Thai Architecture Contemporary and Traditional

Practical Considerations for House Design in Thailand

2012-02-12T13:15:00.000-08:00

The best architecture is grounded in practicality. It is no use a building looking beautiful if it quickly disintegrates, becomes uninhabitable, infested or otherwise damaged. The challenge of Thai architecture is a lot to do with dealing with the extreme climatic conditions and the problems this throws up for building construction and maintenance.

Rain

Much of Thailand is in a tropical area that is hot and humid and subject to lots of rain. Moreover, the country experiences a yearly monsoon or wet season when water levels rise quickly. This has had a big impact on Thai architecture. Traditionally, many Thai homes are built on stilts, firstly made of wood and latterly made of concrete. Raising the floor level off the ground protects the house from flooding.

The steep roof is a common sight in Thai architecture. The multi-layered steep roof is one of the defining aspects of traditional Thai architecture, especially on temples or wats. The reason for the steep roof is that the rain runs off quicker and so has less chance of seeping through the tiling and damaging the inside of a building. Rain seepage can eventually lead to ceilings collapsing. Nowadays, gutters are a ‘must’ for a lot of building design because water runoff will leave a stain down the side of a house.

White

The most common color for houses is white. This is connected to the last point: water run-off stains walls; as does car fumes, mold and animals. If you paint a house in a non-white color the patch that has been most recently re-painted will look a different color to the rest of the house. With white this is not the case. When white paint dries it looks the same as the rest of the white paint.

Wood

One of the great natural resources that Thailand has is wood. There are plenty of hardwoods (including teak and other expensive hardwoods) that can be used for building construction and interior design. Wood looks much better than concrete or tiles. The only problem with wood is that it is food for a number of insects that are indigenous to Thailand. If your new home or holiday villa in Thailand is near a jungle then you have to apply several layers of varnish and sealant to protect the wood from insects. If the wood gets infested you need to spray can after can of insecticide into the wood to kill the wood-eating insects. Wood needs constant maintenance.

Windows

Often a Thai holiday villa is near a beach or is perched on a hill to gain a sea view. To make the most of the beautiful natural scenery it is tempting to install lots of windows or floor to ceiling windows. It makes an attractive selling point to the house. However, there are two major drawbacks. Firstly, solar gain means that the sun coming through the windows can make a room very hot. This drives up air-con bills. Secondly, the more windows means the more cleaning. And if the window frames are made of wood (as they normally are) then more maintenance is required to stop the wood cracking, warping or being eaten by insects.

Turf

A friend recently completed building a holiday villa in Thong Nai Pan. He bought turf for the garden. The grass didn’t seem to grow but lots of pretty butterflies could be seen flitting over the dying grass. It took him a couple of days to discover that the grass had been grown in seaweed, and that butterflies had laid their eggs in the sea weed. He eventually solved the problem, but it was a proverbial pain for him at the time.

Having a lawn is high maintenance in Thailand. Local grasses grow quicker, as does tropical vegetation. Without constant weeding a lawn can soon be overrun with local plants. Traditional Thai gardens often do not use large expanses of grass or turf.

These are just a few important ways in which the Thai climate, weather and flora and fauna affect Thai architecture, and how you should design as house in Thailand with these factors in mind.

Architecture and Interior Design in Koh Samui

2011-10-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

Koh Samui is the second biggest island in Thailand. Since the island was discovered by backpackers in the early 1970s the island has transformed itself from a coconut growing backwater to one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia.

There has been a lot of money put into the development of Koh Samui. Besides the money spent on an airport, good roads and a few big hospitals there has also been a serious investment in architectural design and practice as well as care paid to interior design in Koh Samui.

Many places opt for a contemporary Thai architecture while others go for an ultra modern look. There is a small ground swell in Koh Samui for sustainable design. Some designs are just plain bizarre while other buildings just look plain ugly.

The island is continually changing the way it looks and the way visitors interact with their surroundings.

In the few years leading up to the global financial disaster of 2008 there was a private housing boom in Koh Samui. Developers, while usually looking for cheap design that ticked all the boxes of pool, air-con, privacy and view, did sometimes build a few villas with noteworthy characteristics.

Below are a few photos of architecture and interior design in Koh Samui along with notes.

Buri Rasa Village has pool villas. This is an example of tick the box luxury. Wooden slating, tiny pool and simple concrete slab with 4 ceramic tiles to give just a hint of design.

Another example of luxury and poor design. KC Over Water Villas has the original idea to built villas over swimming pools and then ruins the effect with standard housing that is packed tightly together.

A better use of a swimming pool at Outrigger. The semi circular pool increases access and style.

Sala Samui uses natural materials, clever ground lighting and vistas to create striking interior design.

This comes in plain awful category. Some type of pastiche of Louis XVI grandeur.

Unfinished private villa next to the beach such a remarkable amount of architectural ambition: round and vaguely reminiscent of a lighthouse.

Excellent use of contemporary Thai architecture by the Sala Samui.

Ultra modern by Solo Bar in Chaweng. Featuring huge tinted windows and a curve theme.

Using there curved lines of a pool and a natural corridor of coconut palms to enhance the natural beauty of the sea horizon view at the Buddy Oriental.

An example of the bizarre: a series of boat shaped villas around a boat shaped pool. The villas look like the result from a tsunami. This is the Imperial Boat Villas.

Melati Resort uses understatement and the natural beauty of the beach. Nice use of bamboo.

Traditional Chinese shop house in Fisherman's Village in Bophut to create a boutique shop. Red is a strong Chinese colour that is found in lots of the interior designs on Koh Samui. Shame about the corrugated iron roof.

