Natural stone is an eternal material
Now in its 59th edition, Marmomac returns to Verona from September 23 to 26 to showcase the role of stone in contemporary design.
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.
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.
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.