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A mini-chalet in Thailand, coated with charred wood

A small building in the forest is the cultural manifesto of a craftsmanship attentive to environmental issues and genius loci.

In the "Wood and Mountain" cabin in the forest of northern Thailand, Sher Maker architects have carefully integrated a contemporary compositional approach with a craft culture in which design and construction are interconnected, seamless processes.

The building is a simple rectangular construction suspended on stilts, delicately set in a context of enveloping vegetation.

The space is intimate and welcoming: on the ground floor there are living room, terrace, bathroom and pantry; on the first floor there are corridor and bedroom.

The design approach is a tribute to vernacular architecture and to the profession of the owner, a manufacturer of furniture: the shell, supported by a metal structure, is made entirely of local wood - in reference to the owner who produces furniture - coherently with the local tradition. The external surfaces are screened on three sides to guarantee intimacy and recollection, while a large window on the front opposite the entrance offers a generous view of the landscape from the terrace and the openings on the first floor. 

Sher Maker, Wood and Mountain, Mae Rim, Chiangmai, Thailand 2021. Photo: Rungkit Charoenwat
Sher Maker, Wood and Mountain, Mae Rim, Chiangmai, Thailand 2021. Photo: Rungkit Charoenwat

A characteristic feature of the project is the use, in the external and internal cladding, of wood treated with a carbonization process based on the Japanese shou-sugi ban technique: this procedure, of ancient memory, prolongs the life cycle of the wood, making it more resistant to atmospheric agents, fire and organic deterioration and giving the material a highly distinctive image with a minimum of maintenance.

Sher Maker, Wood and Mountain, Mae Rim, Chiangmai, Thailand 2021. Photo: Rungkit Charoenwat
Sher Maker, Wood and Mountain, Mae Rim, Chiangmai, Thailand 2021. Photo: Rungkit Charoenwat

The project is characterised by craftsmanship: the architects used the studio's workshop as an experimental area for collecting and selecting samples of material, including recycled material, and for mock-up work on the walls. The irregular hues and imperfections of the boards subjected to the carbonization process are a valuable element declaring that "warmth" and emotional transport that only manual workmanship can confer.

Project:
Wood and Mountain
Architectural project:
Sher Maker
Project team:
Patcharada Inplang,Thongchai Chansamak, Nat Tangchonlatip
Burning/construction:
Akapan Kanyen, Thanapong Kiwtodsingkorn, Nat Tangchonlatip, Sirapapra Thinnang
Structure Engineer:
Pilawan Piriyapokhai
Building team:
Sher Maker builder team, Attipol Bamrungyai
Documentary Photo:
Puwadech Tiamsak
Photo credits:
Rungkit Charoenwat

Time Space Existence: the Future of Architecture In Venice

Until November 23, 2025, Venice is the global hub for architectural discussion with "Time Space Existence." This biennial exhibition, spearheaded by the European Cultural Centre, features projects from 52 countries, all focused on "Repairing, Regenerating, and Reusing" for a more sustainable future.

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