The Forest and Pool at Pyne, by TROP Terrains + Open Space, Bangkok, Thailand Some projects are simply impossible to forget, blurring the lines between art and design and mixing old with new. Unique in their design and conception, they create a lasting impression. The Forest and Pool at Pyne in Bangkok was commissioned in 2010 as part of a high-end condominium building by Thai real-estate developer Sansiri. The selected designer, TROP Terrains + Open Space, is an award-winning firm that previously received global attention for its design of The Garden of Hilton Pattaya and is among our Top Ten Names in Landscape Architecture.
The Forest and Pool at Pyne, TROP Terrains + Open Space
. It mixes clean lines, simplicity, and contrast with whimsical elements. The feeling of the space is the perfect balance — serene and calming, yet playful.
The Forest and Pool at Pyne, TROP Terrains + Open Space
Pyne is a luxury high-rise condominium building in a busy and densely populated downtown district. The location is ideal: The building is in the epicenter of a highly in-demand neighborhood, close to shopping centers, restaurants, nightlife, and, most importantly, directly in front of a
BTS skytrain station, Bangkok’s elevated rapid transit.
The Forest and Pool at Pyne, TROP Terrains + Open Space
As the city has become infamous for congested streets and never-ending traffic, more locals are turning to public transport. Today, proximity to transit has become the single most important factor in Bangkok’s real-estate market. Largely because of its prime location,
Pyne sold all of its available units within the first day. Today, these units are being resold at an average of
฿ 223 806 per square metre ($6817 USD), and rising.
The Forest and Pool at Pyne, TROP Terrains + Open Space
The location of this site created a unique challenge. Bangkok is a dense, urban city, and the related issues of air, noise, and light pollution needed to be addressed by the design. Population density in this neighborhood is extremely high, even for Bangkok. The site is completely boxed in by massive, outdated concrete buildings, and designers had to prevent the space from becoming claustrophobic. Noise and light were also a major concern. The busy downtown district is plagued with constant traffic and is the home of many major nightclubs.
The Forest and Pool at Pyne, TROP Terrains + Open Space
At just over
30,000 square feet, “
The Forest” area is located in the space between the condominium building entrance and the skytrain station. Many people in Bangkok have no access to green space, and the designers wanted this space to feel like a
refuge from the city: a forest escape for residents. 
The Forest and Pool at Pyne, TROP Terrains + Open Space
A 3-meter-high wall separates the space from the street. This wall looks ordinary from the outside, but also functions as a planter on the inside, creating a green curtain between the site and the city. Rolling hills of turf create an illusion of more green space, while also softening the geometric shapes of the surrounding city and reducing the sense of claustrophobia. I
ncredibly, the site includes 10-meter-tall trees, which help to create the feeling of a forest and establish a connection to nature. The geometric sculptures — silver deer — look like something from a contemporary art museum, adding a sense of whimsy and enchantment to the space.
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The Forest and Pool at Pyne, TROP Terrains + Open Space
. The contrast of materials creates an impression of appearing to be a work of art when viewed from above.
The Pool at Pyne Along with the forest garden area,
TROP was also commissioned to design the building’s swimming pool. The location and size was standard, exactly the same as the hundreds of other high-rise condominium buildings in the city. So a simple, standard pool design would have been the obvious answer. However,
TROP wanted to create something unique.
The Forest and Pool at Pyne, TROP Terrains + Open Space
design integrates the pool with various deck and garden terraces that create a modern oasis. An overhead structure called the “
skeleton” emits a soft glow at night, lighting the space. Combined with the terrace design, these differences in height, rather than just a flat pool of water with a flat deck, create visual interest. From above, the structure breaks up the space and creates a unique impression.
The Forest and Pool at Pyne, TROP Terrains + Open Space
A Refreshingly Unique Approach of Zen Garden Design Meeting Enchanting Forest Refuge
TROP continues to set an example to landscape architecture firms — cities don’t have to be boring. In a busy, urban environment, residents need an escape, but TROP’s forest and pool goes beyond this. It offers refuge in a city severely lacking in green space, while also creating a unique space that mixes art and design and effectively reflects the sense of luxury that is key to the identity of Pyne.
The Forest and Pool at Pyne, TROP Terrains + Open Space
In a city like Bangkok, where cookie-cutter solutions are frequently applied to design problems,
TROP has once again managed to create something entirely unique, distinguishing itself from everyone else in the field. All photos by
Wison Tungthunya and Tinnaphop Chawatin. Recommended reading:
Article by Michelle Biggs Return to Homepage
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