The San Pee Sue Project is one of our current work at Niwat Architects. The site is located not far from chiang mai, along the river Ping. The client contacted us few month ago and wanted us to design accommodations for his health center project. As with the majority of our projects, we focus on the process to bind contemporary and traditional lanna architecture. How to get the functionality and clarity of modern design without forget the roots of our secular Local architecture ?
Local Landscape
Lanna identity is not only about architecture, our first process was to introduce the local knowledge on the bigger scale : master planning and landscape design. By observing the variety and qualities of northern thai villages organization we drawn the main lines of the projects. Therby we get inspire by villages circulations, access, empty spaces or courtyards. In parallel, we adapted those models to the modern functions and comfort of a resort (services, privacy
). In order to accentuate the lanna spirit of the whole projects we also developed a landscape design close to the local traditions by using specific tree species and planting practices. Lanna contemporary
Design process
The project consist of several buildings organized around small courtyards (Kuang in lanna language). We developed a model of building with two rooms for long stay clients. In order to create a village feeling and cosy atmosphere in the whole site, this building respect a house scale by its proportions and organization. Our main purpose was to create a modern architecture inspired by the lanna traditional art of construction. So we had to design between the contemporary functions and expectations (high ceilings, large openings, comfort standards
) and our desire to work with the lanna elements of architecture (materials, roofing, patterns
). The result is a project where modern and lanna architecture are only one. But the key issue of our approach is not about appearance, is not just about style. In order to design an interesting mix of old and contemporary architecture, we have to understand what is lanna culture in terms of spaces and uses. Thats how we can create a building that not just looks like lanna but is deeply lanna in each facet of its conception and use.
Tags: Chiangmai Lanna, Lanna Architects, Lanna contemporary, local architecture_______________________________________________________
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