{"id":345577,"date":"2025-12-08T12:01:31","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T17:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.sothebysrealty.com\/?p=345577"},"modified":"2025-12-17T10:47:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T15:47:44","slug":"kulapat-yantrasast-on-being-the-art-worlds-go-to-architect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/kulapat-yantrasast-on-being-the-art-worlds-go-to-architect\/","title":{"rendered":"Kulapat Yantrasast on Being the Art World\u2019s Go-To Architect"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading p1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ahead of the opening of Dib Bangkok, its Thai-born architect\u00a0 \u00a0 talks connection, comfort and concrete with Francesca Perry<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2500\" height=\"2500\" data-attachment-id=\"345578\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/kulapat-yantrasast-on-being-the-art-worlds-go-to-architect\/dib-bangkok\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2500,2500\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Photography by Wison Tungthunya&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1721688890&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;W Workspace&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Dib Bangkok\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok-300x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok-1024x1024.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok.jpg\" alt=\"Dib Bangkok, Thailand\u2019s first contemporary art museum\" class=\"wp-image-345578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok.jpg 2500w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok-1200x1200.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Dib-Bangkok-200x200.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Dib Bangkok, Thailand\u2019s first contemporary art museum, features a sawtooth roof and a cone-shaped gallery named \u201cThe Chapel.\u201d Photograph: W Workspace. Courtesy of WHY Architecture<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the world of top-tier art museums, Kulapat Yantrasast is a name on everyone\u2019s lips. With his architecture firm, WHY, he designed the renovation of the Rockefeller Wing at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, which opened in May; and was selected by the Louvre in Paris to design the new Department of Byzantine and Eastern Christian Art, set to open in 2027. He is also lead architect for Thailand\u2019s first contemporary art museum, <a href=\"https:\/\/dibbangkok.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dib Bangkok<\/a>, opening in December 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Such accolades build on a decades-long career. Thai-born Yantrasast learned his craft with Pritzker prize-winning Japanese architect Tadao Ando in Tokyo before moving to the U.S. and establishing WHY in 2004. The firm\u2014now based between Los Angeles and New York\u2014designs cultural and residential buildings, as well as landscape projects, but has earned a reputation for its museum work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI always say that I\u2019m the matchmaker between art and people,\u201d explains Yantrasast. He loves museums as places of \u201cempathy and understanding,\u201d where people can learn about global culture. Whether for The Met or the Louvre, he designs spaces appropriate for the art and artifacts within, but instilled with a sense of place and comfort. \u201cMost people feel intimidated by museums,\u201d he says, \u201cbut I want people to feel confident to explore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"345580\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/kulapat-yantrasast-on-being-the-art-worlds-go-to-architect\/kulapat-yantrasast\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Kulapat-Yantrasast.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1667,2500\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D850&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1729867383&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;52&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;500&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Kulapat Yantrasast\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Kulapat-Yantrasast-200x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Kulapat-Yantrasast-683x1024.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Kulapat-Yantrasast-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Kulapat Yantrasast\" class=\"wp-image-345580\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Kulapat-Yantrasast-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Kulapat-Yantrasast-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Kulapat-Yantrasast-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Kulapat-Yantrasast-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Kulapat-Yantrasast-1366x2048.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Kulapat-Yantrasast-1200x1800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Kulapat-Yantrasast.jpg 1667w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>The first question Yantrasast asks potential clients is, \u201cWhat makes you happy?\u201d Photograph: Manfredi Gioacchini. Courtesy of WHY Architecture<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While working with storied New York and Paris institutions means innovating within set parameters, Yantrasast has enjoyed more free rein with Dib Bangkok. An initiative of the late Thai businessman Petch Osathanugrah, and featuring his vast collection, the museum aims to put contemporary art from Thailand and Southeast Asia \u201con the same level\u201d as international art, says Yantrasast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The site is a 1980s warehouse in downtown Bangkok, reimagined by WHY as a space for art. Minimal, open and flexible, the cavernous structure balances precision and passion. \u201cWith new museums, I think it\u2019s so important to have a sense of soul,\u201d says Yantrasast. Nevertheless, he didn\u2019t want the building to overpower its contents.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cArtists don\u2019t want to display their art within architecture that pretends to be sculpture,\u201d he says. Yantrasast sees architecture\u2019s greatest power in its ability to \u201chost.\u201d Flexibility and flow were priorities. \u201cI love the feeling of togetherness and openness,\u201d says Yantrasast. \u201cI want people to be able to see each other.