Designed by Department of Architecture, Little Shelter is located in Chiang Mai where its old cityscape and vernacular architecture are characterized by a wood structure with a shingle pitched roof. The hotel roof form inspired by traditional hip roofs as an homage to the local architecture has a little reinterpretation with an asymmetrical form blending naturally with the surrounding tree top silhouette. The west side of the roof is partially carved out to become a roof deck for guests to enjoy the panoramic river view at sunset.
Photography: W Workspace Company Limited
The design continues the local architectural character through the use of the predominant traditional material ? the wood shingles. The most interesting aspect of the material is in its system that has been well developed for hundreds of years. Small units of wood shingles are laid out like fish scales to become a watertight architectural plane.
The design has explored a possibility to fuse new materials into the system to create a contemporary architectural surface yet deeply rooted in tradition. The wood shingles are used on the roof and side walls. On the river facade, polycarbonate sheets are cut into the same size as wood shingles and constructed to become the architectural translucent facade.
Photography: W Workspace Company Limited
On the entrance façade, the upper portion is composed of solid wood shingles and they trickle down to mixed with polycarbonate shingles on the lower part. Although worki...