DARA
Project Name: DARA
Location: Chedi Plong Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Type: Artist Home & Studio
DARA is an artist’s home and creative studio located in the heart of Chiang Mai. Designed to balance work, living, and exhibition spaces, the project consists of two buildings that seamlessly integrate privacy with openness, reflecting the owner’s artistic and curatorial practice.
Set on a compact urban site, the house is built around the existing mature mango trees, embracing nature as a defining element. The design retains a connection to the past by reusing reclaimed wood from the original wooden house that once stood here—now repurposed into flooring and window frames. The material palette includes exposed brick, raw concrete, steel, and aged timber, creating a warm, textured, and deeply rooted aesthetic.
The ground floor serves as a high-ceiling studio, gallery, and workspace, fostering creativity and collaboration. A striking double-volume living and dining area enhances the sense of openness, while a sunken living room on the second floor provides a cozy yet elevated retreat. The mezzanine-level bedroom, accessed via a show staircase, maintains privacy while remaining visually connected to the open spaces below.
DARA is not just a home; it is a living, breathing canvas—an intersection of art, memory, and place.