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is an idea he returns to frequently: the architect\u2014and architecture\u2014as connector. Having lived and worked in Thailand and Japan, as well as the U.S., Yantrasast sees himself as a mixture between Japanese and Thai culture. \u201cOn one side, it\u2019s extremely minimal, and on the Thai side, it\u2019s very eclectic. I love both.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-attachment-id=\"345582\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/kulapat-yantrasast-on-being-the-art-worlds-go-to-architect\/phuket-home\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Phuket-Home.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2500,1668\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;22&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1489138210&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.033333333333333&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Phuket Home\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Phuket-Home-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Phuket-Home-1024x683.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Phuket-Home-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Phuket home in Thailand\" class=\"wp-image-345582\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Phuket-Home-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Phuket-Home-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Phuket-Home-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Phuket-Home-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Phuket-Home-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Phuket-Home-1200x801.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This Phuket home in Thailand, built in 2021, combines concrete and glass in harmonized contradictions. Photograph: SPACESHIFT STUDIO. Courtesy of WHY Architecture<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This blended approach comes alive most powerfully in his residential projects. \u201cThe first question I ask my potential clients is: \u2018What makes you happy?\u2019\u201d Yantrasast says. \u201cDesigning someone\u2019s house is, for me, like designing someone\u2019s gown. It needs to reflect who they are. It has to be something they feel comfortable in.\u201d Getting to know his clients is a vital part of crafting their ideal home. \u201cWhen you design a house, you become a psychologist, because you have to,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The kitchen, says Yantrasast, can often be the biggest challenge. Though some people want a showroom-style space, he gently pushes back. \u201cI always ask: \u2018Do you really want to live in a kitchen showroom?\u2019 It looks nice but it doesn\u2019t have life. Your kitchen has to reflect how you and your family relate to each other.\u201d This personal focus is different to the way Yantrasast\u2019s firm designs gallery spaces, despite the fact that many of WHY\u2019s residential clients are collectors. \u201cNo one wants to live in a museum,\u201d he says. \u201cEveryone wants to live in a place that belongs to them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In homes he has designed for collectors, Yantrasast carefully balances the needs of art with the owner\u2019s lifestyle. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to expose a priceless art collection to the salt air, but you also don\u2019t want to live in a house where you cannot open a window,\u201d he says. The art, he adds, shouldn\u2019t \u201coverwhelm the living.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Yantrasast is a great collector himself, and learned how to navigate display and livability when designing his own home in Venice Beach, California. Having undertaken a long search for the perfect house, he realized he needed to build it himself. \u201cI developed a lot more empathy for my clients, because I know how difficult it is,\u201d he says. \u201cIf you want to design your own house, there\u2019s at least 1,000 decisions you have to make.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-attachment-id=\"345584\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/kulapat-yantrasast-on-being-the-art-worlds-go-to-architect\/venice-home\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Venice-Home.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2500,1668\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;11&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;IQ260&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1400972807&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;richard@richardpowers.co.uk&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;28&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.039999894354851&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Venice Home\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Venice-Home-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Venice-Home-1024x683.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Venice-Home-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Yantrasast\u2019s Venice Beach house\" class=\"wp-image-345584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Venice-Home-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Venice-Home-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Venice-Home-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Venice-Home-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Venice-Home-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Venice-Home-1200x801.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Yantrasast\u2019s Venice Beach house, built in 2021, is inspired by the work of Japanese modernists, with elements of Thai playfulness. Photograph: Richard Powers. Courtesy of WHY Architecture<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resulting home is a modernist-inspired concrete structure: clean lines and open-plan living, with a flow of space between inside and out, and plenty of nooks for displaying objects. \u201cI started to think about what makes me happy,\u201d he says, \u201cand that\u2019s flexible space\u2014a place for me to host and socialize. I wanted a pool, a garden, a dog; the whole American dream in my own little version.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The house is concrete because Yantrasast \u201cloves\u201d the material\u2014perhaps an inevitable preference, having worked with the master of concrete, Ando, for so long. \u201cI like the raw honesty of it. Concrete tells you how it\u2019s made. It\u2019s like a pound cake: there\u2019s no decoration, no whipped cream.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nevertheless, he doesn\u2019t \u201cworship at the church of concrete\u201d either, noting that for the material to work in a home, the presence of light and nature is crucial. \u201cWithout that, it\u2019s a bunker,\u201d he says. He turned to the material for a house in Phuket, as well as a Malibu residence, in collaboration with Ando. Looking at these structures, it is easy to conclude that Yantrasast is a minimalist. Does he identify as one?