Space in transition: a design exploration of a transition space in Ban Plainern

Abstract

This thesis concerns a methodology to study transition spaces in traditional Thai houses. The author questions how to inherit and develop traditional architecture for the future generations. Transition spaces of Thai houses are chosen as the places to observe how materials, proportions, spatial compositions, light, shade and shadow affect architecture itself. They represent a relationship between man-made and nature with respect to environment, culture and time.

Literature reviews are a supplement to the analytical methods to study architectural spaces and forms of Colin Rowe, Peter Eisenman, Le Corbusier and Juhani Pallasmaa. Then, the methodology is applied to analyse two case studies of Thai houses, namely CU Thai House of Chulalongkorn University and H.R.H. Prince Narisaranuvattiwongse's private residence in Bangkok.

The site to propose the design is a piece of land in Ban Plainern, which can also be regarded as a transition space in itself. The renovation design respects to the heritage site by utilizing proportions, space compositions and materials found within the site itself. The responses from the owners were shown in this research as the most important reference to evaluate the design.