Naturally, human and nature both have various conflict within themselves and towards each other. It may be viewed negatively, however, within the confrontation, there is beauty more than meets the eyes. Therefore, the word “irony” is a main part of the conceptual design for Base Saphanmai. It is a method to architecturally bring excitement beyond expectation, while still maintaining its overall aesthetic. The key aesthetic element in the project was inspired from the concept of “Feminism”. Once the gentleness is explored, there is more value than meets the eyes. Similar to the idea a tattooed lady in a dress, it is the contradiction that is attractive and brings out the urge to explore.
When designing the condominium, the projects uses the element of thinness and curve to resemble the image of a light long dress, which brings out the elegance in the project. The concept of feminism is also carried throughout the project’s decision of colors. For instance, the main part of the condominium is painted in brownish gray, with the facade in the color of beige and rose gold. The combination of colors selected are intended to represent the image of a woman.
Once entered into the Base Saphanmai, there is a pavilion which is being used as a Co-Working Space. The facade of the pavilion consists of expanded metal in beige color to resemblance of a light fabric. To enhance the concept, the expanded metal is altered from a naturally straight sheet into a dynamic curve to indicate the gentleness of a pavilion. It is a way to dematerialized its natural form of a material. By doing so, it is a way to challenge our perception and idea of how the material can do apart from its natural state. As an result, it is a way to create visual irony, which relates back to the main concept of the project, Irony, through the alteration of material.
The main part of the building is divided into two. The two towers are connected thru the six-floor podium at the base running along the whole length of the site. In the middle the podium, there is an atrium which allows the natural light to come into the “internal scape” space. It is a space that resemblances an outdoor garden/landscape but is situated inside the building, which is also one of the methods to elevate the idea of “Irony” through this external interior space.
On the outside of the atrium, there is a secret garden designed through language of curvature. The collection of long curvature within the secret garden is also meant to highlight the element of feminism. This concept is also being carried out to the roof garden on the sixth floor. On the sixth floor garden, the concept is implemented in the various mixture of plants in different colors, where
To access the rooftop, the spiral ramp in the podium is one of the main options to get to there, since the elevator cannot reach the rooftop due to the regulation. Therefore, the spiral ramp is necessary and important. However, it isn’t designed only for the universal accessibility, but it is also part of the main concept in trying to create a new dimension in the overall form of the building. Since most of the mass of the project is rectangular, the clearly visible spiral ramp was meant to soften the overall mass through the circular curve of the ramp. Although the spiral ramp can be viewed as contradiction to the overall mass of the condominium, but at the same time, the rose gold ramp help elevate the appearance of the condominium.
At the rooftop, the space is divided into two zones: Sunrise Lagoon and Sunset Garden. Within the Sunrise Lagoon zone, there is a large swimming pool in a curvature layout with multiple miniature islands spreading throughout the pool. On the other side of the rooftop, the Sunset Garden zone is designed to have a similar appearance of natural terrains and small hills, with various free form curvature to accommodate a kids’ playground.