Bathrooms in Thailand

2011-08-10T00:12:00.000-07:00

The best and the worst of bathrooms in Thailand

Bathrooms in Thailand are vastly varying quality. In cheap hotels, guest houses and bungalows bathrooms are functional and clean at best and awkward, dirty and falling apart at worse.

Hot water vs. cold water

Although many holiday makers want a bathroom with hot water it is not always necessary in a country where the temperature is in the 30s. It is often the case that a cold shower is preferable as a way to cool down and rinse the sweat off the body.

One popular way in Thailand to make shower water warm is to put the water storage tank on the roof. The heat of the sun warms the water and makes it a nice temperature for showering. Another option is to run the water through tubes on the roof that allow the water to warm for free.

Styles of bathroom in Thailand

Part of the glamor of tropical living is being able to luxuriate in a 5 star bathroom. Having space and surfaces to put cosmetics etc. is a great help. Marble or granite surfaces are popular.

The color scheme of a bathroom can make it stand out. White seems sterile and out of date. Black has a stylish minimal feel and small colored tiles bring a playful feel to the room. Bold statements and center pieces can be made with tile mosaics either on the wall or the floor.

The most luxurious item for a bathroom is often a Jacuzzi. A big bath is also attractive. Both, however, use a lot of water. Many hotels now have outdoor rain showers to allow people to wash for the chlorine and salt from swimming in a pool or the sea. Deluxe places often feature a Jacuzzi on a balcony with a sea view.

Water conservation

One issue for a residential villa is water conservation. Water is not free and sometimes droughts occur in Thailand during the long hot summers. The solution is to install a low flow shower head and low flow faucet aerators in the villa. They mix air with water to halve water flow without reducing water pressure or showering pleasure. Another possibility is to employ a grey water recycling system to use unwanted shower water in the garden.

Below are just a few pictures of bathrooms in Thailand.

Bamboo Fencing

2011-06-15T05:35:00.000-07:00

Bamboo grows in Thailand and is a great renewable resource. Bamboo takes only 5 or 6 years to reach maturity. It needs less water than trees to grow and thrives without the need for pesticides and fertilizers. Moreover, bamboo produces more oxygen than trees. It is thus a material that is ideal for a Thai villa that seeks to be environmentally friendly.

Bamboo is hard and durable. It is also naturally water resistant and fungal resistant. This is very important for Thailand where the heavy rains and high humidity can quickly destroy hardwoods that have not been properly treated.

It is often the case that the effect of a Thai home can be undermined by fencing in the grounds that is made of brick or plastic. If the home features hardwood and natural materials such as rattan and water hyacinth it is a good idea to keep the theme of natural materials in the garden too.

The obvious solution is bamboo fencing. It is strong and durable. Bamboo can be cut into half or quarter strips and stacked to make heavy duty fencing. Bamboo can also be cut into thin strips and woven together to make the filling part of the fence. Another possibility is to tie pieces of bamboo together.

Pieces of bamboo can also be laid vertically to make a door or high fence.

Such outdoor buildings and concrete sections as sheds, power transformers and pool equipment can be hidden and beautified with bamboo fencing. It is a low cost and possible DIY option that makes a lot of sense for a Thai home.

So once you have built your Thai villa and start to knock the garden into shape you should pause to consider how bamboo fencing can help you. Bamboo is a cheap, environmentally friendly and abundant resource perfect for Thailand.

Look at the photos below to give you some ideas about the possible style of bamboo fencing.

Architecture and Practice in Thailand

2011-05-14T01:12:00.000-07:00

The Enjoyable Part of Thai Architecture

One of the most enjoyable aspects of building a house in Thailand is designing it. Either you design the house or villa by yourself and just use a professional to draw up blueprints or you use an architectural firm to design your Thai home for you. Either way you will be pouring over the designs making adjustments and imagining the wonderful living space that you will create in the future.

The Gap Between Design and Building

There is unfortunately a huge gap between thought and action, between plan and practice, between architectural design and building. Even the best builders will find it necessary to make adjustments to the design as a building is being made. Moreover, the workers might not be totally up to speed with the exact specifications of the house and make unwitting changes. This is all part of the organic way that many buildings are constructed in Thailand. Indeed, I’ve seen Thai workers build bungalows and guest rooms in Thailand without any blue prints – they just have an idea in their head and they proceed as they see fit. This is both a strength and a weakness of the Thai building workforce. They know how things work in Thailand and are apt to lapse into traditional building styles.

Villa in Koh Phangan

I recently visited a friend in Koh Phangan who has built himself a Thai villa near a popular beach. His experience of building in Thailand was instructive.

Firstly, he underestimated the strength of the winds during rainy season. Like lots of holiday villas, heavy use was made of glass to highlight the view. The only problem with glass is that unless glass doors are exactly made they can rattle in the wind and the glass can crack. The problem was solved by re-hanging the folding glass doors and replacing some glass panels with wood.

Thai Roofs and Hardwood

Another problem was the roof. The owner now understands why Thai roofs are steeply sloped. It is so that the rain can run off quickly and not penetrate into the structure. The villa needed the roof tiles resealed, gutters installed and a waterproof membrane installed between the roof and ceiling to stop leaks. This has been one of the biggest headaches for my friend.

Finally, hardwood is another key issue. Thai workers are often very adept at working with wood – it is a traditional material for Thailand. However, builders cut costs by not sealing and varnishing hardwood thoroughly. When you take possession of your villa in Thailand you will not notice for quite a few months the damage being done to the wood by moisture and insect infestation. Keeping the insects away from all that delicious wood is a real challenge.

Despite all these problems, the villa is now looking great. It has a stunning sea view and offers a peaceful get away from one of Thailand’s best beaches.

