Kulen Farmhouse Design with a Natural Approach to Nature

The concept of being part of the nature of Kulen Farmhouse by UAD Architects presents a natural design. Located in the south of the Kulen mountains, Siem Reap brings the spatial arrangement of this house following the conditions of the land being built. Coupled with the owner's desire to present a space that can interact with rural nature with an incredible panoramic view of the mountain through a large sliding glass door. The glass windows under the stairs of the first floor also provide views of the garden and natural scenery outside.

Bird View, Photo by Oudompheaktra Ang

The contoured condition of the land makes the ground floor function as a garage and the main access to the house by being processed into a garden without changing the condition of the original land. The first-floor functions as a public functional space containing the main living room, dining room, and open kitchen. The bedroom and bathroom are arranged with a scenic orientation. From the stairs as the main access, the architects designed it so that we would set our sights on the main room in the middle. 

Perspectives from the front, Photo by Oudompheaktra Ang

The proximity of residents to nature is also presented in the arrangement of openings in this building. To add to the interior's natural light, a skylight is designed at the top of the stairs. In addition, a large sliding glass door. The glass windows under the stairs of the first floor also provide views of the garden and natural scenery outside.

Living room, Photo by Oudompheaktra Ang

Interior, Photo by Oudompheaktra Ang

It is laid out as a landscape accessible from the street filled with rockery and sloping gardens. The main access to the garden is made of concrete cylinders, natural stone footing paths, and retaining stone walls creating a multipurpose garden with various terraces and is only used to hold the ground. The presence of a sufficiently large volume of rocks is the basic element of the landscape, the original material of mount Kulen. Looking from south to north, the uphill slope creates a connection between the façade of the building and the view toward the mountains to the north and makes the house's ground floor completely disappear into the topographic landscape. 

Primary home access, Photo by Oudompheaktra Ang

Different levels of the house allow visitors to truly appreciate the landscape's natural beauty. The same varieties of plants, vines, and ornamental grasses from the area have been used in landscape design to preserve site characteristics and create a responsive landscape to the seasons.

Garden perspective, Photo by Oudompheaktra Ang