bamboo battens and discarded concrete spacers envelope art studio in thailand

11.29 studio breathes new life into discarded local materials

In its design of the Furnish Studio, 11.29 Studio gives precedence to sustainable design and use of local materials, giving new life to discarded concrete. The oil painting art studio in Rayong, Thailand, sits elevated above ground, surrounded by a serene environment within the artist’s locality as it opens out onto a large pond at its rear. Rooted in its natural context, the studio’s entrance wall is shaped by a sequence of concrete spacers from the region which gradually lead visitors inside. Meanwhile, clusters of bamboo battens form flexible shutters along the facade, which open up to allow fresh ventilation and views to circulate around the space.

bamboo battens and concrete spacers envelope art studio in Thailand | all images courtesy of the author

flexible bamboo screens infuse light & air into the art studio

Bangkok-based 11.29 Studio derives its key design for the project from the project’s location. Drawing on the region’s natural environment and industrial status, the design team makes use of local and sustainable materials to reduce embodied emissions from transportation energy. Known as Thailand’s highest Gross Provincial Product province, Rayong is typically surrounded by industrial estates where mass construction and concrete waste are unavoidable. Drawing inspiration from the many characteristic discarded concrete spacers in the region, 11.29 Studio sought to create usefulness from the unusable elements, particularly for the skin of the art studio. In a simple yet creative expression, the spacers are used to punctuate a sculptural entrance to the art studio, emerging amid the bamboo facade.

The building formation is designed to house a serene, creative working space for artists working with oil paint. Due to the constant evaporation of the medium, it requires adequate ventilation in order to protect the health of the artists. Resolving this, 11.29 Studio wrapped the facade in bamboo batten walls as a creative design element that roots the structure in its context while enabling ample wind circulation.

Furnish Studio opens out onto a large pond at its rear

concrete spacers punctuate a sculptural entrance

a simple yet sculptural expression using local construction waste materials

the building houses a serene, creative working space for oil painters

a fusion of local materials

bamboo battens filtrate light and provide wind circulation in the art studio