Can Anyone Recommend An Architect

[UKJASE]

We are in the process of building our own house, and wondered if anyone can recommend an architect to us please?

We would like to get a couple of quotes before proceeding with drawing up the plans. Does anyone know of anyone good in the area?

Also, we read that we could go to the Tessabahn office, and have some plans drawn up by those guys, quickly, and at a low price. Has anyone had any experience of these services?

Thanks in advance for any replies

[arby]

Depends what you are looking for.....do you want a common Thai designed building.....designed for what Thai's have been accustomed to ......for years.......you probably have rented one; small kitchen designed to use a wok mounted on top of a propane tank for cooking.....a single basin sink with no where to put the dishes to dry. No counter space for preparing food. a small space designated for a small refrigerator.......A narrow and long living room.....bedrooms with the beds against the walls and no closets for clothes. A shower with the toilet and sink sharing the same space, getting all of it wet. No attention to where the sun rises and sets nor the predominant wind directions. Very few windows. Dropped ceilings to keep the hot air trapped and low to heat up the place................... then by all means , get the free plans from the Tessabahn. ........or do you want to hire a knowledgeable architect who understands all these things and designs a home suitable for the location and climate that you live in ? Tell us exactly what you are looking for .....

[casualbiker]

there are many different designs available now Crossy over in the DIY housing forum is knowledgable. You could also look at coolthaihouse.com

http://www.crossy.co.uk/Thai_House_Plans/

http://www.thailandhouseplans.com/construction-plans/free-thai-house-plans

[UKJASE]

Depends what you are looking for.....do you want a common Thai designed building.....designed for what Thai's have been accustomed to ......for years.......you probably have rented one; small kitchen designed to use a wok mounted on top of a propane tank for cooking.....a single basin sink with no where to put the dishes to dry. No counter space for preparing food. a small space designated for a small refrigerator.......A narrow and long living room.....bedrooms with the beds against the walls and no closets for clothes. A shower with the toilet and sink sharing the same space, getting all of it wet. No attention to where the sun rises and sets nor the predominant wind directions. Very few windows. Dropped ceilings to keep the hot air trapped and low to heat up the place................... then by all means , get the free plans from the Tessabahn. ........or do you want to hire a knowledgeable architect who understands all these things and designs a home suitable for the location and climate that you live in ? Tell us exactly what you are looking for .....

we are looking at drawing up plans for a 4 bed, 3 bath single story house Arby

the reason i mentioned the tessabahn, was that i read they have architects there who can design a house to someone's spec, and have it passed by the authorities - not sure on how true it is. i did also read that they have off the shelf plans as you say

are you an architect mate, or can you recommend anyone in the hua hin area?

[arby]

Yes they have architects there and they can do plans, drawings for you. I have some experience with them, not much, but enough. Unfortunately the Thai architects that I have met have been limited in their design concepts and imagination. I am an architect myself and i used to have a Teakwood knockdown home factory north of Chiang Mai for a few years and now live in Phuket where I have designed and built my own home as well as a few other projects around here. I feel that if one is going to go through all the trouble of building their own home and not buying one already on the market, then they should attempt to make it as comfortable, functional and aesthtically pleasing as possible for their effort. Of course these terms have different interpretations by each and every one of us. that is why it is important to find an architect who understands your desires as well as being familiar with the landscape/surroundings that you plan on building on and his/her talents are in tune with what you would like. Look around you. Most of the homes were designed by Thai architects. Do you like how they look ? You have been inside many of them. Do you like the size, shape and layout of the rooms ? How about the ambient temperature inside the rooms and natural lighting ? 99% of the homes I have been in here and rented, have failed in nearly all of these categories. The rooms are not dimensioned nor shaped to accommodate the function they are intended for. Sometimes the kitchen is at one end of the house and the living area is at the other. No space in the bedrooms for closets or the bedroom is too big and has a lot of wasted, unused space. Virtually all the Thai designed homes I have been in have been hot and stuffy. I could go on and on. If you have visited a home that you like and functions, find out who designed it and seek them out. If not, make a list of all the things you want in a home and cut out some pictures in magazines of interiors and exteriors of homes that you like. Not necessarily of what you would want in your home but what appeals to your eye and sensi bility. This will give the architect an idea of your tastes. Have your wife/partner do the same. Do you spend a lot of time in the kitchen because you lke to cook or bake ? Mention that to the architect as well as any other aspect of your daily home life you enjoy.........If you have any other questions, you can pm me and I'll send you my email address

[hhfarang]

Ten years ago we used an architect at the Tessabahn (who was hired by our builder to make official drawings during his off time). I already had a floor plan that I created myself and I had a photo of a house similar to what I wanted mine to look like on the outside. The Tessabahn guy took my documents and turned them into a book a half inch thick of legal style building drawings that were perfect (after a few sessions sitting in front of a computer with him). I don't know how much he got paid but I think it wasn't much.

[darrendsd]

Try the English guy who is married to the Thai lady who runs Angies Bistro on Soi 80

[ChrisY1]

we are looking at drawing up plans for a 4 bed, 3 bath single story house Arby

the reason i mentioned the tessabahn, was that i read they have architects there who can design a house to someone's spec, and have it passed by the authorities - not sure on how true it is. i did also read that they have off the shelf plans as you say

are you an architect mate, or can you recommend anyone in the hua hin area?

We used a lady architect in Bangkok for our home in Cha Am.....contemporary western style...patio, pool etc..

I did the floor plan and instructed her to make it better....she did a great job!

Thai building methods, Farang style and finish....cost about THB80K...all the Architecturals, electrical, plumbing and sanitary, finishing schedules, the lot.

The local Tessabann wanted the original dwgs....but no way...they copy and sell!

[Cabrinha]

Try the English guy who is married to the Thai lady who runs Angies Bistro on Soi 80

Does anyone know the name of this English guy?

thanks

Cabrinha

[darrendsd]

Try the English guy who is married to the Thai lady who runs Angies Bistro on Soi 80

Does anyone know the name of this English guy?

thanks

Cabrinha

Hi name is Mike, his office is behind Room by Room which is situated at the start of Soi 80 on Petchkasem road, If you can't locate him there try Angies Bistro which is about 300 Meters on the left up Soi 80

I see him often so if you want his number let me know by private message and I will get it for you

[Africanteacher]

Any reflections on this, OP?

[UKJASE]

Any reflections on this, OP?

a few mate, what do you want to know?

[kannot]

Are you sure you need plans? Where I live Pranburi 3km from Phetkasem road NOTHING is required, no permits no plans etc just build what you want where you want

[UKJASE]

Are you sure you need plans? Where I live Pranburi 3km from Phetkasem road NOTHING is required, no permits no plans etc just build what you want where you want

i think that is true too here, outside of hua hin centre, planning permission is not necessary i believe

but if you are employing builders to develop the house, then a good set of plans is required, unless you are fluent in thai / burmese and have a very good grasp of how they build here

[Cannuck]

On 3/8/2014 at 3:32 AM, ChrisY1 said:

We used a lady architect in Bangkok for our home in Cha Am.....contemporary western style...patio, pool etc..

I did the floor plan and instructed her to make it better....she did a great job!

Thai building methods, Farang style and finish....cost about THB80K...all the Architecturals, electrical, plumbing and sanitary, finishing schedules, the lot.

The local Tessabann wanted the original dwgs....but no way...they copy and sell!

Do you have contact particulars for the lady architect in Bangkok?

 

Thanks