My Front Yard: Rethinking Urban Design & UX

Understanding Urban Spaces and User Experience

Have you ever noticed the feeling that a certain neighborhood “naturally understands” human needs? Where every corner seems designed to accommodate daily human experiences, rather than merely increasing square footage? This feeling represents a fundamental goal in urban space design that prioritizes user experience.

Rethinking Retail Spaces

Traditional shopping centers are often criticized for resembling large, soulless boxes, with outdoor areas usually limited to parking lots. This design makes wandering through them a monotonous experience and reduces opportunities for social interaction or enjoying the space.

Human-Centered, Integrated Design Alternatives

In contrast, a different approach can be seen in some urban projects that integrate nature and landscaping with commercial space design. Such projects avoid creating massive empty boxes and instead focus on crafting an environment reminiscent of a carefully planned village, where visitors can enjoy strolling through streets, engaging with open spaces, and feeling a genuine connection to the place.

Perspective view of white minimalist buildings with a long yellow pedestrian ramp connecting different levels at My Front Yard. — The yellow elevated walkway serves as both a functional connector and a bold architectural statement. (Image © Peerapat Wimolrungkarat)

A person walking on a yellow bridge between minimalist white architectural structures under a clear sky. — Designing for the human scale: The project encourages movement and interaction within its open-air corridors. (Image © Peerapat Wimolrungkarat)

Space Division and Rethinking Organization

The concept here is simple yet revolutionary in the landscape of contemporary retail spaces. Instead of consolidating all activities under a single massive roof, the space can be divided into low-rise wings thoughtfully distributed across the site. These wings are not just standalone buildings; they are connected by pathways and shared spaces that encourage visitors to slow down and explore, transforming the shopping experience from a routine task into an engaging, interactive journey.

Integrating Design with Daily Life Rhythms

What sets this approach apart is the smart utilization of daily life rhythms. Outdoor walkways and open areas are designed to accommodate a variety of activities such as morning walks, exercise, jogging, and even strolling with pets. This integration makes the space a natural part of the visitor’s daily routine, rather than a separate destination that requires special preparation to visit.

Enhancing User Experience and Turning Daily Activities into Enjoyment

As a result, conventional activities like sipping coffee or browsing stores become enjoyable moments within the day, rather than chores to be completed. This approach reflects the power of architectural design to enhance daily life quality by creating an environment that naturally attracts users and encourages interaction with the space.

Technical elevation showing the balanced heights and the integration of the ramp into the building profiles.

Detailed site plan of My Front Yard showing the arrangement of commercial pavilions and landscape zones. — The master plan reveals a “small community” approach to retail design, prioritizing open spaces.

Cohesive Variety and Creating “Small Communities”

Architectural language plays a pivotal role in connecting different elements of the space without feeling monotonous. Each wing retains its own identity while contributing to a cohesive overall image. These subtle distinctions, what can be called “small communities” within the larger development, give visitors a sense of continuous discovery. Instead of moving through a massive structure filled with repetitive spaces, individuals navigate through pockets of activity, each with its own character and function.

Redefining the Purpose of Commercial Spaces

This approach represents a radical shift in how commercial spaces are perceived. The goal is no longer merely to create a place for shopping but to develop an environment that encourages natural community interaction. Success is measured not by the number of transactions per square foot but by the extent to which people integrate the space into their daily lives.

A Fully Integrated Daily Life Experience

Visitors can run a quick errand or spend extended time strolling, meeting friends, or simply enjoying the carefully designed environment. This integration of design with daily functions transforms traditional commercial spaces into lively places that provide users with a meaningful and enjoyable experience, rather than just a destination for shopping.

Night view of a long, illuminated yellow walkway supported by columns at My Front Yard project. — Nighttime illumination transforms the corridors into safe, inviting spaces for evening strolls. (Image © Peerapat Wimolrungkarat)

Modern white building facade with a deep overhang and warm interior lighting at dusk. — Overhanging roofs provide necessary shade, adapting the minimalist design to the tropical climate. (Image © Peerapat Wimolrungkarat)

View of a cozy cafe interior through a large glass window, framed by a tree in the foreground at My Front Yard. — Integration of nature and commercial life: A cafe that opens up to the surrounding landscape. (Image © Peerapat Wimolrungkarat)

Exterior of Bartels store at My Front Yard with warm lighting and outdoor seating area. — The project redefines the retail experience by making the environment as important as the store itself. (Image © Peerapat Wimolrungkarat)

The Complete Experience Instead of Just Products

The timing of this type of project seems crucial. In recent years, the retail sector has struggled to compete with online shopping, often focusing primarily on improving individual store experiences. However, a new trend is emerging through this kind of development: not just enhancing the store itself, but making the entire environment worth experiencing. When the journey between stores becomes as enjoyable as the experience inside them, a unique value is created, one that traditional e-commerce cannot easily replicate.

