Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Luxury Family Compound With Huge Courtyard and Koi Pond

Luxury Family Compound With Huge Courtyard and Koi Pond

A 2,000 square metre luxury family compound in Thailand, with a huge open plan living area, large swimming pool, impressive courtyard, and a rooftop garden.

This family compound is a 2,000 square metre property in Hangdong district, Chiang Mai, Thailand, created by Full Scale Studio. Jongluck Villa is home to 3 small families: Parents, their son’s family, and their daughter’s family. Paddy fields and the local village surround the location on Canal road, along with views of Doi Suthep mountain to the rear of site in the Northwest. The design spans 3 storeys: A ground floor with common area, living area, service area, swimming pool and car parking. The second floor contains bedrooms for each family unit, whilst the final floor accommodates some service units but more prominently a rooftop garden where the whole family can come to relax.


The boundary wall design incorporates sections of dense foliage to break up the concrete plain, and craft a more welcoming image of the triple family home.



Once past the boundary, the modern exterior is a linear design composed of reinforced concrete and rich stained timber cladding. Car parking is provided under shade.



A cantilever slab terrace lightens the form of the building. The terrace also provides the family members with another opportunity to remain closer with the natural environment.



Expanses of glass and huge open voids allow line of sight to pass straight through the building and out of the other side…



… This is largely due to a stunning courtyard design at the core of the compound, where a symbolic White Meranti tree grows.


It is believed in traditional Thai culture that the White Meranti symbolises compromise, a quality that is prevalent in the humble manner of the people of Thailand. Compromise is also the quality that keeps a large family unit living together in peace. Large surrounding windows widen the view of the courtyard and create opportunities for connection.



A gathering of modern outdoor chairs allow the peaceful courtyard atmosphere to be enjoyed at rest.



The number one concern for the architect and homeowners was how to design the house to promote happiness and a close relationship between all family members. In response, the design focuses on connections with nature, both inside and outside the house, and interlinking social spaces.



The design separates programs of the house into 3 main spaces: indoor, outdoor and semi-outdoor. Semi-outdoor spaces are the areas under overhangs, which is applied from the traditional Thai house. All three of these categories are considered equally important, and in this case have been skillfully connected by the central courtyard, which is the heart of this home.



A lively atmosphere is important in the central area of the house, and so architectural elements were designed to help promote dynamic movement between surrounding spaces.



Overlapping layers have been developed into a number of functional ‘loops’, which originate in the central court and expand through vertical and horizontal axis.



The first layer–or inner ‘loop’–is a wooden terrace around the courtyard. The terrace acts as a transition space between indoor and outdoor spaces, a circulation device.



The second ‘loop’ of space is a concrete staircase that embraces the central courtyard.



Stair treads measure a spacious one meter, to build a very gradual incline that is comfortable and relaxing to climb.



The stairs seem to float up the side of the house, thanks to hidden supports in the building structure.



Family members can passively interact with the garden as they use the open sided staircase. They can even sit down here and rest a while, as though it were a multi-level terrace.



Views of the White Meranti tree and Koi fish pond evoke peace and connection with nature.



The third ‘loop’ is the living area for family activities indoors and semi-outdoors. The modern living room is equipped with a large television and TV stand, if everyone can ever agree on what to watch!



Long-span beams in the architecture allow more opportunity to view surrounding panorama, as well as maximising possibilities in spatial design. A long dining table accommodates family dinners.



Kitchen bar stools provide a place to sit and support the cook.



The outer ‘loop’ is where all bedrooms are located in their own private corners. The master bedroom belonging to the eldest parents is situated on the North side of the house, the son’s family bedrooms are in the South, and the East side is for the daughter’s family. Guest bedrooms take up the West side. All of the bedrooms are positioned thoughtfully so that they might enjoy a view of Doi Suthep mountain or other picturesque panorama.



Bathrooms are crisp, modern and luxurious.



Timber elements complement the natural environment that surrounds and permeates the home.



Vertical planting grows an intimate atmosphere by a sunken bathtub. Whilst raw concrete and simple stucco make up the main skin of the building, marble, granite and timber are introduced for a high-end finish.



The architectural overhang provides a setting for semi-outdoor living areas. The cover provides shading, and also acts as a huge horizontal void that can harness natural light and bring cooling wind into the building and the courtyard.



An al fresco dining area and an outdoor sofa and lounge chair set look out upon the large swimming pool that’s shared by the cohabiting family units.



An outdoor chaise lounge chair reclines on the wooded pool terrace.



The rooftop garden claims the third and final floor, which has lawned areas running around the perimeter of the courtyard void.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×