ASWA (Architectural Studio of Work – Aholic) designed the solid concrete studio + gallery situated in Bangkok, Thailand. A private studio and gallery for a Thai artist, who preferred privacy of his daily life from the neighborhood by translated into a shape and form of a recessed solid concrete box which has only a single void from the street to communicate with its context.
photography by © Phuttipan Aswakool
The core idea of this private gallery was to illuminate the interior space with a large skylight in the high ceiling chamber, where is a concrete wall with irregular windows. By filling the space with natural sunlight as a living artwork on the concrete wall as a kind of living canvas, Visitors can stand in the center of the soil court to notice the sun light gradually changed its shape due to the changing of daylight during the day on the concrete canvas wall as the main attraction.
photography by © Phuttipan Aswakool
Moreover, a sculptural levitation stairwell is an another feature, its exposed materials as steel handrail – by having only one handrail, it intends to control people’s awareness – , structure and wood steps leading viewers to the second floor.Continuing upwards, the central shaft wall has irregular position and size of square windows that control natural light to create the unique definition of space through shade and shadow. The irregularly placed windows, as the picture frames on the common gallery, create an interesting selection of architectural perspectives by letting people wonder a living artwork of natural sunlight during a day.
photography by © Phuttipan Aswakool
By combining the three main materials; steel, concrete, and wood, it created a raw architectural complexion. Obviously, the imperfect concrete form-tile which created the unique characteristic of this private gallery along with the steel, wood and glass are the purity of material tend to remind people of craft-work.
photography by © Phuttipan Aswakool
Project Info:
Architects: ASWA (Architectural Studio of Work – Aholic)
Project Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Project Year: 2015
Project Area: 900.0 sqm
Photographs: Phuttipan Aswakool
Architect in Charge: Phuttipan Aswakool, Chotiros Techamongklapiwat
Sophie Tremblay is a Montreal-based architectural editor and designer with a focus on sustainable urban development. A McGill University architecture graduate, she began her career in adaptive reuse, blending modern design with historical structures. As a Project Editor at Arch2O, she curates stories that connect traditional practice with forward-thinking design. Her writing highlights architecture's role in community engagement and social impact. Sophie has contributed to Canadian Architect and continues to collaborate with local studios on community-driven projects throughout Quebec, maintaining a hands-on approach that informs both her design sensibility and editorial perspective.