Outdoor Bamboo Shades

2011-03-30T08:58:00.000-07:00

In Thailand as in the Far East one of the great materials that is in no short supply is bamboo. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant. In just 1 day bamboo has been known to grow 24 inches or 60 cm. In just 5 to 7 years (depending on the type of bamboo) the bamboo has reached its full height and is ready to harvest. This makes bamboo a great renewable material to use in a Thai building.

Bamboo can be used for a number of products in a Thai house both for the interior and exterior spaces. Strand woven bamboo flooring is just as hard as most hardwood floors and stands up well to high traffic and the high humidity of Thailand.

Another good product for a Thai home is outdoor bamboo blinds. They can be used for large balconies effectively. Outdoor bamboo blinds have a number of advantages.

Firstly, bamboo is naturally water resistant. Although buying outdoor bamboo blinds that have been treated for outdoor weather is crucial because of the heavy storms and winds that occur in Thailand during the monsoon.

Secondly, matchstick bamboo blinds are beautiful and they add privacy to a balcony. Those within can see out, but those outside cannot peer in. The privacy that bamboo blinds afford is famous in Asia, especially in Korea where more than one queen regent successfully ruled for her young son thanks to the privacy of Korean handmade bamboo blinds.

Thirdly, outdoor bamboo blinds are excellent in creating shade and blocking out the harsh glare of the sunlight. They allow inhabitants to use the balcony even in the height of the midday heat.

Lastly, outdoor bamboo blinds are easy to install. They usually can be internally mounted. Be sure to allow 1/2 inch when buying outdoor bamboo blinds to allow internal installation. You can find outdoor bamboo blinds in various styles in Thailand: roman style and roll up style. Whichever style you choose make sure they can be secured firmly in the event of a storm.

Whole Trees Architecture in Thailand

2010-11-22T18:50:00.000-08:00

The architecture and builder, Roald Gundersen and his wife, Amelia Baxter set up Whole Trees Architecture and Construction in 2007 in Wisconsin, USA. It was the culmination of Gundersen's fascination with using whole trees to make houses.

From his 134 acre property in Stoddard he designs and makes houses from whole trees. He chooses trees from his forest carefully and then strips them of their bark. This allows the wood to dry while it is standing. Then the tree is cut down and planks and poles are taken directly from the tree to the construction site. Whole Trees Architecture doesn't send its timber to a mill to be cut to regular pieces.

This not only saves money in transport and wood, it also changes the aesthetic of the construction entirely. Smooth lines placed into regular patterns are replaced by knobbly, uneven wooden structures. Gundersen also bends tree parts prior to stripping them of bark so he can use curved pieces of wood in the construction.

So far Whole Trees Architecture has designed 35 structures. Gundersen estimates that he can use his forest to make 15 houses a year without damaging the forest. He is also keen to use trees that are normally overlooked by timber companies.

If you see the pictures below you will get a good idea of what Whole Trees Architecture is achieving.

The question for this post is: is any of this relevant to Thailand and Thai architecture? My immediate answer would be yes. For many Thais building their own homes they cannot afford many building supplies. Instead they must use what is around them to the best of their ability. A good example of this is the traditional coconut thatching used for roofing. This is used ‘straight from the tree’ (after drying) and not taken away to be processed. Similarly all over Thailand you can see structures that use un-milled branches of tree for the integral bones of the construction. The shapes of the tree remain in the building and help give the construction an organic feel that blends in well with the surroundings.

Also Whole Tree Architecture’s ethos of sustainability and local sourcing is relevant to Thai architecture. It is a country blessed with lots of forestry and a great wealth of hardwood species. Doing audits of the local forest and taking in a sustainable way for building nearby makes a lot of sense in Thailand. It reduces carbon emissions and helps to maintain the health of the forestry. Forests are vital in Thailand to absorb the huge deluges of rain the country experiences. If they are clear cut flooding ensues and top soil is lost, not to mention roads flooded. Living with the forest and benefiting from the forest is a traditional Thai way of life and should not be forsaken because of the lures of modernization and the desire to economically reform the country. Thailand should look to Malaysia as a case in point of what not to do. The Malaysian government has woefully ignored the country’s rain forests and allowed laissez-faire economics to turn most of their primary rain forest into mono-culture: millions of acres of forest have been clear cut to grow palm oil trees. Biodiversity has been lost, the people have lost the forest and environmental damage is irreparable. A few plantation owners get incredibly rich; the local farmers become wage earners. Only a few benefit. Thailand must protect its natural resources and whole trees architecture is one way to do this.

Mountain Cabin

2010-09-05T05:20:00.000-07:00

The pictures below are taken of a mountain cabin in Kanagawa in Japan. So this blog post is not strictly speaking about Thai architecture, but when I saw pictures of the mountain cabin below I immediately thought that an adaption of this design would work brilliantly in a Thai setting.

The setting on a hill suits many land plots in Thailand which often are on slopes with sea-views. There is a big balcony with the house to take advantage of the view. And the bathroom with sliding doors to open up the bathroom to the outside looks stunning and really compliments the ethos of modern tropical Asian design.

Furthermore, the extensive use of hardwood would look good in a Thai setting. Perhaps in Thailand some of the timber could be coconut to make more use of renewable materials that can be sourced locally. The design is very modern. It is has an integrated block structure. I'm not sure the rectangular approach is the most attractive approach to architectural design. Nevertheless, it is a very popular and 'now' look that would make a stylish Thai villa.

The mountain cabin is designed by the Japanese architectural company Shun Hirayama Architecture. The kitchen and dining area were placed near the main entrance of the cabin for easy public access. The living room frames the best views; the bedrooms overlook the hill; and the bathroom enjoys privacy and a bright, airy feel.

