The Precious Nature
Baan San Ngam exemplifies the harmonious relationship between architecture and the natural environment. Through thoughtful design, the project captures the beauty, texture, and movement of nature, creating a tranquil living experience that celebrates and preserves the essence of our precious environment. Inspired by six ecological elements: sea, dune, swamp, swale, mound, and forest, the design connects people to their surroundings. Each space is crafted to honor the landscape, blending natural tranquility with modern comfort.
Project Information ↘︎
Client & Developer
Sansiri PCL.
Architect
Somdoon Architects
Status
Completed
Landscape Area
14,622 sq.m.
Year
2014
Award
TALA Awards 2016: Honor Award
Design Director
Yossapon Boonsom
Landscape Architect
Yossit Poonprasit
Horticulturist
Wimonporn Chaiyathet
Collaborator
M&E: EEC Engineering Network
C&S Engineering: ACTEC Construction
Photographer: Pirak Anurakyawachon
Baan San Ngam, a low rise beachfront condominium, is situated in the Prachuab khiri khan province of Thailand, a province which faces the Gulf of Thailand and is considered one of the most popular beach vacation destinations for both Thai and Foreigners because of its white sandy beach and the short travelling distance from Bangkok located away from the typical tourist area.
Baan San Ngam low rise condominium has a much quieter and peaceful setting and is surrounded by mangroves and grove wood forest with the backdrop of mountainous terrain in the distant.
The varying ecological elements within the area from the sea, dunes, swamp, swale, mound and forest scape provides the site with an interesting topography and ground texture for the designer to experiment with.
The concept of Nature vs. Art is explored in studying the translation of different shapes, colour and textures when different ecological elements merge into each other such as how water reacts when it flows and penetrate through sand.
The main concept plays on the transition between these 6 ecological elements by creating a natural form of the swimming pool covering most area of the site to mimic the flowing of the sea. Furthermore, a series of small grass dunes are created and placed throughout the landscape area in order to create a balance with the flat surface of ground cover and to also encourage various activities by the residents. Along the edges of the pool, a slanted run-off edge was designed playing with different heights and level resembling a stepped terrain to slow the runoff water from the pool and also to reflect the natural formation of soil erosion.
Pockets of sunken seating space is placed inside the swimming pool according to the client’s brief of creating an enclosed area resembling a bird’s nest giving the sense of a warm and secure territory. The connection between the landscape and the architectural design is to design the swimming pool to be accessible by all rooms on the ground floor. For those rooms on the upper level, the amount of green area is maximized by planting tall plants.
Starting with the Dune area where the selection of plants are durable to wind and sea breeze. They will have the characteristic of thick and large leaves. Luscious, green plants are selected for the Swamp area while colourful flowers, trees and ground cover plants are chosen for the Swale area. In the Mound area, ground cover plants with small and delicate leaves are chosen. Lastly, the Forest area along the edges of the project site contains big and tall trees to act as both a barrier to the outside and also emphasize the atmospheric quality to the ‘forest’.
The idea behind the selection of types of plants to relate to each of the 6 ecological elements mentioned is to enhance the atmospheric quality to resemble the natural environment as much as possible.
All in all, Baan San Ngam condominium project truly pays attention to the surrounding environment within and around the site and incorporate it into the landscape design which is not only practical to the function of the architectural design but also corresponds to the natural ecology surrounding the site reflecting in the design. Baan San Ngam condominium, with no doubt, acknowledges the idea of The precious nature.
