ! one of the best projects ever presented on this website…

# August 3, 2009 at 08:31

Didier says:

architecture for the people..raw..amazing…cheap can be beautiful…

# August 3, 2009 at 09:19

Dragan says:

Ohhhh, so amazing… :D

# August 3, 2009 at 10:22

senn says:

beautiful！so warm

# August 3, 2009 at 10:55

dp says:

Honesta, simple, preciosa!!!

# August 3, 2009 at 11:36

hanoi says:

Nice photos for the beautiful architecture!I like this kind of local architecture.

# August 3, 2009 at 11:53

jan says:

i iove thailand.
i am thai.

# August 3, 2009 at 13:49

StructureHub Blog says:

What is it about arch students that results in great-for-the-money architecture?

# August 3, 2009 at 15:41

Alexander says:

they have yet to be corrupted by money, and have none to speak of for themselves. :D

# March 7, 2010 at 17:35

Scarpasez says:

Raw but elegant. Beautiful, contextual, real, focused and vital…everything you want your architecture to be. Bravo, students!

# August 3, 2009 at 16:16

Thomas says:

Oh gee. The students drew a shed. I bet the kids really care that the “rock for a stair” was taken from the site! Theres not even a raised shelf to place the sandals on. The spiders can just crawl right in. Great!

# August 3, 2009 at 16:32

INawe says:

Better than someone telling them, “Hey kid… sit on that rock and read a book will ya. I got better things to do than build you a library.”

You can take your arachnaphobia and leave your comments elsewhere.

# August 3, 2009 at 16:51

If the students and architects had donated some money instead, I bet the locals could have built TWO sheds!

Ill leave my comments here, thank you.

# August 3, 2009 at 17:18

@Thomas:

That may be true but then we would not be here arguing about the architecture.

Its fine but i think its an elegant solution as opposed to your track housing and bang for your buck development attitude.

# August 3, 2009 at 18:23

Clos says:

.. el futuro de la arquitectura!.. excelente proyecto..

# August 3, 2009 at 17:02

DzetaB says:

oh yes in deed…

# August 4, 2009 at 12:37

pepech says:

Exciting, simple, and most of all TRUE. I’m really impressed.

# August 3, 2009 at 17:26

german osorio says:

how do you prevent from rain to get to the books trough the bamboo wall??? thats where the books are right???

# August 3, 2009 at 18:10

me says:

perfect! inspirational! amazing! refreshing!
this is why im studying architecture…not for the magazines and “fame”

# August 3, 2009 at 22:33

james says:

lovely

# August 3, 2009 at 22:55

Pablo says:

Excelente, para mi esto es verdadera Arquitectura, lo justo y necesario sin excederse en caprichos formales, materiales, etc.

# August 4, 2009 at 01:22

fco jesús says:

si MIES lo viese…

# August 4, 2009 at 02:22

Juni says:

Elegant and lovely. Really well executed.

# August 4, 2009 at 03:25

Punjabi says:

what so good bout this??? just because it look humble, local context,yada yada yada….doesnt mean its well designed…

# August 4, 2009 at 04:14

d says:

what’s not good about this????

# August 4, 2009 at 23:04

Yes this project totally works what is not good about it ?

# August 6, 2009 at 11:04

athena says:

damn good!

# August 4, 2009 at 06:04

patricioj says:

I agree martin (number 1 ) says… this proyect is perfect..

# August 4, 2009 at 08:17

meen says:

i like this!

# August 4, 2009 at 10:55

Wargo says:

Beautiful design, nice for children

# August 4, 2009 at 18:43

laura says:

Cuando sólo se crea “arquitectura por arquitectura”, porque entonces sucede que la profesión se queda coja, mutilada; la finalidad de las profesiones, y del estudio en general es crear realmente aportes a la sociedad y responder a las necesidades del ser humano. Excelente proyecto.

# August 4, 2009 at 23:05

it’s not easy to think and create in context like this, especially when u’re very common to the extravagant side of architecture. a very good work.. thumbs up..

# August 4, 2009 at 23:12

NIM says:

I do appreciate the effort of TYIN in being there and helpign the unfortunate marginalised group in the developing world.

The TYIN’s designs for this village are in general inspirational by the humble characters, interesting details, the use of local materials, interaction with the locals. But like Soe Ker Tie house, the specific concerns on the tropical climate seems not so effective. They should really experiment with any kind of surface as key ideas protecting the burning sun beam and monsoon storm to create more viable transitional spaces.

# August 5, 2009 at 02:32

Nico says:

Perfect! Beauty low tech proyect, even than any other hi tech…

# August 5, 2009 at 08:53

Jóse says:

Hermoso… Arquitectura aprovechando los materiales del lugar sin ser pretenciosa. La simpleza del oficio…

# August 6, 2009 at 02:00

Igor says:

tenia buen rato sin observar un proyecto con tanto significado, vale la pena, felicidades Arq’s.

# August 12, 2009 at 13:58

JP from Dallas says:

I can see this project as the AIA award of the year.

# August 12, 2009 at 18:29

darkfray says:

The stair is so lovely

# August 17, 2009 at 21:49

vozdelmonte says:

Maravillosa combinación de materiales y terreno…

¡¡Esto sí que es arquitectura!!

Congratulations

# August 20, 2009 at 11:58

Emerson Gámez B. says:

BEATIFULL

# August 22, 2009 at 15:39

gyl says:

this is what we should do..raw,peaceful,beautiful,very thailand…and inspiring!

# August 24, 2009 at 05:05

dujjit says:

# December 1, 2009 at 09:00

Adhitecture says:

4 billion thumbs up!!!

# January 20, 2010 at 00:01

Modern Zen Architecture says:

I’d like to hear updates on this. Something so awe-inspiring should be replicated in many more locations with the same basic needs! Kudos!

# January 20, 2010 at 05:51

Toto says:

Where could I vote? I think it is amazing!

# February 15, 2010 at 17:24

flavin says:

you can vote here for this project

http://www.archdaily.com/building-of-the-year/2009/vote/building/30764

# February 18, 2010 at 08:42

Samuel says:

Will be a classic!!!

# March 3, 2010 at 13:30

Bo says:

Wouldn’t the community benefit more in the long-term from having a library where the books won’t rot from moisture?

# March 3, 2010 at 20:05

sthapit says:

wow. very inspiring. i often find myself complaining about the lack of “modern” materials, connections, and equipment in nepal. thanks for this post – cheap and built locally can be beautiful.

# March 4, 2010 at 00:39

Harry from Australia says:

It is thoughtful that these students have given the users their ideas and their time, and that they are using what they have learnt to help others in a less fortunate position. It’s a victory of architecture, with such a great outcome being made possible from limited resources. The virtues that I’m taking from this project are really honourable.

But in reality, I can’t help but see this as a primarily self-fulfilling project, where those in a vulnerable position are being used as instruments.

Is this really a revolutionary piece of work? Or is it simply people doing their best to help out those in need – in this case architecture students? Good on them for doing that, but let’s not jump ahead of ourselves.

As an aid worker who has devoted much of the past decade to working in South-East Asia, the accolades that this project is receiving trivialise the conditions faced by the majority of the populations in need.

# March 4, 2010 at 00:46

simon says: