Where’s House Warehouse / Pbm

Architects: pbm
Area: 2000 m²
Year: 2023
Photographs: Spaceshift Studio
Manufacturers: CASA ROCCA, Chang Keaw, L&E, Lamitak, TOA, Vispac
Landscape Architects: Lohkoh
City: Bang Na
Country: Thailand

Where’s House Warehouse, designed by pbm, redefines traditional architectural boundaries, merging living, working, storage, and communal interaction within a single versatile space. Serving as the central hub for a company specializing in importing vaccines and nutritional supplements for the agricultural sector in Thailand, this office-warehouse hybrid, located at the entrance of a residential area, aims to enhance the quality of life for its users through innovative design.

The concept of Where’s House Warehouse is based on “Blurring the Boundaries of Architecture.” This approach challenges and dissolves traditional distinctions between spatial functions, especially between home, office, and context. Where’s House Warehouse reimagines conventional space by integrating multiple functionalities into a single structure.

The architectural concept centers on dismantling physical barriers, promoting fluidity, and encouraging interaction among various zones within the building. This creates a dynamic environment that enhances adaptability, versatility, and interconnectedness. Strategic design elements, such as open-plan layouts, known as an ‘air-drying office,’ maximize natural light and efficient air circulation in public areas like central spaces and hallways. The building’s design avoids complete enclosure, reducing the need for air conditioning in every space and fostering a sustainable and comfortable environment.

The core of the design is the extensive use of glass blocks throughout the building. This material not only mirrors the business identity, centered on distributing vaccines and livestock supplements for the agricultural sector but also highlights cleanliness and hygiene. The clean, minimalist aesthetic is enhanced by abundant natural light, offering a sense of openness and privacy for passersby. Glass blocks delineate functional boundaries within and outside the building, creating a harmonious blend of perspectives and functionality. Their circular and translucent nature aligns with the village’s surrounding context.

The concept embraces a design philosophy that transcends aesthetics, focusing on creating an experiential and functional space that fosters collaboration, communication, and a sense of community. The integration of office and residential spaces is achieved through the strategic use of glass blocks, which blur the boundary between internal and external areas. This fusion is apparent in both perspectives and functionality, leading to the name “Where’s House Warehouse” – a space that seamlessly blends diverse functions into a cohesive whole.