Khao Phra Tamnak House marks SPACE | STORY | STUDIO’s first residential project in Pattaya. The project began when the owner, a real estate developer, approached the team to design only the interior spaces of a house that had already been self-prepared for construction.
However, after reviewing the original design, the team recognized that the project's scale and complexity required a more comprehensive architectural approach. The house needed to accommodate a sophisticated program, unique spatial requirements, and a number of site-specific constraints. Rather than adapting the existing scheme, a new architectural design was proposed to better respond to the owner’s lifestyle and aspirations.

Site and Program
Located on a hillside road branching from Khao Phra Tamnak Road, the site enjoys sea-facing views toward the front while naturally sloping downward from the rear. This topography presented an interesting challenge, as the owner wished to establish the highest point of the property at the front of the site, gradually stepping down toward the back in accordance with Feng Shui principles.
The program combined a private family residence with a separate entertainment pavilion, swimming pool, koi pond, and fitness facilities. While these spaces were intended to function as shared amenities, the residence itself required a high degree of privacy while maintaining visual connections to the pool and landscape.

Planning Strategy
The planning process evolved through close collaboration between the owner and the design team. With a strong understanding of spatial organization and Feng Shui, the owner played an active role in shaping the layout, while the architects translated these requirements into a coherent architectural framework that balanced functionality, regulations, engineering constraints, and spatial quality.
The four-storey residence is organized in an L-shaped configuration surrounding a central courtyard composed of gardens and a swimming pool. Family gathering spaces occupy the ground floor, while four master suites are located on the second and third levels. Additional family accommodations and supporting functions are positioned on the upper floor, with the prayer room occupying a significant location near the center of the property.

CITY | MOUNTAIN | TREE
During the design process, the team spent time studying the physical and cultural context of Pattaya, particularly the distinctive character of Khao Phra Tamnak. This exploration led to the development of a conceptual framework based on three interconnected themes: CITY | MOUNTAIN | TREE.

CITY
The urban structure of Khao Phra Tamnak is defined by a network of radial roads extending from the hilltop and secondary streets that follow the natural contours of the terrain. This layered urban pattern inspired the project’s organizational system.
A flexible 4 x 8-metre grid was established as the primary planning framework, improving construction efficiency while allowing for future adaptability. The horizontal order of the grid creates clarity and structure, while the vertical dimensions remain flexible enough to accommodate functional requirements, Feng Shui considerations, engineering systems, and site conditions.

MOUNTAIN
Khao Phra Tamnak is characterized by its elevated terrain overlooking the sea. The experience of moving through the area is defined by shifting levels, changing perspectives, and constant visual connections to the surrounding landscape.
This quality was translated into the architecture through a series of generous terraces and transitional outdoor spaces. Acting as contemporary interpretations of traditional verandas, these spaces connect individual living units with communal areas below while reinforcing a strong relationship between architecture, topography, and the distant sea.

TREE
The complexity of the program introduced multiple layers of privacy, orientation, and spatial hierarchy. Rather than relying on conventional solid-and-void compositions, the design team sought inspiration from natural growth patterns.
Drawing from biomimicry, the façade and opening systems were developed through principles observed in trees—the branching, scaling, and varying density of their structures. These elements create different levels of privacy, shading, and openness throughout the building while softening the visual impact of large architectural masses on the surrounding neighborhood.

Conclusion
Khao Phra Tamnak House represents an exploration of how architecture can emerge from the dialogue between site conditions, cultural beliefs, and contemporary living. The concept of CITY | MOUNTAIN | TREE was not conceived as a formal aesthetic language alone, but as a design framework capable of organizing complex requirements into a cohesive architectural response.
The result is a house deeply rooted in its context—one that transforms constraints into opportunities and creates meaningful connections between people, place, and everyday life.