The interior of the building was shaped to fit the land form. The walls are set in diverse angles with various ceiling heights. There are 10 different floor levels exist. The changing floor levels and the preponderance of wood is meant to create the feeling of being in a forest. In other words, to bring the outside into the house.

Photos taken from www.tendir.com

Color in Thai Architecture

2010-07-31T21:12:00.000-07:00

Color plays an important part in the first impression a house or villa gives. In Thailand the light is very bright and color makes a strong visual impact. In Thailand as in South America using bright colors is part of the local aesthetic. And whereas using pinks might be considered undesirable in the West the color is not frowned upon in the East.

Color is, however, very much down to an individual's taste. It is really a matter of what works for you.

Color can be added to a villa in a number of ways. The most common way is to paint concrete. It is also possible to get colored finish for wood. Also colored roof tiles and wall tiles can bring interest to a building.

Below are a number of photos showing examples of how color is used in Thai architecture.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport Bangkok Innovative Climate Control System

2010-06-27T03:39:00.000-07:00

Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok has come up with great architectural solutions to the problem of climate control. The challenge was a tough one for architects and engineers because Bangkok has an average temperature of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity between 50% and 60%. In short, Bangkok is always hot and sweaty and the challenge was to design an airport with a cooling system that was both economical and energy efficient.

The first thing the architects did was to minimize the effects of solar loads. The terminal sheds on the north side are fitted with fritted glass with a 95% opacity specification that allow diffused light but minimize solar gain. On the hotter south side terminal sheds solid panels were placed on the roof to reduce solar gain to just 1%.

For the main spaces of the airport architects cleverly designed a zoned building. Thus there are no massive open spaces to cool. Instead cooling systems are directed at essential zones of the building. This prevents a lot of waste.

Two types of cooling system are deployed in Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. They are radiant floor cooling which removes radiation striking the floor of the building; and secondly, an air displacement system with a controllable airstream supplying cool air to space at floor level and at low velocity. This is the genius part of the cooling system at the airport. It works on the principal of thermal air stratification. Namely, that cool air is heavier than warm air. So as long as you can prevent the floor heating up then much of the cool air that you pump into the building at ground level will remain cool. It is not necessary to keep the higher reaches of the airport building cool because nobody is at that level. The air heat is stratified so the air is kept at 24 degrees Celsius up to 2.5 meters above ground level and gradually gets warmer the higher up you go, until at roof level the air temperature is basically near ambient temperature.

Finally, the airport building uses an innovative three-ply membrane roof to allow in 1% to 2% diffused sunlight but prevent solar radiation. These membranes consist of Teflon-coated glass fiber, a coated inner membrane and transparent PC sheets on a steel cable and mesh structure. The inward facing side of the inner membrane also has low-e coatings to block solar radiation heat.

All in all, the architects and engineers at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok have done a great job at energy efficiency for a very large and potentially difficult building to keep cool.

Balustrading in Thai Architecture

2010-05-08T00:17:00.000-07:00

Balustrading is a key component of more traditional style Thai architecture. A Thai wooden house is often very open plan with much of the total floor area taken up with outdoor areas. These areas are often elevated from the ground because of the preference in Thai design to build a house on stilts. This means the edges of the outdoor areas often have considerable drops. This is a safety issue that is best rectified with balustrading.

The same is true for balconies. It is dangerous to not enclose a balcony with some type of balustrading to stop people accidently falling from the second floor. Furthermore, in villa design both traditional and modern it is often the case that the balcony looks out over a sweeping view of a bay with a precipitous drop.

There are a variety of styles and materials that are used in Thailand for balustrading. Wood can be placed flush to the building or in slats.

The wooden balustrading can be simple with nice clean lines or it can be carved and intricate. Often decorative features such as lanterns are incorporated successfully into a balustrade.

Cheap balustrading can be made from concrete which is then 'beautified' with tiles. Tiles gives the option of playing with colour and design.

A modern and sometimes far from appealing effect can be achieved with welded iron and light aluminium balustrading. The advantage of aluminium is that it doesn't rust or corrode in wet weather. In contrast wood and timber balustrades need constant treatment to maintain.

Sometimes a mixture of materials is used on balustrading in Thailand often with mixed results. Below is an example of marble and carved wood. Expensive materials that just don't work together.

Balustrading can be used to define paths and for handrails over bridges. Here is an example of reclaimed hardwood being used in a path through the grounds of a hotel in Thailand. In these eco-conscious times that we live in using reclaimed wood is an excellent idea.

Finally, balustrading in Thai architecture is sometimes used to define a lower floor open plan space. Rather than walls that restrict air flow, balustrades can be incorporated which provide a degree of privacy while maintaining the delightful sense of openness that is one of the trade marks of good Thai design.

Making the Most of the Things People Discard

2010-03-22T04:05:00.000-07:00

The green revolution in architecture has many aspects, one of the most important of which is dealing effectively with waste.

Waste is a pressing issue for Thailand. According to the Thai Government Land Development Department agriculture in Thailand produces 58,190,000 tons of refuse annually.

Throughput in the industrial system from source to end consumer ends up in landfills or going to an incinerator. It is estimated that for every one truckload of product with a lasting value there are 32 truckloads of waste.

Revolutionary Thai architect Singh Intrachooto decided to do something about it. He started out by paying construction workers to sort out unused materials. From these materials he started to make furniture for the project under construction. His innovative and attractive creations soon caught the attention of the public. This allowed Singh to set up his own design studio called Osisu with a partner. They set out to expand their vision and to explore how they could best use the waste streams of different industries.

