CHARN at the Avenue Chaengwattana

The clean, well-composed roof surfaces and the intentional direction of the corrugation lines bring together the entire architectural language into a harmonious, unified composition.

Architect: IF (Integrated Field)
Material: COLORBOND® steel, Color: International Brown

One of the first elements that draws attention from passengers on the Pink Line monorail traveling from Chaengwattana 14 Station toward Muang Thong Thani is the cluster of circular, tiered roof forms that cascade in height, linking the surrounding greenery with the earth-tone functional spaces of CHARN at the Avenue Chaengwattana. This community mall, serving residents of Chaengwattana, is located less than a 10-minute walk from Chaengwattana 14 Station—reflecting the same principles of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), where real estate and infrastructure are integrated with public transit systems.

The project stems from the renovation of the original community mall, which comprised multiple buildings spread across a large site. This fragmentation prompted IF (Integrated Field), the project’s architect, to pursue connectivity. This design approach would unify the existing buildings into a cohesive whole, allowing users to move seamlessly throughout the development. This includes enhancing both horizontal circulation and vertical connectivity to enable a fluid, uninterrupted flow of movement. These intentions led to the creation of elevated walkways that converge into a central communal zone, or Charn Space, inspired by the traditional Thai charn. This open-air transitional platform links activities and spaces within a home. Here, it becomes a spatial framework that weaves together user experiences across shops and communal areas, expressed through architectural forms that guide circulation.

With connectivity as the starting point, the design evolved into a composition of segmented roof structures. Circular roofs are arranged in overlapping layers to provide shade for the semi-outdoor areas, resembling the organic spread of tree canopies extending over the space below. Given the technical requirement for a low-pitched roof, the designers selected COLORBOND® steel in International Brown, using a seamless high-rib profile with a smooth corrugation valley, specially roll-formed into tapered shapes and installed using a concealed fastener system. This results in a cohesive architectural expression of linkage—captured through curved rooflines that create shifting light and shadow, visually softening the scale of this expansive structure. The clean, well-composed roof surfaces and the intentional direction of the corrugation lines bring together the entire architectural language into a harmonious, unified composition.

Source: https://asajournal.asa.or.th/charn-en/