NINE IN ONE LANDSCAPE: Pichai Jiropas

Introduction

The greatest teacher for Pichai was nature. As we have always been a close-knit family, there a waterfall, a tree or a stream. He was an avid and observant traveller, a keen learner who was also a dreamer, a thinker and a doer. The essence of nature is always present in his designs, whether they are for houses, resorts or public parks. His landscapes always have the feel of a natural forest, they are beautiful, perfectly composed and easy to maintain. The most important thing that we saw, when he worked, was his sincerity and his goodwill towards those around him—both his client and the natural landscape gardens he created.

Anyone who has known or worked with Pichai will know of his friendly and cheerful nature, of how he was an entertaining speaker, and how he liked to share his knowledge and would readily offer his advice in the things he knew to any and everybody, especially when it came to the appreciation of nature, art and landscape design. One of the works that he strongly dedicated himself to was the Nine in One landscape project, which is the content of this book. with those who are interested in nature and landscape design.

Pichai devoted himself to creating the nine landscapes, every one or two weeks he would start work on the next design, putting all his energy into creating a landscape following the concept

and even we were swept along by his sheer enthusiasm, seeing his unbounded energy and determination. He showed us that the design for a garden was without limit, and that creativity project was for it to be published in order to inspire people who are interested in natural-style landscapes.

we were sure that Pichai would continue to think up endless possibilities and this would turn into a long-term project without end. Another reason was that we felt that the number “nine” is an the house and garden were then renovated into a state close to what exists today.

convey his perspective and imagination through sketches and writings. For us then, Nine in peace. Pichai showed us that landscape design is not just the arrangement of elements: the rocks, the water and the trees; he showed us that, although they are seen with the eyes, they must also be felt by the heart. We can create beauty that is in harmony with nature, as long as we learn to understand and love nature as it is. When we have a true understanding of nature, works—for all to see—is a single beautiful image of the eternal return to nature.

Contents

Navatanee Forest Garden House — 16 —

1 Seaside House — 22 —

2 Fisherman’s House — 36 —

3 Hillock House — 52—

4 Creekside House — 62 —

5 Hillside House — 74 —

6 House by a Cave — 90 —

7 Soft Rock House — 112 —

8 Mangrove House — 124 —

9 Artist’s House — 136 —

Appendix — 156 —

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1 Seaside House

the sand burns golden and shimmers and sparkles as though frolicking with the shadows

while a timber terrace is laid out like a viewing platform overlooking the sea. Below it,

As the Sun bids farewell to the sky, the expanse of cream-white sand fades into pale umber, its colour pitched against the leafy pockets of deep verdure.

The smooth surface of the sand feels open and vast, as though the dune is carrying us towards the sea.

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Seaside House: A house by the sea, on an ivory-white beach, with a pond nearby.

The bright colour of the sand contrasts against the dark colours of the trees and shrubbery.

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of the simple rural life lived among nature.

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2 Fisherman’s House

A pond and smooth sand yard lie in a peaceful area a little further inland from the beach: where from a bamboo litter one can gaze at the mud, sand and grass: elements of sheer simplicity.

The ordinary house and garden are made visually arresting through the lines and forms of old wooden planks laid into the ground to make them level with the bridge that is also made of wooden planks and spanning the pond. The bridge leads our eyes towards the house, running in parallel with the timber terrace on the other side of the water.

The way of life is told through objects: two crumbling little boats lie retired on the edge of the pond, shapes and forms are given a new lease on life as terraces, benches and ornamental logs.

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Next to a lagoon by the sea, a vernacular house supports a simple way of life, with the garden composed of readily available, but attractive, materials.

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The various materials used for creating graphic patterns on the ground are all readily available.

The remnant of a log curves gracefully over the bricks.

Lampshades created from bamboo stalks, made simply, are full of rustic charm.

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4 Creekside House

are the branching pathways of pebbles that loop and bend, following the rolling contour of the grass lawn, hinting at what once was.

The pebble pathways lead the gaze down the slope towards a little pond, from which the sound of cascading water emanates.

A small waterfall is the fountainhead of a creek that emerges from the forest.

This area at the base of the hill is teeming with the dense vegetation of a tropical forest. Life is nurtured by water and nature.

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5 Hillside House

a pathway to the house is cleared through a thicket of banyan trees.

Peeking through the leafy corridor of banyan is a burst of plant life and shrubbery large and small, gradually rising in height to meet the line of trees to the back.

The pond spreads out under the bridge that connects the house to a large pavilion, a spot to view and savour the landscape.

stepped waterfall. The stream of water transforms into a brook, A visitor comes away with this memory: a waterfall in the forest; rocks of all sizes softened by clumps of lush vegetation, cool and humid; a light fog hanging over the space, illumined by balmy, gentle sunlight passing through the canopy.