His efforts have achieved international and domestic acclaim: Singh Intrachooto has won Thailand's Emergent Designer of the Year Award, Elle's Decor's Designer of the Year and Top Environmentalist 2008 Award from Thailand's Department of the Environment.

Singh Intrachooto now lectures in Kasetsart University in Thailand where he has set up his "scrap lab". He is continually getting new donations of every conceivable material - wood, metal, fabric, leather, plastic, glass just to name the obvious materials. With his students he tries to recycle these materials into items of utility and worth. At the same time he is collecting a huge resource library about previous creations made from re-cycled materials to consolidate his revolutionary attitude to waste streams.

This is a great example of creativity leading the way in architecture and the green movement.

Based on an article by Chris Tobias

Windows in Thai Architecture Part Two

2010-03-01T18:57:00.000-08:00

In Part One of Windows in Thai Architecture I looked at the aesthetic impact windows can have on a building. In this part I will discuss some of the more technical aspects of windows.

The primary concerns with windows in Thailand are two fold: the first is light, the second is solar gain. In a way the two factors work against each other. The smaller the window the less the solar gain, but also the less light that will be let into a building.

In Thailand where the weather is really hot solar gain is a key issue. It is very expensive to run an air-con unit 24 hours a day. A fan or natural ventilation is much cheaper and more eco-friendly. It is not an option to not have windows only have tiny slit windows because then you rely on artificial light. Artificial light does not contain the full spectrum of light and can cause psychological problems such as S.A.D (seasonal adjustment disorder).

In this post I will look at the various methods there are to have windows but to reduce solar gain.

The first and easiest method is to use roller shades, vertical blinds or venetian blinds. The downside of this is that fabric quickly fades with exposure to the sun and having the curtains drawn all the time creates an unfriendly atmosphere to a house as viewed from outside. An outsider will subconsciously think that the resident is always sleeping or sick or just reclusive.

Another method to reduce solar gain is to use the house or villa construction. Especially for east and west facing windows that get a lot of light, building an awning above the window can reduce solar gain by up to 50%. Another method is to place a window under the over-hang of a roof.

A key consideration when planning windows for your villa is the frame material. The lower the conductivity of the frame material the less solar gain. The least conductive material is wood. The problem with wood is that it rots, especially in tropical weather where there is a lot of humidity and rain. To combat the wetness make sure drainage is used and treat the wood. Unfortunately, the chemicals used to treat the wood are not environmentally friendly. To maximize the effectiveness of the treatment and minimize the impact on the environment get the wooden window frames chemically treated in the factory and not on-site. For more on the treatment of wood and its environmental impact check out NGS GreenSpec.

UPVC is becoming a popular frame material. It is low in conductivity (not as low as wood) and is durable. The downside is that it is a type of plastic and can ruin the aesthetic of a window in a Thai villa which might be aspiring to a traditional Thai feel. Finally, there are metal frames - they are the highest in conductivity but are very durable. Metal has a very modern feel and only suits modernist architecture in Thailand. Also it is the most expensive frame material.

The final way to combat solar gain is through using something other than just plain glass. Glass is tinted by changing the chemical properties of glass. Tinted glass absorbs light and heat considerably better than normal glass. In some cases tinted glass can absorb as much as 50% of the heat coming from the sun. Unfortunately, a lot of that heat later seeps into the room via convection and radiation. And the other downside with tinted glass is that it dramatically reduces the amount of light let into a room.

The latest method to reduce solar gain through windows is to put a low-e coating on the glass. A low-e coating is a layer of metal only a few molecules in thickness. Most window manufacturers now put low-e coatings on all their windows. A low-e coating is very effective against solar gain. One coating is the equivalent of adding another pane of glass between a room and the sunlight. Low-e coatings are also better than tinted glass because they don't reduce the lighting in a room very dramatically. For more about the different types of low-e coating and ways of measuring solar gain read bobvila.com.

Windows are a integral part of what makes a villa feel 'luxurious'. The psychology is obvious - windows promote a feeling of light, space and airiness, they provide panoramas of sea, mountain and jungle, they promise the immediacy of decking and pool, they bring the outside into the house and connect the two. A room with a view is a good room. A room without a view or even without a window is a prison cell. No windows equals claustrophobia and depression. The question is how to have windows and light without overheating your living space.

New Bangkok Icon - The Central Embassy Bangkok

2010-02-03T22:21:00.000-08:00

Amanda Levete, famous for what critics have called 'blog architecture' has designed a unique and eye catching hotel and commercial shopping space in the heart of Bangkok.

The building will be called Central Embassy Bangkok. It will be on the primary commercial artery of the city, Ploen Chit Road, in the former British Embassy Gardens in Nai Lert Park. Work is due to start this year and finish in 2013. It is an extremely ambitious project, and not without risk in these troubled financial times. If and when it is built it will in some ways define Bangkok. For like Bangkok it embraces tradition and modernity and tries to produce a synthesis that is startling and aesthetically pleasing. You look at the pictures below and decide for yourself.

The Central Embassy Bangkok will combine a 7-storey retail podium with a 30-storey 6-star hotel. It will have an incredible 1.5 million square feet of internal space. The key feature of the building is the sinuous and twisting coil that starts at one end of the structure and rises to a peak at the other end. This is the key aspect that has been influenced by Thai architecture, it is a blade runner style Naga or snake found in Thai temple architecture. To re-inforce the traditional Thai aspect of the twisting coil, millions of bespoke ceramic tiles are going to placed on the surface to break up the monotony of the vast space.

Within the coil or naga will be 2 vertical light wells which will connect the retail podium to the hotel complex. The hotel will include courtyards and gardens incorporated into the central naga motif.

