Getting "Smart" with broads

Over the last decade, architects and designers all over the world have been consciously exploring designs and materials with little or no impact on the environment, and Tra Chang – the eco-friendly subsidiary of SCG – is no exception. It recently invited four Thai designers to share their ideas by coming up with a wall for a home using its Smart Board products, which are made from |pest-free material that offers high flexibility, strength and durability, as well as being light, asbestos-free and tolerant of humidity.
Woranol Sattayavinij added dimension to a living room wall with his “Vertical Dune” design.
“I wanted to add a dimensional appeal to the flat surface, so I thought of the natural curves of sand dunes that give a connected flow of movement but still look neat and serene.
The ‘Vertical Dune’ design shows that dimension can be displayed on a vertical wall. The curves are similar to how sand dunes are formed from grains of sand carried by the wind, which turns this wall design into an art piece,” Woranol explains.
To create the “Vertical Dune” wall, about 200 Smart Boards were cut into pieces of pre-defined contours. Computerised 3D software was used to design each board so that the size and contour would form a continuous flow of lines.
Anurak Kongwong’s “Shadow on the Wall” bedroom was inspired by the patterned shadow of ornate wrought iron. For him, bedrooms should be filled with a beautiful and soothing ambience.
“I take pleasure in walking around places to discover the unperceived charms and underlying stories. An image that impresses me is the gradual change of shadow on walls or floors caused by light coming through a delicate design in wrought iron, which often creates an interesting pattern. That imagery inspired this piece,” Anurak says.
Smart Board, 12 millimetres thick, was cut into pre-set patterns using a water jet cutter before different shades of acrylic paint were applied to create the visual effect of dimension and depth.
Pruitsatorn Sakulthai, design director of PIA Interior, notes that the limited space inherent in urban living tends to restrict design ideas. His “Parasite” wall tries to correct the misconception that partitioning a small room for different functions can be difficult. His partition is not just an ordinary board, but one filled with fun and function.
“The board is flexible and can be used in many ways to meet specific design requirements. It can be both decorative and functional in a single design and doesn’t take up too much space. By putting different sizes of pipes in-between the boards, we create storage space and a cosy cavity to curl up in.
That’s why I thought of the name ‘Parasite’ – it gives the feeling of something alien that clings onto existing architecture,” Pruitsatorn explains.
The partition is surprisingly simple to assemble. Pieces of the same size Smart Board are placed in line at intervals to accommodate the pipes and the components are then securely fixed.
“The ideal thickness of the boards is 8mm. This allows them to bend for pipe installation. The PVC-pipes should have various diameters. Insert them randomly, and if a particularly large pipe is included, it will create a curl-up space. The functional partition is a see-through structure, so |the room won’t feel cramped.”
Varakan Tipprapa added a playful idea to his “DJ Kitchen” design with wall storage made of the Smart Board. “I see many similarities between a cook and a DJ. Both share similar characteristics in terms of workspace and its functions. I also looked beyond function for physical activities involved in cooking, because another key use of a kitchen is storage. The pattern of a DJ’s record storage was fused in to give an upbeat feel to it.
“To create this storage-wall design, the first thing to consider is the strength, durability and weight capacity of the materials. It also helps reduce construction time and cost while offering long-term values to the occupants,” Varakan says.
For more information, visit www.TraChang.co.th.