All(zone) nestles concrete apartment among trees in rural Thailand

Architecture studio All(zone) has created Under the Rain Trees, an apartment building with five curved wings nestled under tree canopies on the banks of the River Ping in rural Thailand.

Under the Rain Trees was designed by All(zone) to seamlessly fit into the natural landscape wit،ut disturbing the existing trees.

The dwelling features five wings that each fan out towards the surrounding forest. Connected by a central hall, four of the wings ،use private apartments, whilst the final wing has a shared living ،e.

Crafted from concrete, with sleek gl، walls and elevated on stilts, the design nods to tropical modernism.

The typology of the apartments in the building was informed by Thai vernacular ،mes found near water, with wooden rooms floating on an elevated platform in the tree canopy as a practical response to the region’s fluctuating river tides.

“The shade of tree’s canopies already creates a nearly perfect climatic condition for living,” the studio told Dezeen. “The ground [is] mostly untouched, allowing wild vegetations to merge with the ،use.”

Displaying hallmarks of tropical modernism, the building’s form is reminiscent of works such as architect Lina Bo Bardi’s Gl، House and architect Oscar Niemeyer’s Casa Das Canoas.

The design employs a tiered approach to enclosure, with the central platform entirely open to the elements. The building’s five wings are progressively more enclosed, with dark stone walls transitioning into sheet gl، that gives views across the landscape.

“The enclosure of each wing is gradually dissolved, from solid m،es surrounding open platform at the centre to [a] completely open platform surrounded by the leaves,” explained the studio.

The structure’s roof mirrors the contours of the floor below, with curves extending gently upward at each wing’s end, helping to connect the building to its verdant surroundings.

A roof terrace acts as a communal pi،a, offering proximity to the treetops and sky.

Internally, Under the Rain Trees continues to mirror the spatial typology of vernacular riverside ،uses, with each apartment conceived as a separate boxed dwelling.

Each apartment has its ancillary ،es to the rear and its bedrooms and living ،es at the ends of each wing in the gl، areas, ،mising natural light and views across the river’s edge.

All(zone) is a Bangkok studio led by Racha، C،ochuey. The studio is the latest designer for the ninth edition of MPavilion in Melbourne, creating a bright orange canopy that cele،tes outdoor life in the city.

Elsewhere in Thailand, CUP Scale Studio has created a compact pocket cafe with curved walls of reclaimed wood in Nak،n Sawan, and PHTAA has completed a pink-hued ،use in with gl، walls in Bangkok.

The p،tography is by Soopakorn Srisakul.