FOREWOOD
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, Assalammumalaikum I bit to all. First and foremost, im thankful to Allah swt for everything in this world. This assignment is done for the requirement for Architectural History course. This task is given to all students and need to be done by groups. For Muhamad Haziq bin Rosli, Amirul Hakim bin Zainurin, and Maisarah binti Mashor the task to to research about House system in Thailand. The task given is quite challenging as it required to search the detail and information about the house of the country. Alhamdulillah we succed in completing the report.
INTRODUCTION
Thailand, situated in South East Asia region is a big country with Monsoon Tropical climate with moderate and almost constant temperature throughout the year.
Thailand is one of the most powerful country of the South East Asia region as it never been invaded or colonized. The country itself also show that it have its own styles of Architecture
Mainly the Thai pepole work on their art of their own. This means that they used to design and build their own house. Skilled craftsman aid in the building of the house.
PEOPLE AND CULTURE
Throughout the era Thailand had absorbed many immigrants. There are thai malay, Laotians, and even Chinese. The Thai population is generally Sino –Thai. Many were skilled as writers, painters, sculptors, dancers, musicians, and architects. These immigrants helped to enrich Thailand's indigenous culture.
Today, the people of Thailand share ethic diversity – mainly of Mon, Khmer, Tai, Chinese, Malay, Laotian, and Indian stock – with the result that there is no typically Thai physiognomy or physique. There are petite Thais, statuesque Thai, round faced Thais, dark skinned Thais, and light-skinned Thais.
About 80% of all Thais are connected in some way with agriculture, which (in varying degrees) influences and is influenced by the religious ceremonies and festivals that help make Thailand such a distinctive country.
Thai culture is vastly different from English culture and a bit similar to Malay culture with mix of Indian style. The most significant Indian culture adapted in Thailand is the Vai gesture. Clasping both palm in front of your chest and bow slightly to show respect. It is always used in Thailand by Thais.
SHAPE AND STYLES
LANNA HOUSE
Traditional Thai houses are well designed to fit the lifestyle needs and climatic conditions of Southeast Asia. Thai houses typically have steep roofs arching upwards towards the sky. Both of the walls are inclined towards the center.
The function of this design and structural element is easy ventilation. Hot air rises so the height of the roof keeps the house cool. Simplicity and open space are the core features of the Thai style house.
Lanna house or Thai house of the north as a rule faces east with the roof ridge oriented along north south direction. The house is thus exposed to ample sunlight and at the same time protected from northernwinds in the cool season.
Thai house of the northeast or "E-Sarn" region has its roof line oriented along the east west direction. The house is built with due considerations for dryness, hot temperatures in the hot season and cool temperatures in the cool season.
HOUSE OF THE SOUTH
Thai house of the south has its longer side oriented in the east to west direction. Doing so would expose the house to full sun light almost half a day and also to strong winds which are liable to blow from east to west directions.
Elevated house facilitates the circulation of air and offers a more comfortable living space. It is cooler to live in and enhances protections from the risk of floods during the monsoon season. It also offers protection from hostile wildlife.
The ample space underneath the house on stilts is versatile. It is used as a living area in the hot season, as storage for farming equipment such as "kwian" (buffalo drawn wagon), planks, boats, ploughing set, large frying pan, etc. and as a place to keep live stocks.
The curved roof-ends which give the tip of the eaves a highly distinctive look and add to the graceful appearance of the Thai houses are symbolic of the 'nagas' or river dragons that adorn most of the Thai temples.
One practical feature of the Thai house is it can be easily assembled or taken down. The entire house is built in light, prefabricated sections with each section forming a wall. Each wall is then fitted together and hung on the superstructure - a frame of wooden pillars - without nails. In former times, the fact that the house could be taken down and reassembled with relative ease was well-suited to the indigenous way of life. Whenever there was a migration, the house would be taken down, stacked on a raft and floated down the nearest river to a new location. This is somehow similar to traditional malay house. The uses of interlocking joints instead of nails, the house is movable.
CONSTRUCTION, MATERIAL AND CRATFSMANSHIPS
Most of traditional Thai houses are or have been made of teakwood. Since there were abundance of teak forests in the past in Thailand, homeowners from all walks of life could easily afford to build their houses with teakwood.
For the traditional way of constructing the house, each part is exquisitely hand crafted using only high quality teak wood and/or golden teak wood. Golden teak somehow is rare and expensive as time passed by.
The construction of traditional Thai houses has been on the decline for some time, especially in the cities, but also in the rural areas following a former Prime Minister's program to eliminate traditional Thai culture. Western influences, the high price of favored hardwoods, and the decline in the number of knowledgeable artisans - all have played a role. It is estimated that a proper, well-built Thai house would run about 1.5 million baht
The entire house is built in light, pre-fabricated sections with each section forming a wall. Each wall is then fitted together and hung on the superstructure - a frame of wooden pillars - without nails. In former times, the fact that the house could be taken down and re-assembled with relative ease was well-suited to the indigenous way of life. When families decided to move, as they frequently did, the house would be taken down, stacked on a raft and floated down the nearest klong to a new location.
SPACES AND INTERIORS
Thailand house traditionally small. Just like typical malay traditional house. It usually consist of two rooms, a kitchen, an open space as living room and dining place and sometimes a varendah, a platform expand out from the main house. Because of Thai house usually build on stilts, The vaerndah is usually lower than the house by one threshold. The bathroom is outside.
Additionally in the past, the thresholds of the door were raised to prevent babies and small children from falling into the water, Back in those days, majority of the houses were built along the rivers and canals.
In a typical old Thai house, the various rooms would be separate units connected by open walkways and the staircase was on the outside.
The simple yet elegant and functional
interiors of the house is trademark of the eastern style. The space is limited and so all the activities are held on the living room.
ELEMENTS AND FINISHES
Most of the finishes and elements of buildings in Thailand is based on Buddhist or Native Thailand art influences. For example the statue of Buddha and elephant, which is a symbolism of the country.
For the rooftops tips and edge, the curve and curl pointy tips is almost similar to the shape of Minang in Malaysia. Actually for Siam styles the curve is symbolises to Naga (serpent) a mythology mystical animal that represent strength and power. It also can mean elephant trunk. Elephant to the Siamese symbolises, pride, glory, power, pure, sacred, high rank, royalty etc.
FUNCTION
The traditional house in Thailand construct to be useful and fully functional.
For example :
Small window of Lanna house to ventilate and keep warmth due cold climate
Large window of house of the south to ventilate and keep cool due to warmer climate
Long overhang to keep of heat of the sun
North south facing façade to increase the amount of morning sunlight.
Build in high stilts to prevent from flood and dangerous animal. The space below can also be used to house livestock. It also can be a cool place to rest, work & play during the evening
The opening near the rooftops is for the use of ventilation. The airflow can be ceased with some of it be installed with adjustable flaps in some region where the temperature change is too great.
Additionally a great number of windows and doors are carefully aligned to facilitate an uninterrupted flow and aid the circulation of air. Walls were generally left unpainted, though sometimes oiled. This is usually applied in temples and big building.
CONCLUSION
The house in Thailand is almost similar to what we have in Malaysia. The traditional elements that is implemented in the house design is somewhat have close relation in cultural aspect.
