Uthai Thani House Architects: I Like Design Studio Area: 660 m² Year: 2023 Photographs: Soopakorn Srisakul Design Team: Narucha Kuwattanapasiri , Chutimont Chanok-ovat , Siriprapa Prasompan Interior Architect: Narucha Kuwattanapasiri , Chutimont Chanok-ovat Structural Engineer: Kor-It Structural Design and Construction Co.,Ltd System Engineer: Kor-It Structural Design and Construction Co.,Ltd City: Nong Ya Plong Country: Thailand
Uthai Thani House, designed by I Like Design Studio, is a 660 m² residence in rural Thailand built for a woman returning to her hometown for retirement. The design balances two generations' lifestyles: the father’s preference for traditional Thai architecture and natural ventilation, and the daughter’s love for modern living. The house uses steel structure for durability, with reclaimed wood from the father’s collection used as cladding for sentimental value. Featuring open living spaces, a large Thai kitchen, and a master bedroom with rice field views, the home thoughtfully blends tradition and modernity to support multigenerational living in harmony.
Nestled in the tranquil countryside of Nong Yaplong, Thailand,
Uthai Thani House is a modern Thai residence designed to honor tradition while embracing contemporary living.
Created by I Like Design Studio, the 660-square-meter home was built with a deeply personal purpose
to welcome the owner into retirement and bring her family back together under one roof.
The homeowner was born in Uthai Thani and raised in a farming family.
After years of studying and working in Bangkok, she dreamed of returning to her roots.
Her father still lives on the family land in a deteriorating 100-year-old wooden house.
While she prefers the sleek, clean lines of modern architecture,
her father values the comfort of natural ventilation, wooden construction, and the openness of traditional Thai homes.
The challenge for the architects was to design a house that could harmoniously accommodate both preferences.
The layout of the home reflects a thoughtful integration of lifestyles.
On the first floor, the living and dining areas are simple, open, and designed to draw the eye toward a cluster of trees beyond,
a calming backdrop that blends interior with nature.
Just behind this communal space lies a spacious Thai kitchen, supporting the family's routine of cooking together.
A small working space is also tucked inside for the homeowner, who still travels back and forth from Bangkok.
At the far end of the ground floor sits the father's bedroom, designed with security and airflow in mind.
Perforated walls encourage natural ventilation,
while a rotatable wooden door opens during the day for panoramic views and locks securely at night.
The second floor contains the daughter's master bedroom, complete with a generous balcony overlooking endless rice fields.
This upper terrace doubles as an awning for the ground floor, shading the home in true tropical fashion.
The design draws inspiration from the father's way of life, particularly the concept of living under the elevated body of a traditional Thai house.
The goal was to preserve his comfort and familiarity without requiring any change in his habits,
while allowing the daughter to enjoy the modern conveniences she's used to.
It's a seamless blend of generations, lifestyles, and architectural traditions.
Structurally, the house uses steel framing to ensure long-term durability and ease of maintenance.
Wood is reserved as a surface material, imbuing the home with warmth and nostalgia.
What makes this wood even more meaningful is its origin.
Every piece was salvaged and stored by the father over the years.
Though the timbers vary in type and tone, great care was taken to align their colors and grain direction,
requiring skillful craftsmanship and deep sensitivity to material harmony.
Athaithani House is more than a place to retire.
It's a bridge between past and present, a space where memories endure,
and a testament to how thoughtful design can honor family, heritage, and the rhythms of daily life.
It's a home where tradition doesn't resist modernity, but instead finds new life within it.
www.athaithani.com
