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A house is where a family is formed, and that is why most people feel the need to buy a new home when starting a new family. But a new family is also a part of the family one was born into, and with new members, parents become grandparents, children become moms and dads, and uncles and aunties when the younger generation is introduced to the world. But how do you give everyone the spaces and privacy they want, including a common area, while everything has to be a part of the same house with rather limited space and all these diverse needs?
The house was materialized from the wish of the parents, who were planning to build two new homes on the adjacent plot of land. The extensions are meant for their two sons, who are planning to get married and start new families, while the two daughters would stay under the same roof as the mom and dad until they tie the knot and move out— a common tradition of Thai families of Chinese descent. After numerous conversations, some Q&A questions, and growing acquaintance with the family, the design team gradually noticed the closeness between family members who always seemed to enjoy going out and doing different activities together.

The parents, the siblings, and the in-laws always tease each other, treating each other with discernible adoration. From that observation and a whisper from the eldest son about his parents’ wish, “My mom and dad want everyone to live together, and that goes the same for us, but would it be possible for us children to have our own personal space for our family?” the design team concluded the project’s functional program. It would be a house for seven individuals from three generations, providing a sense of privacy for every dweller, including the new members who will be joining the family.

The key to the design lies in the manipulation of the common space, with adjustability that can accommodate varying spatial scales and users’ interactions.

This particular section of the program will have visual access to the garden and the pool, housing a living and dining space. The program includes a fitness room and additional areas for lounging, gaming, reading, and where light meals and snacks are served. Located on the second floor of the house, this 38-meter-long space is devoid of permanent walls and partitions. It’s designed to enable and encourage family members to spend as much time as possible together.

From the floor plan, this common space is situated along the same diagonal line, right at the center of the property and surrounded by the three living quarters. From the outside, the three buildings appear as separate structures, with three masses of the roof aligning along the same diagonal axis, keeping the divided buildings under one roof. The second floor of each house is designed as a sleeping quarter, with the two sons’ bedrooms situated next to the two daughters’ bedrooms, which can be transformed into grandchildren’s rooms in the future. These functional spaces are linked with a transitioning section where massive sliding doors are installed. These doors can be used to partition the two sons’ private home spaces in the future when they are married. The parents’ bedroom at the center of the sleeping quarter connects to the common area without any partition, reflecting their desire to be close to their children and grandchildren without the need for extra privacy—just the pure joy of being able to see their loved ones in their everyday life.

Each bedroom contains its own spatial characteristics, resonating with each user’s varying demands. For instance, the eldest son expresses the desire for a duplex living space, while the youngest son preferred a spacious and elongated room with a sizable terrace to accommodate his friends. Each room has a different view: some face the garden, while others face the pool. Nevertheless, all the functional spaces are designed with comfort and livability as priorities. The dense walls of the bathrooms and dressing areas have only a few openings for the privacy they require. These private spaces face the west, obstructing the afternoon sun, while the glass sliding doors of the bedrooms welcome natural wind and enhance ventilation, with a canopy and terrace providing another layer of buffer to prevent the heat of the sun from invading the interiors.

The achieved result is a residential program that is highly flexible in size and accommodating to the relationships and interactions between the current and future family members. The house has the ability and capacity to be the home for members from three different generations, with a design that encourages everyone to meet, talk, spend time together, share experiences, give advice, and impart life lessons when needed. In the meantime, the design provides personal spaces for the extending units of the family, while embracing the functional program of a traditional Thai home, where great-grandparents and grandchildren all live together under one roof. 

At the end of the day, the number of houses may grow, but everyone is still a part of one big family. So wouldn’t it be better to stay together? Because as far as one’s concerned, isn’t the more, the merrier, after all?