It is, in my lay man opinion, an inspired idea. However, the main base of the building from a side ways angle has a blobby nondescript shape that detracts from the elegance of the dynamic twisting coil. As you can see from the pictures below, the same cannot be said for the bird's eye view which reveals a sleek s-shape in the bones of the building.

What is certain is that Bankok inhabitants will love it. They love huge shopping malls and take pride in the modernity of their city; and no doubt, they will easily recognise the naga motif and see the justness of its use.

Windows in Thai Architecture Part One

2009-12-08T06:06:00.000-08:00

Although cheap bungalows and many open plan restaurants and bars in Thailand don't use windows very much in their architecture, the window is important to Thai architecture. In old Ayutthaya architecture the Bot had narrow vertical openings high up on the walls instead of windows. Later windows with wooden panels were added. Nowadays, doors and windows in Bots are decorated with ornamental frames in stucco which are gilded and enriched with glass mosaic.

For secular Thai architecture windows have become an essential consideration. Most fundamentally, windows let in natural light - turning a dark unfriendly space into an open and inviting area. Conversely, large windows let in alot of heat and contribute to solar gain. Obviously this is where curtains come in.

Continuing on the theme of energy, windows which can be opened can provide natural ventilation saving the need for 24/7 air-con. At night with the emergence of mosquitos this is less practical.

Windows often form part of the natural flow of a Thai house, in the sense that they often serve as doors leading onto a balcony or garden. Sliding glass doors and folding windows are thus very popular in modern Thai architecture. They create the illusion of uninterrupted space between indoors and outdoors. This is a key element of the modern tropical style found throughout Thailand and South East Asia.

Another key aspect of windows in Thai architecture is to create interest. A plain wall can be monotonous and uninviting. Windows break up this uniformity. Often windows have interesting shaped frames, coloured glass, shutters and other features to make the building look more desirable.

In villa design, especially villas with an elevated view, windows are used to highlight and show off the breathtaking vistas of the beach, mountain, river or sunset. In which case the windows are often floor to ceiling constructions.

To sum up, windows are one of the most noticeable and important aspects of Thai architecture. Windows in Thailand date back to the Ayutthaya period and have remained central to Thai architectural aesthetics ever since.

Below are a series of photos of various styles of window design. A comment is added below each photograph.

Windows used as a decorative feature of a pagoda style roof. The overhang of the roof reduces solar gain.

Here opening glass doors below windows set in a teek wooden frame create a beautiful side entrance to a restaurant and allow for dinners to get a breeze and see the view of the beach.

This house is on an elevation and the series of windows upstairs and downstairs maximise the views and provide a pleasing continuity to the overall feel of the house.

Windows with stucco decorations around a domed upper part to the window. Unfortunately, the pink paint job gives the building an overdone, ersatz quality.

This dramatic villa perched on a hill in Koh Samui has a modern feel to it. The plain white walls and right angles are made interesting by the extensive use of oversized windows allowing you to see straight through the house. Furthermore, a small ornamental balcony has been fixed to the side to create a modern tropical sense of intermixing indoor and outdoor spaces.

Here European style window design with shutters has been used.

Windows can be unusual shapes. I presume these windows are intended to provide natural light for a stairwell.

This window uses a diamond shape in the frame to individualise the property.

Here a series of small opaque windows have been place around the top of the main window for a shower room. Thus providing more natural light while maintaining privacy.

An example of a minimalist approach to windows. Solar gain was obviously a key consideration in design. The windows you can see in the photo are road facing, and so privacy is protected.

Finally, here are slightly tinted windows in folding doors that provide access to the decking and pool area.

Pixel Art

2009-05-22T19:56:00.000-07:00

This is a good example of how a problem can be viewed as an opportunity for creativity. The Bangkok Transit System 'Sky Trains' have changed people's perceptions of the city. Before nobody paid much attention to the fronts of apartment blocks, but now they've become exposed to commuters on the trains. Eye-level has been raised. The result is that tenants have lost their privacy and Bangkok 'looks' uglier.

Studio ELEVATION and Overdose have come up with a clever solution to the problem - pixel art. The idea is to add a light weight structure to the facade of a row of apartment blocks. The structure is a lattice which contains many small boxes like pixels. The pixels are designed to combine to create patterns. The tenants thus regain their privacy and train users have something interesting to look at. The design also brings together the community because the design of the pixel art only works through co-operation.

The facade 'pixels' are made from wooden crates sourced at the Port of Bangkok. The wood is treated to weather proof it. This is a good example of Green Architecture because it is using low-cost recycled materials.

The project also has an 'organic' and 'democratic' aspect to it because as tenants replace their individual pixels the pattern changes and develops. There is no top-down authority. Every 'pixel' is of equal value.

Some Concepts in Modern Thai Architecture

2009-05-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

The word concept is a weighty and pretentious one that often invites obtuse and technical comment that leaves the layman baffled. Architecture can be very philosophical and abstract despite being a discipline that everyone is exposed to and influenced by.

Thus in this blog I don't intend to blind the reader with difficult terms and bore you with discussions of the relationships between architectural forms and society. Instead I will post a few pictures of buildings that I consider to be 'conceptual'. And by this I mean the opposite of 'generic'. The buildings are original in their design. They have an idea behind them; they are not merely re-workings of tried and tested formulas. Rather they display imagination and a desire to interact creatively with the environment.

So much of recent building in Thailand conforms to certain trends. Either it is the minimal look of 'modern tropical' or it is a re-hash of certain characteristics found in traditional Thai architecture. Or it is pure ugly and cheap functionality that is achieved. This is a great pity because there is an enormous wealth of great locations in Thailand, and an undoubted wealth of architectural talent.

