How a Narrow Piece of Land Evolved Into a Luxurious Project

The Line Condominium Sales Gallery, by Shma Company Limited, by Bangkok, Thailand. The Line Condominium is a 42 storey high residential building. The Complex is situated in the Jatutak Area, in Bangkok. The uniqueness of the “condominium” is that the residential units are individually owned. The landscape of the project unfolds on a narrow piece of land between the pedestrian pathway and the Sales Gallery building façade. The landscape designer Shma, a Thailand based firm, has successfully enhanced that small lane with a variety of special qualities.

The Line Condominium Sales Gallery

The design concept has been inspired by the history of the State Railway of Thailand. The Line Condominium represents the idea of ‘travelling’ to different natural destinations, and this is easily observed in the variation and the sense of motion of the design. The railway system in Thailand is very extensive and it bears a long history since the beginning of its construction during the 1890’s and the early years of the 20th Century. Thailand has one of the best meter-gauge rail systems in the world, along with India and Malaysia.

Layers of Materials that Intersect Creating Space

The project area has been divided into different stripes, parallel to the buildings’ longitudinal axis. The stripes differentiate from each other in terms of material and size. The material palette includes water, gravel, wood, vegetation and metal. The different surfaces intersect with each other creating motion and bringing the space in a state of flux. The wide concrete staircase that leads to the ground floor of the Sales Gallery lures the visitor to enter the building. See More Great Projects in Thailand: 

• Residents Get Luxurious Garden and Pool Project in Thailand
• Thai Landscape Architecture Award (TALA) 2015
• What Lies Behind the High Concrete Wall and Gate of T. Residence in Bangkok?

The Water Feature

The water feature offers a sense of illusion and depth through its reflection. Water sprinklers emerge from the water surface and create a joyful rhythm. The vertical elements of different heights form a wave in a state of suspension that unfolds along the facade. They represent the railway lines that allow motion through their stillness. This is a magnificent metaphor that links the project with the wider context. It makes a reference to the railway line that passes near the complex, in an imaginative way. The buildings’ special character is highlighted by this lath façade in a way that both users and passersby sense they have reached a new urban landmark.

Respect to the Existing Elements

A large Banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) has been maintained during the intervention. A circular area of five-meter radius has been formed around the tree in order to protect it. Small, native plants like ferns create a dense base around the trunk and prevent access. A Banyan tree begins its life in a rather unique way. It is an epiphyte. The plant begins life by growing on other trees. The initial tree becomes completely enveloped by the Banyan. Aerial roots hang down from the branches and they eventually become trunks. The Banyan tree can reach an enormous size. The roots can grow up to 200 meters in diameter and the tree height can reach 30 meters. Banyan tree is considered sacred and according to Hindu mythology, it is ‘the wish-fulfilling tree‘. No wonder it has been preserved on this site till now.

The Line Condominium’s landscape design is a creative gesture based on detail, precision, high quality materials and impeccable execution. It is remarkable how on such a small surface one encounters diversity, sense of motion, context and history integrated together.

Weathering or Getting Old?

However, one cannot help but wonder, “Do such projects weather beautifully or simply get old?” There is a high maintenance demand to ensure that the extraordinary result one appreciates at the moment will continue to exist as time goes by. This is definitely not an issue of design quality which is indisputably high. This has to do with the parameter of landscape maintenance which is very important, yet often neglected when the project is over. Landscape professionals need to take that into account in order to ensure that the project they have envisioned and created will be preserved. Does this parameter affect the way you design? It definitely should! Do you have something to say about this project? ?Let us know in the comment section below Go to comments

Full Project Credits For The Line Condominium Sales Gallery

Name of Project: The Line Condominium Sales Gallery Location: Bangkok, Thailand Landscape Architect: Shma Company Limited Project Team: Design Director – Yossapon Boonsom Landscape Architect – Nitipon Kaeosuwan, Yossit Poonprasit Horticulturist – Wimonporn Chaiyathet Client & Developer: Sansiri PCL & Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) Architect: Plan Associates M&E: W. and Associates Consultants Co.,Ltd C&S Engineering: Infra Structure Co., Ltd Site Area: 1,441 sqm Completion Year: 2015 Photograph Credit: Pirak Anurakyawachon Website: www.shmadesigns.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/Shmadesigns Recommended Reading:

• Urban Design  by Alex Krieger
• The Urban Design Handbook: Techniques and Working Methods (Second Edition) by Urban Design Associates

Article by Eleni Tsirintani Return to Homepage

Published in Blog