Baan SuanMook (House-Garden-Family name, respectively in Thai language)

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Baan =           Hospitality Architecture and the owner houses.

Suan =           The preservation of the cultural landscape.

Mook =          Kaimookda, the owner’s family name, the family gathering place and retirement home.

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Baan Suan Mook is a small resort in the midst of pineapple field on the Hin Lek Fai hill, Hua Hin. The resort is surrounded by a countryside atmosphere, which is different from the other resorts on the Hua Hin beach. Phase 1 consists of 14 hotel rooms, function rooms, a restaurant and a banquet room. The owner wanted to build a resort on a plot of a land received through inheritance to generate income in the property which set to be increased in the value due to the dramatic rise of the real estate in Hua Hin. Most of the agricultural lands in the outskirts of Hua Hin have been replaced by the residential housing development and because of that, the owner wanted to build this resort to help preserve the large plot of a pineapple field and to live after retirement.

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LANDSCAPE AND SITE PLANING

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The first impression of the design is to straighten the cultural landscape which consists of agricultural plantations “pineapple” mixed with the various of wild grass- flowers, self sufficient indigenous that can be grow on sandy soil and drought such as Asthma weed, Balsam apple, Goosegrass, Lalang, Macuna, Minnieroot, Mollugo pentaphylla Linn, Siam weed and especially the native basil (Hairy Basil, Suregada multiflorum Baill), the significant indigenous ingredient of local cuisine, which has a strong smell and a light test. The meadow is also mixed with vertical line from Coconuts, Mangoes and Neem trees which need no maintenance.

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Phase 1, from the main road part, occupied only30% of the entire land or just 2% of figure-ground

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Infrastructure is aligned on the east side of the land; gravel roads can absorb water and reduce the speed of the cars.

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The set back front boundary, cowboy fence make the front look wider, noticed more easily from speed and also able to separate the service way from the main entrance to back of the house.

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The T shape layout is divided the open space into two parts, the front yard in order to make the main function visible from the main street and easy to access, the building is situated in parallel to the street.

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The verandah space below the elevated floor is not only used as a relaxing space but also as a link to connect the space from the front yard to the backyard connect to the meadow with the silhouette of the Hin Lek Fai hill outline which is the best view for the accommodation.

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ARCHITECTURE

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The old spirit houses of a household god and ancestor made by local farmer which found on the site, give a clue of vernacular architecture such as simply gable roof, wooden feature, Lighten by elevated ground floor and relax verandah.

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Simple and Light become the keywords. The selection of structural steel for the building’s framing system allows a long span and cantilever which give a sense of Lighten. The system can be adapted easily and the construction to finish sooner just likes a wood framing in a traditional house.

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The light from the restaurant make people feel comfortable and safe when walking at night.

 

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DETAILS OF LANDSCAPING, ETC :

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Passive design:

      Architecture and walkway are on stilt about 1 metre height, touch ground and removed existing trees as less as possible. Back of the house and walk way of accommodation are on the west side to protect the heat and to be buffer from the neighbor.

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New trees: 

      Although the main concept is to reserve the unique character of the culture landscape, the pineapple field, new Neem trees are installed to be more shady for accommodation and Bamboo wall on the west side of the gangway to accommodation that can protect heat and screen from neighbor.

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