In the forest

Whenever there's a plan to construct buildings on an empty plot, people often find trees growing on the land an obstruction -- something that should be disposed of to maximise the use of available space. But for Naiipa Art Complex, the concept goes in an opposite direction. The trees have to stay, but buildings also have to rise.

Not many people would hesitate to cut down the tall trees to clear the way for an even taller building. But Sabhat Rakitawan, co-founder of the Naiipa Art Complex project, couldn't find it in his heart to tear down trees that his grandparents planted on his family's land on Sukhumvit 46 decades ago. He wished to preserve his family heirlooms. So he recruited architect Chanasit Cholasuek to help bring out his conceptual idea of creating an art complex -- a hub for artists of all trades -- that can coexist in peace with nature and life.

"It seems difficult to accomplish, but it's actually doable," said Chanasit, co-founder of Stu/D/O Architects and head architect of the Naiipa project.

Sabhat, 30, may have no experience when it comes to managing a commercial lot. But when it comes to living with the arts, he knows his way around. He graduated with degrees in communication design and new media from the US, and has worked within the graphic design industry for many years in Thailand, and briefly in the US.

Sabhat admitted that he's learning on-the-job as he goes along with his Naiipa project.

Naiipa Art Complex is 90% completed and should be officially unveiled early next year. It will feature a co-working space, recording and dance studio, seminar room, restaurants, outdoor art gallery, and coffee shop. So far, the project cost has cost more than 50 million baht. Sabhat said he still hasn't calculated how much actually went into preserving his grandparents' trees. Anyone coming to Naiipa Art Complex from BTS Phra Khanong would find themselves lost among various species of towering trees.

Naiipa means "in the forest", a name given by Sabhat's mother. With tamarind, pink trumpet, golden shower and mango, the place is filled with trees that will take turn to bloom flowers and yield fruit come different seasons.

"When people ask where I work, I can tell them I work 'naii-pa' -- or in the forest," said Sabhat with a smile.

Working the path around trees.

Working with trees brought on numerous challenges. An arborist is needed during construction to minimise effects on plants. Floor plans need to be redesigned on-site multiple times to avoid growing branches. People have to basically walk through trees and dodge under branches to get from one section of the building to another.

But these efforts ended with a pleasing result. Even though Naiipa Art Complex is still under construction, its potential is already realised and apparent to communities of artists and designers. A well-known international design magazine was so impressed with this emerging hub that it decided to hold an event here last month. More than 700 people were in attendance, a success for Naiipa's soft launch. The complex has also won an Emerging Talent title from the same magazine's Designs of the Year award.

Being tree-conscious means the design of the architecture has to affect the trees as little as possible. Naiipa Art Complex, in its modern style, utilises metal to form a structural foundation, and glass for most of the walls. It was done to minimise the use of concrete, which can be harmful to plants. The floors of the bridges that connect the is made of wooden planks.

Architect Chanasit finds wood to be a natural material that suits this complex the most. While he admits that wood maybe hard to care for as an exterior décor, he also wants it to age and pale naturally. The team will conduct regular maintenance, but nature will take care of the rest.

Another striking feature of this place -- aside from numerous trees popping up everywhere -- is the transparency of the building. The glass walls appear to blend in with surrounding nature. It's almost difficult to find where the building's boundary begins and ends.

It's a glass trick by Chanasit and his team. On the street side of the complex, the windows are equipped with frosted glass for privacy. While people can't really see through from the outside, it still provides enough natural light for the people within. Frosted glass also helps filtering heat from the Sun.

Several design plans had to be altered on-site to accommodate the trees.

Contrarily, the glass plays on a different concept for the complex's interior. On all glass walls facing inside the complex, reflective glass was used to create a façade, which reduces the form of the structure. Lines seem blurred, and it gives out an atmosphere of a forest even when we're stuck in the middle of a concrete jungle.

"We want to expand the forest concept as trees are our main player," said Chanasit. "Reflective glass is quite good. People inside the room will find it easy to look outside. But, those on the outside will see more reflections, comparatively, and see more of the trees."

Saving space for trees affects the project's feasibility and marketability, to an extent, as it reduces space for commercial purposes. But Sabhat himself merely shrugged as he would prefer to keep nature where it belongs. Chanasit, as an architect, rather agrees.

"We believe that, with the right design and atmosphere, trees can make up for lost commercial space and add value to our project," said Chanasit.

Sabhat views that, in a way, Naiipa Art Complex is his way of giving back to society. He wants to show that it's truly possible for trees to go hand-in-hand with modern architecture.

"We would be glad for people to learn and find inspiration from this project," said Sabhat. "The trees have been here first. And the buildings that follow should come with a limited effect on the environment."