Samsara is a development of 14 tropical homes perched on a dramatic headland on the west coast of Phuket in Thailand. Nestled into the hillside, they are an unobtrusive statement in the use of indoor and outdoor space brought together in a dramatic contemporary living experience.
The overriding influence is the view. Arrival is vividly punctuated by the horizon and throughout, the spatial experience constantly refers back to the sea. Coupled to the view, glass and steel have been used extensively to create structures that are light and open and roofs that appear to float over the living spaces below. Calmness and harmony are infused through the use of simple forms and natural materials.
Privacy and intimacy are maintained through the disposition of the dramatic volumes of the main living areas that are carefully arranged around a horizon edge pool. Traditional materials and concepts adorn a contemporary use of space and enable the definition between indoor and outdoor to blur and the view to take over.
Four bedrooms and further entertainment spaces are located on the lower floor with all commanding full benefit of the view. None however, are more dramatic than the master suite that is defined by a soaring pyramid roof crowned with a shaded glazed cupola.
Moreover, the development has been created to minimise environmental impact. Designed to respect the natural slope, the villas hug the contours and blend into the landscape with the lower floors tucked under the upper levels. A single storey is all one sees at the entrance and from the sea, the accommodation is terraced sensitively to reduce mass and enhance a human scale. Contemporary space brought together on a hillside producing homes that are low impact externally but highly dynamic inside.
As water is one of the most precious elements on Phuket, rain is collected from the roofs and stored in a central reservoir from where it is distributed to the individual villas for use. Waste water is also carefully managed in a centralised treatment plant where waste from the villas is collected and biologically treated to a level that is safe enough for use in irrigation or discharge direct to the sea. Recycling the waste heat from the air-conditioning system adds an environmentally friendly way of generating hot water.
The roofs of each house are heavily insulated and deeply overhang the glazed walls below to minimise the amount of solar heat gain. This not only lessens the amount power required to cool the villas but also reduces the amount of equipment. On cooler days, full walls of windows can be opened to permit the breeze to enhance the outdoor experience and feel closer to the sea.