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI definitely understand and appreciate minimalism, but I see limitations in it,\u201d he says. Instead, he would like to be known as \u201cthe soulful minimalist.\u201d He returns to the Japanese and Thai styles that influence him\u2014a mix of \u201csushi and Pad Thai,\u201d he says, smiling\u2014and reflects on how he moved from Japan to the U.S. to enjoy more \u201cvariety and diversity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-attachment-id=\"345586\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/kulapat-yantrasast-on-being-the-art-worlds-go-to-architect\/chang-mai-home\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chang-Mai-Home.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2500,1668\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;11&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1466622352&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;17&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Chang Mai Home\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chang-Mai-Home-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chang-Mai-Home-1024x683.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chang-Mai-Home-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Chiang Mai residence\" class=\"wp-image-345586\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chang-Mai-Home-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chang-Mai-Home-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chang-Mai-Home-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chang-Mai-Home-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chang-Mai-Home-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chang-Mai-Home-1200x801.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Embracing his heritage, Yantrasast imagined this Chiang Mai residence as a leaf sheltering its inhabitant. Photograph: SPACESHIFT STUDIO. Courtesy of Why Architecture.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Certainly, this variety plays out in a house he designed in Chiang Mai, Thailand. While some exposed concrete structure is present, the house is characterized by a large sweeping roof, covered in clay tiles and referencing traditional Thai architecture. It is filled with teak floors and surfaces. \u201cGrowing up in Bangkok, wood is such a big part of what I like to do\u2014there\u2019s a sense of warmth to it,\u201d he says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Much like the curators of the great art institutions he designs for, Yantrasast carefully considers context, setting and experience. For him, life\u2014not just priceless works\u2014is the art that architecture serves to host.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sothebysrealty.com%2Fextraordinary-living-blog%2Fspotlight-on-bangkok-home-to-a-cultural-and-luxury-renaissance%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ckate.marburger%40sothebys.realty%7Cf6e916e277944e1e0efa08de367b4062%7C28743320645e48408154b4babd41162c%7C1%7C0%7C639008100175806090%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=HDZjB8UVYoj%2B%2B84sAMV5NrW1Cu4nUnc09Nns%2FTAyYhw%3D&amp;reserved=0\">Read our spotlight on Bangkok, as the Thai capital undergoes a cultural and luxury renaissance<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"171\" data-attachment-id=\"330402\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/footer-books-generic\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/footer-books-generic.png\" data-orig-size=\"1024,171\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"footer-books-generic\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/footer-books-generic-300x50.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/footer-books-generic.png\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/footer-books-generic.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-330402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/footer-books-generic.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/footer-books-generic-300x50.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/footer-books-generic-768x128.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ahead of the opening of Dib Bangkok, its Thai-born architect\u00a0 \u00a0 talks connection, comfort and concrete with Francesca Perry Dib Bangkok, Thailand\u2019s first contemporary art museum, features a sawtooth roof and a cone-shaped gallery named \u201cThe Chapel.\u201d Photograph: W Workspace. Courtesy of WHY Architecture In the world of top-tier art museums, Kulapat Yantrasast is a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232770370,"featured_media":345586,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","content-type":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1393],"tags":[1423,1499],"class_list":["post-345577","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art-and-culture","tag-california","tag-thailand"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chang-Mai-Home.jpg","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pf4gbL-1rTP","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":345545,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/spotlight-on-bangkok-home-to-a-cultural-and-luxury-renaissance\/","url_meta":{"origin":345577,"position":0},"title":"Spotlight on Bangkok: Home to a Cultural and Luxury Renaissance","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"December 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Thailand\u2019s capital is riding a creative and cultural wave, with the world-class real estate and lifestyle to match, writes Lisa Gries Khlong Tan, Bangkok | List Sotheby\u2019s International Realty In the 2025 World\u2019s 50 Best Hotels ranking, two of the top three\u2014the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok and Capella Bangkok\u2014are in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Market Insights&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Market Insights","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/market-insights\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bangkok tower luxury residence","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Bankgok_Porsche2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Bankgok_Porsche2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Bankgok_Porsche2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Bankgok_Porsche2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Bankgok_Porsche2.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Bankgok_Porsche2.