Designed by IDIN Architects, the Suanphlu Office – in Bangkok, Thailand – is situated next to the historical Lao Pueng Thao Kong shrine and comprises a private office with the owner’s penthouse located on the top floor.
The proximity of the shrine is an important factor in the facade design. Not only does the design have to take into consideration the view from the office, and the amount of sunlight, but also the facade of the building serves as a backdrop for the community with the potential to reflect the harsh sunlight onto the neighbouring shrine.
The double skin facade is designed to protect the building from the harsh sunlight, reduce the reflection on the glass facade, and encourage wind flow and ventilation. The building’s glass facade is covered by the aluminium cladding to reduce the heat and the amount of sunlight entering the building, while still providing visibility to the outside through its clear, perforated and opaque design.
The semi-gloss titanium claddings are positioned at different angles which result in a shadow pattern that changes throughout the day. The planes are bended in different angles to avoid sunlight reflection onto the neighbours while the diagonal cuts in the design visually separate the facade into panels across the building, “creating movements and adding dynamic,” said the architects.
The building features “concave insertions of green pocket courts, climbing from the base up the side.” The pocket courtyards are continuously placed on each level alternatively from floor to floor resulting in the different layers of green views. This idea improves the building’s elevation aesthetics, and creates views of pocket greenery for the office spaces inside the building.