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Sunlight slips pass the tree canopy to illumine the fog.

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6 House by a Cave

At the mouth of the ancient cave, banyan roots twine around the rock formation through which the life force courses into the ground covers: a gravel path leads to a tropical forest garden. Just one step inside, faint clouds of mist, formed after a cooling rain has drenched the warm earth, softly envelop the large rocks near the entrance. Further away, the light passing through the tree canopy creates fog curtains around a waterfall seeping out of the rocks, accompanied by the gentle sound of water spilling down.

A pretty rainbow appears by the small fountain. Following the sound of running water, one is stunned by the presence of the waterfall, built of large rocks and small boulders, At the top, to the right, the rocks are stacked up high, While down below, a smaller cave is masked by a veil of falling water.

Beyond the water spray, the cave inside is pitch-black but perfectly peaceful.

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House by a Cave : out of the rock and descends over 10 metres towards the stream below.

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On the other side of the dark cave is a scene of natural beauty all around the house.

The atmosphere after a rain, with delicate clouds of mist.

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The water streaming from the rock gradually slows down and swells into a placid pond amid verdant foliage.

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7 Soft Rock House

Water cascades down a tall waterfall. Even a natural-style garden can unite the free-form shapes of rocks and foliage with the symmetry of straight lines and rectangular forms. The retaining wall around which is mountainous and covered in forests.

Even for the yard, patio, walls, bridge and walkways, cut stones of various shapes and forms have been carefully selected and masterfully arranged.

The energy of the house and waterfall is channelled through the line of stone wall running from the gravel yard to the bridge and the stepped retaining wall.

Ground covers and shrubs proliferate in the transition areas, merging the natural and man-made seamlessly.

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Soft Rock House: A cliff looms behind the house, which is surrounded by a verdant forest.

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8 Mangrove House

On the shore of a placid sea with neither wind nor waves, the water is still and clear.

The small lagoon along the beach is teeming with water lilies and water plants.

On the edge of the lagoon, clumps of mangrove shoot up among low-lying swamp bushes; a house is built on the verge to take advantage of the cool breeze.

An old wooden boat is rested against a large tree, The gravel path leading to the open sand yard is punctuated by a stretch of red sandstone paving that wends past the mangrove clumps towards a sandstone terrace abutting the pond.

Gaze out at the stones, the gravel, the underwater plants and seaweed from benches made of railway sleepers, while the mangroves sway in the breeze.

On the other side, an elevated red sandstone patio is surrounded by lush vegetation.

A simple landscape, decorated with ordinary things like old earthen jars, and using native plants like the mangrove to add vertical lines to the design.

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Mangrove House: A house next to a lagoon on a shore without strong wind and where mangrove trees proliferate on the swampy ground.

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The view from the rocky and swampy grounds of the seashore to the entrance to the house.

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Seating is provided under a crimson umbrella, which contrasts against the verdant foliage, adding a burst of colour and dynamism to the landscape.

The gravel and free-form stone paving help to cool the ground, but they are also artistically composed to a preconceived design: small rocks gradually increase in size from bits of gravel to large slabs.

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9 Artist’s House

Beyond the forest, a grassy slope has been cut into stepped terraces, while the sides are reinforced with reclaimed sleepers.

their vibrancy provoking our sense of playfulness and urging us to pick up the trusty club for a putt or two.

To be in touch with nature, you have to open your eyes and open your heart.

With a baton in hand, he drew the lines on the earth, pointed to the different corners like a conductor tapping to an invisible rhythm, playing with colours, with lines, with light and shade.

Composed from dreams, a single landscape is continuously transformed

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9 Artist’s House

Beyond the forest, a grassy slope has been cut into stepped terraces, while the sides are reinforced with reclaimed sleepers.

their vibrancy provoking our sense of playfulness and urging us to pick up the trusty club for a putt or two.

To be in touch with nature, you have to open your eyes and open your heart.

With a baton in hand, he drew the lines on the earth, pointed to the different corners like a conductor tapping to an invisible rhythm, playing with colours, with lines, with light and shade.

Composed from dreams, a single landscape is continuously transformed

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Picture frames hang in mid-air‌mysterious, dreamlike windows.

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Additional Ideas

Bands of rocks line the edges of the pond

a glowing emerald pool appears at night.

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A neatly mown lawn is used as a putting green.

A rock garden with a simple layout is adorned with Japanese lawn grass.

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Pichai Jiropas

Jiropas and completed lower secondary education at the Mahavajiravudh Songkhla School.

whole, and from them we are able to experience a sense of beauty, happiness and peace.

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General Prem Tinsulanonda Historical Park, Songkhla