MORIKAWA

MORIKAWA, a name drawn from the words for forest and river, adapts the way a Japanese house is put together to Thailand's sun and rain, rather than borrowing only the look. In a Japanese house a long terrace sits between the garden and the rooms. MORIKAWA turns that idea into shade for a tropical climate: sunlight crosses a terrace two to three metres deep before it reaches any wall, a double-height central hall lets heat rise away, and a full-length second-floor balcony shields the ground-floor walls again. Inside, the plan lets a large family live together without competing for space. Every bedroom has its own bathroom and dressing area, the ground-floor bedroom is a complete suite for family members who would rather not use the stairs, the Thai kitchen is enclosed and separated from the pantry so cooking smells stay out of the living area, and a dedicated prayer room sits upstairs.