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Architects: Architects 49 (Phuket) Limited
- Area: 320 m²
- Year: 2020
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Photographs:Nattasit Bunratsamee
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Manufacturers: COTTO, Hafele, Infinite, L&E, Lamitak, TOA, Wallarmour
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Lead Architect: Chana Sumpalung
Text description provided by the architects. As a part of 49 group, a multi-disciplinary firm of design professionals in Thailand, Architects 49 (Phuket) is a branch office, established in 2005 to provide truly professional and comprehensive architectural services in Phuket and other provinces in Thailand’s southern region.
The office itself locates in an existing shophouse constructed almost a century back in 1901-1913, with the era typical style known as “Sino-Portuguese” architecture. Since the 1st renovation in 2005, the colonial exterior of the building has been preserved with some slight touched up to maintain its unique characteristic, mixing between European overall structure and delicacy in Chinese wood carving techniques. All these antecedent charming aspects had inspired the architects since the 1st till this 2nd renovation.
Apart from the exterior aesthetic of these heritage blocks, most of the interior surfaces had been finished in a modern black or darker tone in contrary with the classic white that is blending with the context. Once enter the reception lobby through the entry gate beneath the ancestor’s portraits, visitor can sense the mix of new and old style. The old wooden balustrades re-painted in black and used as decorative panels to the backdrop and cladding the supports for the reception counter. The ceiling is just a bare bottom of 2nd floor wooden structure with black paint to maximized the ceiling height. Most of the reception space is left empty for any occasional events, company anniversary merit ceremony.
Move further to the central courtyard, the old brick wall reflects the prosperity of the old days, that the architects decided to reveal and let them age beautifully with only sufficient reparation. Nonetheless, most of the walls need to be concealed and become storage for the office. This underground well court space had been selected and revived to showcase the old hand-crafted brick wall on one side, rising to the naturally lit translucent roof, while the other three sides of the wall are surrounded by black painted cement board. the space is used as a breakout for the staff while also hides the toilets behind black painted doors.
Old barrel terracotta tile barrel ceiling is another element that makes a simple meeting room more special. The architect decided to remove all the false ceiling and add linear in-direct lighting on both sides of the gypsum wall to emphasize these pieces of baked clay. The office upstairs is divided into two zones, connected by an illusive mirroring hall way. A series of rectangular rings of light and three sides mirror, creating an endless reflection through out this enclosed corridor, attracting every visitor to come visit and get their-self an Instagram shot. Other than those spaces mentioned above, the whole working area is simply treated in a minimalistic manner, using a black cabinet and white painted wall to serve a concentrated working atmosphere.
