Jan 4, 2010
Lightmos Showroom | Architectkidd
Photo courtesy of Architectkidd
Lightmos showroom, the renovation project from Architectkidd from Bangkok. It is a magnificent interior lighting “spill” effect from the gimmick of perforated facade. Their recycle idea with facade circular plate to be a furniture part is pretty interesting.
Photo courtesy of Architectkidd
TRANSFORMING SHOPHOUSES IN BANGKOK
The building project began as a transformation of an existing shophouse into a showroom and office for lighting products. Converting this building type to provide new retail functions was a significant challenge that required extensive modifications to the interior planning. The resulting approach was to insert new spaces that could connect all the existing floors to provide a continuous circulation and movement. These new elements use steel as their primary structure and were designed to be supported and cantilevered from existing concrete structures, thereby creating a hybrid that combined the old and new elements of the renovated shophouse interior.
Photo courtesy of Architectkidd
ACCIDENTAL FACADES
The development of the exterior facade followed the interior modifications. The idea of creating an “accidental facade” was inspired by the resourcefulness of shophouse owners and the ways they adapted their buildings in a hot tropical climate. Owners would use low-cost and lightweight metal materials that are cut into panels to create ad-hoc facades. Despite these simple modifications, these shophouse facades can sometimes provide intriguing and surprising results.
Photo courtesy of Architectkidd
Photo courtesy of Architectkidd
While most building facades aim to project the function of their interior spaces towards the exterior surfaces, in this case the opposite approach was needed. However, we wondered whether it was possible to design a facade that can still possess some permeable qualities while mostly functioning as a solid layer to block direct transmission of heat and outside light. After experimenting with different materials and techniques, the resulting facade was developed that attempted to create an in-between condition were daylight would be filtered from the outside, reflected off the facade and “spill” into the interior spaces.
Photo courtesy of Architectkidd
FURNITURE FROM BUILDINGS
In addition to the architectural design, Architectkidd have been searching for simple approaches to recirculate waste materials from building construction into other uses.
Photo courtesy of Architectkidd
The exterior facade for the Lightmos building was an opportunity test this idea. To redirect the material offcuts from the building site, a cross-disclipinary approach was needed. Architectkidd collaborated with product designers Osisu to create a series that could integrate the aluminum “holes” into furniture design. Along with the aluminum offcuts, scrap wood collected from other construction sites in Bangkok was utilized to form the support base of the seating. The result is a new series of furniture available in a range of functions and scales – coffee tables, lounge seating and individual benches.
Project: Lightmos Showroom
Location: Soi Thonglor, 55 Sukhumvit, Bangkok, Thailand
Owner: Lightmos
Architect: Architectkidd Co. Ltd.
Principals: Udomsak Komonvilas, Jariyawadee Lekawatana, Luke Yeung
Project team: Luke Yeung, Jariyawadee Lekawatana, Udomsak Komonvilas, Pailin Paijitsattaya, Tammarat Rodpul, Artith Chotitayangkoon, Pisit Jindapatanakul, Kanin Amboon
Structural Engineer: Setcom Co. Ltd. – Boonsaeng Siriratchuwong
Lighting Designer: Accent Studio – Nopporn Sakulwigitsinthu
Facade Fabricator: Thaipat Group Co., Ltd. – Thaipat Ponkittiphan
Project area: 630 square meters
Design start: 2006
Construction completion: 2008
Architectkidd is an architecture & design practice based in Bangkok, Thailand. The office is coordinated by Udomsak Komovilas, Jariyawadee Lekawatana and Luke Yeung. Their website is www.architectkidd.com
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