그 결과 태국 개발자들은 좀더 완벽한 땅을 얻기 위해 심한 경쟁을 하고 있다. 아니 그들은 대지가 얼마나 큰지 또는 경관이 얼마나 좋은지에는 크게 관심이 없다. BTS역(방콕 공중 열차 역) 바로 가까이에 있을수록 완벽한 것이 된다.
방콕에 있는 대부분의 콘도미니엄은 매우 비슷한 특징을 가지고 있다. 주거 건물을 주차 건물 꼭대기 위에 세우고, 일반적으로 주차 구역의 평면도가 수영장 구역을 빼면 주거 구역보다 더 크다. Sansiri의 ‘The Pool at Pyne’도 다르지 않았고, 수영장이 주차 구조의 지붕인 8층에 지정돼 있었으며, 약 370스퀘어미터 규모의 직사각형 테라스였다.
대상지 바로 앞에 기차역이 존재하는 것은 주거 건물을 분양하는데 큰 도움이 된다(하루만에 매진). 그러나 공간적으로 보면, 기차역은 약 백 미터 높이 3~4층 규모의 거대 구조물로서 디자이너에겐 악몽거리 중 하나다. 이는 거대한 규모의 빌딩이 당신의 집 문간 바로 앞에 놓여 있는 것과 같다. 게다가 주변의 오래된 여러 빌딩들로 인해 이 프로젝트는 사방이 콘크리트 박스에 갇히는 덫에 걸려 버렸다.
방콕의 많은 수영장들은 대게 ‘Sky Pool’이라 불리며 똑같은 이름을 공유하고 있다. 이유는 위치가 지붕 위에 있기 때문이다. 처음 몇몇 커플들은 매우 흥미 있어 하지만 조금 지나면 지루해한다. 우리가 맡은 디자인 업무는 단지 수영장만 디자인하는 것이 아니라 그 주거지에 정체성을 심어줄 독특한 조경의 특징들을 창조하는 것이었다.
번역·정리 _ 박광윤 기자
자료제공 _ Company TROP(www.tropstudio.com)
In the past, we may prefer to live in small houses outside the city areas, and commute in and out the city daily. Not anymore. To fit the present time’s fast life style, New generation keeps moving in many condominiums inside the developed areas instead.
Horizontal Living is out. Vertical one is the thing to do.
As a result, Thai developers are competing hard for the perfect plots of land in town. No, they do not care much about how big the plot is, or how great the view it would get. As long as it is right next to the BTS (Bangkok’s Sky Train) station, it is perfect. In 2010, Trop got a commission to design the Pool of Pyne by Sansiri, a high-end condominium in Bangkok. Its site is ideal. Located right in the middle of busy urban district, just 5 mins walk from the city’s biggest shopping malls, the plot is about the right size, 2,900 sqm. To make it even better, it also has a BTS station right in front of the property.
Architecture-wise, most condominiums in Bangkok are quite similar. The residential tower is built on top of parking structure. Normally the parking part has a bigger floor plan than the tower, leaving the left over area as its swimming pool. The Pool @ Pyne by Sansiri is no different. It is designated to be on the 8th floor, which is also the roof of the parking structure. The area is a rectangular shape terrace, around 370 sqm.
In order to get rid of that boxy feeling space, our first move is to create a “loosed” floor plan. Instead of a typical rectangular pool deck, we proposed a series of smaller terraces integrated with the swimming pool. Perpendicular lines were avoided, replaced by angled ones with round corners. A series of “green” planters were also inserted here and there, combining all 3 elements, water, terraces and plantings seamlessly.
Again, most pools in Bangkok share the same name. They are called “Sky Pool”, because of its location on top of the roof. The first couple ones sounded very exciting, but, after a while, it got boring. Our design task was not only to design a pretty swimming pool, but we also wanted to created a unique landscape feature that can identify the character of our residents.
To make our pool difference than others, the “Skeleton”, a light cladded structure, was prop
osed to “frame” the swimming pool 3-dimensionally. Before, the so-called sky pool is just flat piece of water on top of the building. Sure, swimmers can enjoy a great prospect view outside, but, looking back to the building, nobody recognize the presence of that pool from below. With the “Skeleton”, the pool was fully integrated into the architecture. Now the BTS passengers can look up and see the special space inside the frame. At night, the “Skeleton” glows, giving the architecture some “lightness” it needs badly in the crowded surrounding.
Landscape Architects : TROP : terrains + open space
Design Director : Pok Kobkongsanti
Project landscape architects : Theerapong Sanguansripisut, Ekitsara Meedet
Architects: Palmer & Turner (Thailand) Co.,Ltd.
Location : Bangkok, Thailand
Area : 370sqm
Year : 2010 - 2013
Photographs : Wison Tungthunya