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":385,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/where-to-be-in-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":345577,"position":1},"title":"Where To Be In 2025","author":"Procurement Admin","date":"January 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"From Thailand to Portugal, these are the locations to head to this new year, writes Francesca Perry Sintra, Portugal | Portugal Sotheby\u2019s International Realty One of the best things about starting a new year is making plans. Not the resolutions to change bad habits, no\u2014but the plans for holidays, travel,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Art and Culture&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Art and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/art-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/image3.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/image3.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/image3.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/image3.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":344217,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/the-captivating-elegance-of-metal\/","url_meta":{"origin":345577,"position":2},"title":"The Captivating Elegance of Metal","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"July 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Decorative metalwork still elevates design, bringing luxe 1920s-style sophistication to architecture and interiors, says Elizabeth Fazzare The Whiteley, London, U.K. | United Kingdom Sotheby\u2019s International Realty A century ago, Art Deco was born. More than 16 million designers, design aficionados and curious visitors from around the world flocked to Paris\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Art and Culture&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Art and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/art-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/header-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/header-2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/header-2.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/header-2.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/header-2.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/header-2.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":345765,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/where-youll-really-want-to-be-in-2026\/","url_meta":{"origin":345577,"position":3},"title":"Where You\u2019ll Really Want to Be in 2026","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"January 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"From Milan to Mexico City, these are the luxury locations to head to this year, writes Francesca Perry Mexico City, Mexico | Mexico Sotheby\u2019s International Realty Looking ahead, a number of exciting, high-profile events and openings will animate cultural hotspots around the globe in 2026\u2014but where are the biggest draws?\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Art and Culture&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Art and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/art-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A Home in Mexico City, Mexico","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WTB-2026_CDMXLomas1.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WTB-2026_CDMXLomas1.webp?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WTB-2026_CDMXLomas1.webp?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WTB-2026_CDMXLomas1.webp?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WTB-2026_CDMXLomas1.webp?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WTB-2026_CDMXLomas1.webp?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":344481,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/life-as-art-when-luxury-homes-are-living-sculptures\/","url_meta":{"origin":345577,"position":4},"title":"Life as Art: When Luxury Homes Are Living Sculptures","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"August 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Extraordinary residences blur the line between art and architecture when daring design meets everyday life, writes Riya Patel Tulum, Mexico | Riviera Maya Sotheby\u2019s International Realty While there are many extraordinary private homes worldwide, only a distinct few can be described as \u201cliving sculptures.\u201d Closer to art than architecture, these\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Home and Design&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/header-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/header-3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/header-3.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/header-3.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/header-3.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/header-3.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":345282,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/inside-five-masterpieces-by-world-renowned-architects\/","url_meta":{"origin":345577,"position":5},"title":"Inside Five Masterpieces by World-Renowned Architects","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"November 7, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"From Miami to Carmel, these five homes are architectural masterpieces that blend vision, craft, and artistry. Together, they reveal how architecture can transcend function to become living art. Miami, Florida | ONE Sotheby's International Realty Set in One Thousand Museum, Zaha Hadid\u2019s sculptural Miami landmark, this penthouse embodies the architect\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Home and Design&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Greenwich, Connecticut Home","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/header-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/header-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/header-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/header-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/header-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/header-1.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345577","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/232770370"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=345577"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345577\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":345588,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/345577\/revisions\/345588"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/345586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=345577"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=345577"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=345577"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}