Residents taking a bath or using the toilet are on show to swimmers in the pool at this brick and concrete house in Chiang Mai, Thailand (+ slideshow).
The house was designed by local studio SO, also known as Situation-based Operation. Named Wonderwall, it comprises a series of both indoor and outdoor rooms that fold around a row of chunky brick walls.
The residence is organised over a series of split levels to negotiate the slopes of the hill. Staircases are dotted around the rooms to prescribe different routes between floors.
"The house is basically a living space," explains architect Narong Othavorn. "[It has] a huge open plan and open space between indoor and outdoor, with the big wall cutting through the existing landform to create the sequential scenes, exposing it to different space and functions."
The swimming pool is positioned on the uppermost storey, sandwiched between the main bedroom and bathroom. Walls are glazed on the facades of both rooms so that they face each other across the water.
"I just wanted the owner to be able to shower right after swimming," Othavorn told Dezeen.
Louvred fencing surrounds this cluster of rooms to let in light, but also maintains privacy from the rest of the house.
"The bedroom can be seen once entering the plot, but can only be accessed at the end of the sequential scene by passing through a gallery-like living room and the swimming pool," added Othavorn.
The "gallery-like" living and dining room is also located on the top floor, while a sheltered outdoor kitchen and living room sits on the level below.
A square terrace covers one of the rooftops and is designed to double-up as an outdoor cinema.
The architect's materials palette included red clay bricks, exposed concrete and timber decking. Glass walls are made up of concertinaed panels that hinge open when necessary.
Other residences we've featured from Thailand include a Bangkok apartment with an outdoor shower room and a renovation of two traditional shophouses.
See more architecture from Thailand ».
Photography is by Piyawut Srisakul.
Above: site plan - click for larger image
Above: first floor plan - click for larger image and key
Above: first floor plan - click for larger image and key
Who needs privacy when taking a dump anyway, right? *facepalm*
Open here, close there. Well done.
Looks great – if you like the idea of living in an open plan prison.
It already looks old and that’s why I like it. By the way: floor plans would be really great.
Wonderful.
Looks really interesting, it's a pity there are no plans available.
I don’t get the benefit of being seen on a loo by other people in the house.
I was wondering when ‘that one architect’ would come out of the closet and design an open bathroom.
Looks great; plans and sections would be welcome to fully grasp the project.
Sexy toilet.
The next logic step is to put the toilet in the pool.
Is it just me, or is the tub the wrong way around? Wouldn’t it be nice, considering the fact that it was designed to completely open up, if you faced the pool and the outside when taking a bath?
Cool! I always wanted to sh*t with a view!
Take a dump near your pool! Interesting house – but what about a toilet that doesn’t look like a €20 version from the shop around the corner? Once you present it like that, hmm.
Oh man! Just imagine you are swimming with your girlfriend in the pool, late evening, it’s a moonlit, beautiful, night, romance is in the air – and then you tell her “excuse me for a minute”, go and blow her kisses while taking a dump!
You have got to be sh***ing me?
Imitating all the worst design from the last few decades – but that is Thailand. This has got to be one of the ugliest, most uncomfortable-looking, clueless messes in Southeast Asia.
No need for a bidet – just jump in the pool!