It all startsed, at the age of 40, with her passion in Chinese style that lead to the construction of this modern Chinese home. This1-story house, is raised on stilts about 12 meters off the ground allowing free ventilation, is offering 3,000 square meters and performing a diverse series of functions. This large sized home is like a large ancient Chinese junk ship that is fully equipped and ready to set sail for a fantastic voyage with the family.
It all startsed, at the age of 40, with her passion in Chinese style that lead to the construction of this modern Chinese home. This1-story house, is raised on stilts about 12 meters off the ground allowing free ventilation, is offering 3,000 square meters and performing a diverse series of functions. This large sized home is like a large ancient Chinese junk ship that is fully equipped and ready to set sail for a fantastic voyage with the family.
It was a huge impression from the first trip to China with her father that made Khun Jinkasem Sarakhun, the homeowner, fell crazy in love with the charm of Chinese style. “I love its delicacy. Just like a love at first sight. Since then I make a frequent trip to China and every time it broadens my vision. Never get bored there,” says Khun Jinkasem. Because of her fascination in Chinese culture, she has been collecting so many colletibles over the course of more than ten years and finally decided to build this large modern Chinese style house as the last family home that is comfortable, filled with warmth, and could fulfill everyone’s needs.
This comfortable house offers a perfect answer of being complete in life. “At my age, I do not need to go nowhere and am better staying at home so I do need a comfortable living space that fulfill my every needs. This house is like a lifetime award for my whole life’s hard work achievement,” she explains further as a current owner of three different businesses in Nakon Sawan which are Izusu Senee Yontra Co., Ltd, Bonito Chinos Hotel, and Bizz hotel – her newly established venture.
It is not easy to set a plan to build out a house on the 14 Rais property but thank to her architectural knowledge she acquired from studying at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang. In order to utilize her architectural skills, she decided to build this house in the area that the crematory can be seen from this house. “I cover the crematory view with the spirit pavillion so the first thing we meet when entering this house is the sacred space which also offer a diverse array of warmth to make visiting guests feel great about it.”
Additionally, she gives glory to the holy spirits and also ensures all of the deities she respects are positioned correctly. “Every Chinese people’s house has a shrine for the Earth God or Tu Di Gong in Chinese meaning God of the Soil and the Ground. So he needs to be placed on the ground and place Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, above. However, Ganesha, who loves to overlook the water, is placed in the rear end facing toward to the lotus pond that connects with the center hall of the house,” she explains her belief.
Passing the lotus pond is the center hall which is the multi-function communal spaces of her family. It is a 2-story building with 12 meters ceilings that is designed to welcome visitors as well as to hold blessing ceremonies. Currenty, the mezzanine is used as the pet room for many cat breeds that she owns. “Choke Dee, the homeless cat I adopted, always in a fight with the other cats I have. They ruin the mesh screen all the time,” she talks about her cats while walking us to see the antique red doors that were made from a 2-meter high solid wood. “These are one of the masterpiece. The craftmanship is so delicate. This is also an ancient design because the craftsmen drill the holes in metal part to insert wooden rods. I put all the doors together to check the total spaces we need for these doors then placed a customized order for door jambs. Unfortunately, my cats scratch the lower end area and ruin its aesthetic appearance.”
Breezy wind is constantly blowing through the center hall while we were talking. Fresh air in this house is a good indicator telling how airy this house really is. Khun Jin and her family often have visitors, visiting friends and other family members, she separates the residential area with the swimming pool situated in the middle of the house to retain some privacies. Her house has a similar design of the Chinese mansion with 2 major wings that are fully equipped with all of the necessities to meet her needs for ‘a big famiy gathering and doing favorite activities.’ There are 3 guest rooms in the left wing. Her younger brother’s room is located towards the front end and next to the guest rooms with the layout similar to the top or forward part of the ship floating above water. Her room is on the right wing just across from her brother’s room. She explains that, “We decided to elevate the house and made a slope for the fence to set down below so it does not block the view and the pathway of natural wind.” An entrance to the fitness room and the massage room is on the other end. She explains, “This entry door is of an antique design that was rebuilt. I added some more detail. I increase the depth of the door jamb and throw some oriental pattern tiles in the mix to create a deeper dimensional appearance.”
An interior design also showcases Modern Chinese style. She explains her decoration ideas, “I choose simple furnitures that have some sentimental value over elegant pieces. I admire the ancient arts and would love to collect those masterpieces when I have a chance to do so.” All of the furnitures in this house are either an antique that she brought back from her multiple trips to China or modeling the antique design or from the antique furniture store in Thailand.
This house is like the ancient Chinese ship that is set sail taking the whole family to explore a historic and cultural trip. It is the last family house that has gone through a lot of thought process for every aspect of its design with an ultimate goal of having everyone living happily and comfortably under the same roof.
