Mulberry Grove Villas

The Mulberry Grove Villas are an integral part of the Forestias masterplan, embodying a vision for an intergenerational community in Thailand. Inspired by traditional courtyard houses, the design reflects Thai cultural values in a contemporary context. It emphasizes familial ties, flexibility, and transparency, creating a residential typology suited to Thai society.

Thai families often prefer living together across generations, unlike the more individualistic tendencies of Western societies. This cultural preference is reflected in the spatial layout of traditional Thai houses, where differences in levels, rather than walls, demarcate space. This design allows spaces to be used flexibly and encourages natural cooling breezes. The Mulberry Grove Villas combines contemporary living with traditional Thai architectural principles. They create a close relationship with nature and emphasize horizontal spatial connections, which are not possible within a tower stack. The villas come in three typologies—small, medium, and large—and are grouped in clusters of six to two across the site, allowing large families to combine units into private enclaves. The three houses share a similar typology, with each successive type offering more bedrooms and generous living spaces. The ground level contains storage and ancillary spaces, with a small entrance hall for lift access. The main living areas are elevated, akin to traditional Thai houses, allowing water runoff to flow into the water reservoir in the middle of the forest. The main entrance leads to the first level, centred around a large courtyard, a key element in traditional Thai houses. This courtyard connects different rooms and creates a shared open space for various uses, while also aiding in natural ventilation. Large sliding doors open from the family lounge and dining areas onto the courtyard, bordered by a covered veranda. Transparency is a significant theme, with the absence of walls allowing family members to feel connected. The grandparents’ room on the main floor has direct visual access to the family lounge, which is overlooked by the family suite and master bedroom on the upper floor. Folding screens allow for flexible space division. Innovative planning ensures that plumbing and wiring can be accessed from outside the house, allowing repairs without disturbing the residents. Cables and pipes are concealed without false ceilings, preserving the honesty of the finishes.