So I hope you enjoy the following images, and like me can grasp the idea behind the structure.

(The comments for the photos are posted below the pictures.)

A wrap around balcony on a 'D' shaped house.

A tree house based design.

A playful variation on the multiple roof style found in Thai architecture.

A round house on a cliff edge that vaguely resembles a lighthouse.

A modern and striking restaurant using wooden posts instead of just glass and steel.

This nightclub turned out to be a failed business venture but the building is noteworthy.

This reminds me of the Pompidou Center in Paris.

An elegant interpretation of Chinese ideas of architecture.

Using the Thai idea of roofs at each of the cardinal points to make a star shape.

This is a gym. The simple glass and steel structure provides those working out an excellent view.

I'm not sure if I like this house. The roof is made from cheap materials; but it's certainly original.

This standard designed is made attractive by the upward sweep of the entrance roof.

This house sits perfectly on it's cliff- top perch. The 3 'turrets' maximize the views.

A modern and cool look created by the use of curves.

Some Notes on Thai Religious Architecture

2009-05-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

Some of Thailand's finest buildings are built for religious purposes. The architecture found in Thailand's temples or Wats and other structures of a religious nature have greatly influenced secular Thai architecture. The clearest example of this is the high, steeply sloping roofs.

Below I will give a brief description of the various types of Buddhist structures found in Thailand.

Wat

The Wat or temple is the main religious building in Thailand. It is often in the centre of a compound surrounded by other buildings. Inside a wat will be found various stautes and images of the Buddha. Religious ceremonies and chanting are performed in a Wat.

Below is Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok, otherwise known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It is one of Thailand's most famous wats.

The Bot or Ubosot

This is the ordination hall where new monks take their vows. The building is characterised by 6 boundary stones called Bai Sema. A Bot usually faces east and the roof has a Chofa finial.

Chofa

Chofas are elegant thin finials found on the roofs of Thai religious buildings. See my previous article about Chofas

Chedi

A Chedi is a high domed edifice under which a relics of the Buddha or a revered teacher are buried.

Prang

A Prang is an Ayutthayan or Khmer Chedi. An Ayutthayan Prang tapers off smoothly to the peak whereas a Khmer Prang tapers off in clear steps.

The first picture below is an Ayutthayan Prang, the second a Khmer Prang.

Mondop / Mandapa

A Mondop is a Baldachin or Canopy of State that covers a Buddhist religious library. It is a square shape.

Ho Trai / Ho Phra

A small highly decorated building used to house the holiest scripts belonging to the Wat.

Viharn

A Viharn is the sermon hall. Open to everyone, this often the busiest place in a Wat compound.

Below is Wat Suthat Viharn

Naga

A Naga is a mystical serpent that runs down the roof or embellishes staircases to Viharns or Bots. See my previous article on nagas

Example of New Thai Architecture

2009-05-15T21:52:00.000-07:00

Young Thai architect, Aroon Puritat has designed a striking modernist house in Changmai. He is a former student of the world famous Thai artist and architect, Rirkrit Tiravanija. The architectural design is influenced by 'relational aesthetics' (the idea that the design is principally guided by the relationship between the structure and its location).

The building is U-shaped. It is constructed from glass and concrete. The floors are in wood and polished concrete.

The house is slightly raised off the ground. This slight elevation is playfully evocative of traditional Thai architecture. The raised wooden walk-ways around the building are reminiscent of Japanese architectural design. The use of glass and stell in the wall construction gives the bedroom a striking modernist look that stunningly compliments the jungle garden outside.

Overall the house is original and functional. It fits well with the surroundings and provides a good example of modern Thai architecture. Obviously Aroon Puritat is a name to watch out for in the future.

This article is based on an posting by Paul Schmelzer

Columns

2009-05-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

Columns in Thailand are things to be shown. From the traditional wooden 'stilt houses' through to modern family homes, villas, shops and commercial buildings architects in Thailand continue to make a feature of columns. Whether the columns are integral to the structure of the building or are just embellishments columns are key features in the overall look of a building. In many ways they set the tone of the building. They provide the key vertical elements of a building. Often there is an entrance gate to a building and the columns to the entrance also become a key feature in the aesthetics of the whole site.

Columns were traditionally made of wood. Houses would be raised off the ground with columns or stilts to create space under the house. The reasons for raising the house are manifold. To provide protection from flooding; to put some distance between the inhabitants and the potentially hazardous jungle floor; to create a space for livestock and agricultural produce; and to facilitate building on slopped or uneven ground.

As seen in the example pictures below, columns are often decorated. They are painted with pictures in Chinese temples. They are cladded with wood. They are shaped. They are linked with curving arches. And they are tiled.

Because balconies are important living spaces and key features in Thai architecture, the columns supporting the balcony covering are often prominent. Moreover, since Thai buildings are often without walls, the columns often become more prominent.

Thus columns are fundamental to Thai architecture. They hold the house up and are key components to the aesthetics of a building.

Chofa and Naga

2009-04-14T23:54:00.000-07:00

Chofa literally means “bunch of air”, but is often more poetically translated as “tassel of air”. And such a poetic rendition suits this most distinctive feature of Thai architecture. On top of the mighty sweeping roofs of a bot (monks’ congregation hall) or vihan (worship hall) is placed an elegant upward curving finial. They are placed on the peek of a roof overhanging the edge. Although, they vary in style, they all possess an elongated ‘s’ shape which is suggestive of an animal form. Sometimes the head is half way up the chofa and sometimes it is at the end. More often than not the appearance is of a bird-like creature with a graceful horn.

