ASWA’s irregular-shaped office marks the brand’s signature
ASWA has designed‘Sevenlakes Office’, the headquarters of a food packaging brand in Thailand. The design idea derived from the brand’s thermoforming packaging product, so the architects sought to translate this function into an architectural language. Thus, the final structure adopts an irregular form, clad in metallic black aluminum, mimicking the shape of an object wrapped into a vacuum packaging film.
Beyond the brand’s signature, the project bears a well-lit functional layout for the people who work there. To achieve this combination successfully, the design team integrated two courtyards into the robust composition, letting daylight spill over the interior.
all images by ASWA
interpreting the brand’s products in an architectural idea
The Bangkok-based practice has designed a new office with an uneven envelope taking its cue from the brand’s product — a vacuum packaging film for the food industry. The unformed space conveys the concept of a variable appearance following the shape of an object it wraps. The brief was to design an interior space of 230 sqm to accommodate 6-8 staff seating, a ten-seat meeting room, and an area for the managing director room.
Occupying an area of about 400 sqm close to the Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, the plot is surrounded by low-rise residential buildings and empty low lands. Therefore, its triangular volume that rises up 6 meters makes its presence obvious, marking the brand’s identity. The highest part of the volume is located next to the roadside to serve the staff. This area can fit up to 8 people, and the ceiling is inclined to host the meeting room and managing director room. ASWA opted for a steel structure as the material can sculpt into an irregular form with a wide span. Thus, as aforementioned, a metallic black aluminum composite clads the building to mimic a single-sheet wrapping like the company’s thermoforming packaging product.
two courtyards penetrate the solid building
The plan can be divided into three sections; the staff area is positioned on the left side, the meeting area in the center, and the managing director’s room to the right. For the entrance, the architects sculpted the structure on the oblique side of the trapezoid plan forming a nook. There, a deck takes place, creating a welcoming area with a curved backdrop that invites the staff to unwind and interact.
Upon entering, one encounters a surprising‘scoop greenery courtyard’that brings vivid pops inside. Besides the big yard, the interior houses another‘scoop pool court’for the managers to spend time with their children during the weekend.
the triangular volume with the trapezoid plan shape comes from the idea of thermoforming packaging
a metallic black aluminum composite clads all over the building
the entrance is on the oblique side of the trapezoid plan
the greenery courtyard brings natural light in
the first glimpse of the space, when entering inside, is the surprising‘scoop greenery courtyard’
inside and outside atmosphere in the staff area
the meeting room shares a view on the shortened side
a‘scoop greenery courtyard’allows staff to enjoy a void toward the sky
the‘scoop pool court’
project info:
name: Sevenlakes Office
designer: ASWA (Architectural Studio of Work – Aholic)
landscape design: LAAB
main contractor: CCK
location: Bangkok, Thailand
status: completed
area: 230 sqm
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edited by: christina petridou | designboom
