The Panyaden International School in Thailand identifies academic excellence along with closeness to nature as its key trademarks. Following these principles, Chiangmai Life Architects (CLA) undertook the design of several new buildings for the school that integrate natural building materials with contemporary design and modern engineering knowledge.
The new buildings comprise a science lab core in addition to a new music centre. CLA specified natural materials including bamboo structure, rammed earth and adobe bricks in organic design forms that help to integrate the new buildings with their surroundings.
The new science centre consists of 3 lab rooms, for chemistry, physics and biology respectively, which are furnished with state-of-the-art equipment such as fume hoods and fresh air systems. A central compartment acts as a supply, storage and central distribution room for gas and all lab materials. The building is a striking yet unexpectedly smooth contrast of cutting edge-edge technology on display against earthen walls and bamboo structure. Overall, the building takes on an L-shape, which appears like a heart from above due to the nature of the bamboo roof.
Adjacent to the science building is a new music centre that comprises two buildings. One building hosts the performance hall while the other accommodates four smaller music rooms for individual practice. An ambient controlled instrument storage room reduces the humidity fluctuations that northern Thailand is known for.
In the music areas, the use of natural building material is core to the acoustic strategy. Due to the non-reflective nature of bamboo surfaces, sound is experienced very clearly without an echo back from the roof. Furthermore, natural materials such as adobe are great at sound insulation and help to keep surrounding areas quiet.
The roof design brings the two music buildings together, mimicking two hands or wings in a protective gesture.