© David Hoicka 2009
Thailand’s Innovative Low Cost Housing
●
Baan Eua-Arthorn David Hoicka

Benefits of Thailand’s Low Cost
Housing Baan Eua-Arthorn Program
• Thailand’s Low Cost Housing – Baan Eua-Arthorn
Program has several benefits:
1. Lower construction cost for attractive
independent homes
2. Expandability as family income increases and
family grows
3. Commercial possibilities to increase family
income
4. Empowers family self-help resourcefulness and
dignity by rewarding family initiative

© David Hoicka 2009
Thailand’s National Housing Authority has embarked on an ambitious program
to build hundreds of thousands of affordable homes.

© David Hoicka 2009
Typically these are starter homes, which can be expanded as the family gains
income or grows. Here, expandable area includes the front first floor area.

© David Hoicka 2009
Initially, the homes are attractive and simple. These photos were taken at a
housing development a few kilometers north of Bangkok.

© David Hoicka 2009
Over a short period of time, the families customize their homes with gardens
and construction of new additions.

© David Hoicka 2009
Many families install commercial areas, such as stores, beauty parlors, and
workshops, to increase family income.

© David Hoicka 2009
Many improvements and decorations are simple, attractive, and effective,
personalizing each family’s home.

© David Hoicka 2009
In this case, a family is replacing a wooden fence with a sculpted concrete wall,
and building out the ground floor area.

© David Hoicka 2009
This family has changed the entrance from the front to the side.

© David Hoicka 2009
Another family is building a personalized fence. Small trees are starting to
mature around family homes.

© David Hoicka 2009
Some families build ceramic tile decks around their homes, to make the outside
an easily usable extension of the inside family area.

© David Hoicka 2009
This picture shows construction of a new room in the ground floor expansion area.

© David Hoicka 2009
Another picture of ground floor construction (on left) to expand the home. On
the right is a completed ground floor expansion.

© David Hoicka 2009
In this photo, the first house has expanded the ground floor for residential use;
the next for commercial. Other homes on the right have not yet expanded.

© David Hoicka 2009
A popular retail store on the ground floor expansion area.

© David Hoicka 2009
A family retail store on a street corner.

© David Hoicka 2009
Another family retail store on a street corner.

© David Hoicka 2009
Another family retail store on a street corner.

© David Hoicka 2009
A well-stocked small retail store on a street corner.