The Importance of Climatic and Environmental Context

In environments like Phuket, adopting these open-concept ideas is easier due to the climate, but the underlying philosophy is applicable in diverse urban contexts worldwide. The core idea is to design spaces that consider humans and pedestrians, providing opportunities for spontaneous interaction, transforming everyday experiences into enjoyable and connected activities.

A Broader Movement in Urban Design

Today, we are witnessing a growing movement in architecture and urban planning that emphasizes human-scale development, pedestrian-friendly spaces, and environments that encourage natural community interaction. This approach demonstrates how these principles can be integrated into commercial settings without sacrificing functionality, creating real value for visitors that goes beyond mere shopping.

Curving garden paths with lush green landscaping between white commercial buildings at My Front Yard. — Lush landscaping and winding paths encourage visitors to slow down and explore. (Image © Peerapat Wimolrungkarat)

Low-angle architectural view of a multi-level urban retail space featuring modern orange louvers and minimalist white structures under an open sky. — The architectural language uses open ceilings and vertical louvers to create a rhythmic connection between the sky and the built environment. (Image © Spaceshift Studio)

Minimalist white facades serve as a canvas for curated retail identities like Peppina, blending commercial signage with architectural elegance.

Minimalist glass-fronted retail pavilion for Paradai with a flat roof and outdoor wooden seating along a blue pedestrian path. — Paradai pavilion exemplifies the human-scale design, featuring transparent storefronts and integrated benches that invite social interaction. (Image © Spaceshift Studio)

Attraction Through Modesty and Thoughtful Planning

There is a refreshing element in design that does not scream for attention. Wings and pathways create an enjoyable experience without overwhelming the visitor, relying on the quality of structure and thoughtful planning to naturally draw interest. In an era where some projects are primarily designed to look good on social media, this type of architectural modesty is almost revolutionary, reminding us that effectiveness does not require noise or spectacle.

Balancing Commercial Viability and User Experience

Observing these projects fosters optimism about the future of both retail and public spaces. There is no longer a need to choose between economic viability and human-centered design. Environments can be created that serve both purposes, spaces that support commercial activity while enhancing the daily quality of life for the people who use them.

Drawing Wisdom from Traditional Neighborhoods

Sometimes, the most impactful innovation comes from rethinking the principles that originally made neighborhoods successful, then applying that wisdom with contemporary tools and a fresh perspective. This approach demonstrates that good design can be both practical and aesthetic, keeping the user experience at the core of the design process.

An elevated orange pedestrian walkway connecting modern corrugated metal buildings with a view of lush green mountains in the background. — Elevated walkways do more than connect buildings; they offer curated vistas of the surrounding landscape, integrating nature into the shopping journey. (Image © Spaceshift Studio)

A curved pedestrian ramp with orange railings leading toward a minimalist building with the "Bartels" signage. — Smooth, accessible ramps like the one leading to Bartels ensure that the space is inclusive and flows naturally with the user’s movement.

Night view of a long, illuminated yellow pedestrian bridge supported by slender pillars, connecting various parts of a modern commercial complex. — Thoughtful architectural lighting transforms the walkways into safe, vibrant social arteries that pulse with activity after sunset. (Image © Spaceshift Studio)

A circular retail pavilion for Grazia with a prominent neon sign and a wrap-around orange ramp on a grassy slope. — The Grazia pavilion’s circular geometry and integrated ramp showcase how commercial utility can coexist with bold, sculptural design. (Image © Spaceshift Studio)

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

Although the project introduces a new approach to space division and its connection to daily user experience, several points deserve critical consideration when evaluating the potential for generalizing this method. First, the distribution of wings and open pathways may be practical in a temperate climate, but it poses challenges in regions with extreme weather, whether excessive heat or heavy rainfall, where open spaces would require additional architectural and technical solutions to maintain comfort and user experience.

Second, the emphasis on creating “small communities” within the larger development may limit density and optimal space utilization in constrained urban sites, raising questions about economic feasibility and practical implementation in crowded cities. Moreover, balancing daily user experience with commercial functions requires careful study to ensure that space efficiency or the project’s ability to attract sustainable economic activity is not compromised.

Nevertheless, the project provides valuable insights that can inform the rethinking of commercial and public space design. The core idea of integrating open spaces with users’ daily movement encourages a reassessment of the relationship between urban design and lifestyle patterns, a principle that can be selectively applied to develop buildings and areas better adapted to residents’ needs, even if practical challenges necessitate adjustments in approach or materials.