“You cannot bullshit about concrete,” says Kulapat Yantrasast, the renowned Thai architect behind one of Los Angeles’ most exciting firms, wHY Architecture. With these words, the designer encapsulates the fundamental qualities of concrete, the material of choice for his contemporary home in Venice Beach.
Exposed concrete possesses an innate sense of structural honesty and a raw, unforgiving sensibility that demands to be utilized only with the greatest consideration for every construction detail. In this film by Nowness, Yantrasast walks us through his striking residence, revealing the secrets behind his ultra modern design.
“There are times when you want magic, you want the invisible hand,” remarks the architect, “but there is nothing you can hide in concrete.” Yantrasast clearly takes great satisfaction in the minimalist qualities of this material, but he also stresses the importance of “objects of curiosity, wonderful little moments of delight,” filling his modern “vessel” with joyful artifacts that bring this architecture to life.
Via Sketch42
“When people think about spaces that they can be with themselves,” Yantrasast reflects, “it’s either like a very enclosed spiritual space — like a chapel — or maybe a grove of trees in a forest, and I like this house to be both.” He also enthuses about the relationship between the architecture and natural light. “You sit here, you see light going from the morning into the afternoon. You see light starting to interact with the walls and ceilings, and when you’re in here, you realize the passing of time.”
Via Sketch42
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