thai architecture office pantang studio has renovated a townhouse in bangkok?s ekamai neighborhood, transforming the three-story building into a residence that can either be used as a single house of three floors, or as two independent housing units. titled 2 in 1 house, the project incorporates a stairwell as a central feature to allow for flexible use of the building, as well as for natural light and ventilation throughout. the stairwell acts as an adaptable element, serving either as private vertical circulation or as the main entrance of the ?upper residence? when the building is divided in two parts.
all images by FANGBakii ? apinine thassanopas, courtesy of pantang studio
 
 
?the singularity of this project comes from the unusual requirements of our client in terms of uses,? explains pantang studio. in order for the architects to be able to fit two houses in one, as requested by the client, they analyzed the plans of the existing building and decided to use a stairwell as the central element of the new project, which offers maximum flexibility when it comes to use, light, ventilation, and design. in order to ensure flexibility in uses, the stairwell becomes an adaptable element: if the building is inhabited as a single house, then the stairs can be used as a private vertical circulation that connects the three floors; and if the ground floor and upper floors are independently used as two separate housing units, then the stairwell can be isolated by closing a gate,...