The history and exact significance of ‘Chofa’ is disputed. The chofa could be a representation of a garuda – a Hindu mythical bird that is the ‘vehicle’ of the God Vishnu; or it could be a hamsa – which is a goose, gander or swan in Hindu mythology that is the mount or vehicle for the God Brahma.

Another possibility is that it represents a snake or naga. This last option is confusing because nagas are key components of Thai iconography that are found else where in temple compounds. The naga is the half sibling of the garuda and its sworn enemy.

As seen in the picture below, often nagas adopt the pose and style of a chofa and it might be possible to label such examples of Thai architecture as ‘naga chofas’. Naturally opposites in eastern thought are often just 2 sides of the same coin, different aspects of one reality - whether it is the one soul (Atman/Brahman) of Hinduism or the absolute nothingness of Buddhism. Indeed motifs seemed to be combined in creative ways. In one of the pictures below the naga body splits into buddha heads. Furthermore, the naga head often has a bent horn on it that is very much like a chofa. The replication of forms adds to the impressiveness of the architectural forms found in religious buildings in Thailand.

The Naga or snake motif is another important iconic motif in Thai architecture. They are most commonly found on the hand rails of stairs (especially in the ‘Lanna’ style of Northern Thailand); or running down the edge of a temple roof. The body is sometimes coiled, but the head is usually raised. Often there are multiple heads. For Thais the naga is a symbol of comfort and security because in the Buddhist scriptures a mystical serpent is described as protecting and sheltering the Buddha as he meditated.

Naga-Chofa

Wat Hua Wiang Hong Son Naga

Karoen beach, Phuket

Naga Chofa at Wat Phra Singh

Thai Vernacular Architecture

2009-04-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

Vernacular architecture refers to a way of building which uses local materials and addresses local needs. Vernacular architecture is often 'organic' in the sense that a building is not planned beforehand but rather develops as a result of the availability of certain materials and as a response to changing cultural and environmental factors.

The most obvious example of vernacular architecture is the Innuit eskimo. In Thailand fisherman's houses and basic bungalows in the jungle and on the beach owe alot to vernacular architecture.

I recently stumbled across an unusual example of Thai vernacular architecture on the Phi Phi Design workshop site written by the Thai architect Rachaporn Choochuey. The house is made nearly entirely from materials found at the nearby garbage dump. The builder has carefully selected the materials. The roof is made from bits of metal cut to the right size. The columns are reinforced concrete molded by metal bins with the molds being kept after the concrete has dried.

The Barai at the Hyatt Regency in Hua Hin

2009-04-08T06:18:00.000-07:00

"Designed by the renowned Thai architect and interior designer, Mr. Lek Bunnag, THE BARAI is inspired by the Khmer cultural heritage. The architecture and interior design of THE BARAI represents the glory of the Khmer style of art, combined with the heritage of other art styles from this region."

So the official blurb goes. Well it's hard to tell whether the architect or the photographer is a genius. Certainly the colour scheme using the plums and reds is very attractive and looks spectacular at sunset and sunrise.

There's a combination of styles at play here. The first corridor shot below has a David Lynch surreal quality with the series of receding doors. The crinkly effect walls are also strange. The architraves used are western and on second inspection not very good. Whereas the other corridor that imitates the shape of a Thai roof is inspirational. The floor lighting through holes that follow the same design motif is very clever.

The McFarland House is a more traditional structure employing the wall-less wooden style that 100% shows the materials of the build and the internal structure of the roof.

I doubt if it's worth staying in the place or getting a spa there but it shows that Thailand remains a breeding ground for architectural talent and the big bucks of globalisation can occasionally be employed in the service of beauty (as well as attracting big spenders).

Free Directory, SEO Helper Webmaster Resource

Balconies in Thailand

2009-04-06T05:17:00.000-07:00

Balconies in Thai buildings are very important because Thailand has a very hot and humid climate. It is often preferable to be outside rather than in. It is a communal space where people gather to socialize, eat and drink. A stunning balcony can often be one of the main "tricks" of a house. It sells a certain life-style.

Balconies are found in a variety of places on a house. Traditionally the balcony is often on the front of the building, incorporated into the main entrance of the house. This works well because Thai houses are usually raised off the ground, thus providing elevation for the front balcony.

Naturally a balcony is an ideal way to make the most of a spectacular view.

Balustrading is an important way to add ornamental beauty to a balcony. Often the balustrading incorporates wooden seating. Another nice touch is to use potted plants on the balcony to bring a "natural" feel into the house. The floor of the balcony is normally tiled or wooden.

To create shade and protection from the sun a covered balcony is preferable.

In terms of modern tropical design, balconies and decking are important architectural features which can be used to break down the distinction between 'in door' and 'out door'. Thus creating an organic unity between the inside and outside of a building.

The first four pictures are of Sri Achala House in Koh Phangan. The designer has gone for the daring option of a curved balcony that wraps around the front of the villa to truly capitalize on the sea views, and create a unique look to the house. The pictures clearly show how folding glass doors leading onto the balcony can really 'open up' the indoor space and create an uninterrupted flow between the inside and out of the building.

Online Directory Web Comprehensive Website Listing

Thai Architecture - Architraves

2009-04-05T00:31:00.000-07:00

posted at Thai Architecture blogspot

The architrave is a moulded or ornamental band framing a rectangular opening, most commonly a door or a window.

In Thai Architecture it is often a key ornamental feature that gives a building a distinctive look. Often intricate wood carving is used. In modern Thai architecture a combination of glass and wood is sometimes used. The distinctive sharp sweep of the architrave can imitate the sharp gradients of the roof to bring unity to the structure.