Thai architecture is characterized by three main building types - Buddhist temples (wats), palaces, and houses. Wats consist of areas for Buddhist practice (Puttha Wat) and monk living quarters (Sanga Wat). Notable features include multi-tiered rooflines decorated with choofah finials, vivid interior murals, and ornate Buddha statues. Traditional Thai homes are built on stilts to avoid floods, with high ceilings for ventilation. Wats incorporate structures like chedis, viharns, libraries, and bells towers following Buddhist design principles. Overall, Thai architecture emphasizes intricate woodwork, vibrant colors, and spiritual symbolism.

1. THAILAND
SOUTH-EAST ASIA ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURE OF

2. THAI ARCHITECTURE ELEMENTS
 TRADITIONAL THAI HOUSE –STILT HOUSE
 BUDHIST TEMPLE - THAI WAT
 KUTI

3. INTRODUCTION
 Thai architecture can be grouped into three
categories, consisting of Buddhist temples and
their monasteries, known as Wat in Thai,
palaces, and houses
 Eight periods in the evolution of Thai
architecture, Dvaravati, Srivijaya, Lop Buri,
Chiang Saen, Sukhothai, U Thong,
Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin.

4. COMMON CHARACTERISTICS
 Most noticeable in Thai architecture are:
 the swooping (of a bird) multi-tiered rooflines,
 the distinctly (noticeable) ornamental decorations,
 the stunning interior murals,
 the vivid colour (bright, distinct, contrast)
 the lovingly crafted and gold- adorned Buddha
images

5. THAI STILT HOUSE

6. THAI STILT HOUSE
 A Thai stilt house is a bamboo-made hut with
sharp angled roofs and wooden floorboards
 The ceiling is typically high to provide good
ventilation. (high ceiling)
 The mattress would be usually laid on the floor
as a bed.
 The house can be found along the beaches
in Thailand, and some freshwater sources
like lotus ponds.

7. THAI STILT HOUSE
 Universal aspect of Thai House is the elevation of
its building on stilt, mostly around head height.
 Area beneath the house used for storage, crafts,
lounging, and cultural activities, etc.
 To avoid flood and predators (wild animal)
 Mostly made of wood and bamboo
 Mostly use pad foundation
 Utilize the passive design feature: cross
ventilation, stack effect, etc.

8. TRADITIONAL THAI HOUSE IN CENTRAL THAILAND

10. ELEVATION OF TRADITIONAL THAI HOUSE

11. TRADITIONAL THAI HOUSE - THAP KWAN

12. SELECTING TEAK (JATI) LUMBER

13. CUTTING TEAK LUMBER

14. TEAK LUMBER FOR MAIN STRUCTURE

15. THAI HOUSE GABLE COMPONENT

16. THAI HOUSE TEAK (JATI) WALL

17. WORKING AREA FOR CONSTRUCTING ROOF & GABLE

18. THAI SALA (GAZEBO)

19. TERRA COTTA PANELS FOR FENCING

20. THAI WAT

21. WAT ARUN VIEW FROM CHAO PHRAYA RIVER

22. THAI WAT
 Wat (enclosure) is a Thai Buddhist temple or
monastery.
 Consists of collection of buildings, shrines, and
monuments within a courtyard.
 A typical Wat has enclosing wall that divides it
from secular world.
 Different in lay-out and style, but still adhere to the
same principal.

23. THAI WAT
 Consists of two parts
1- Puttha Wat
– dedicated to Buddha.
2- Sangha Wat
– The living quarters of monks.

24. ELEMENTS OF WAT

25. WAT CHIANG MAN
UBOSOT
HO TRAI
CHEDI

27. PUTTHA WAT
Contains several elements:
1. CHEDI
- known as Stupa
- Form of a tall bell shaped
tower
- Often accessible
- Covered with gold leaf
- Containing relic chamber of
Buddha

28. HOLY CHEDI OF THE BEGINNING, PHRA PATHOM

29. ASHES ARE ENSHRINED IN SMALL PAGODA/ CHEDI AS
CEMETARIES.

30. PUTTHA WAT
2. PRANG
- Ayutthayan or Khmer-style Chedi
- High and slim, looks like vertical ear corn
- the Thai version of Khmer temple tower.
- Mostly seen in temples from the Sukhstani and
Ayutthaya period.

31. PRANG – KHMER STYLE CHEDI

32. PUTTHA WAT
3. UBOSOT HALL / BOT
- The ordination Hall of a Wat
- Place where monks take their vows.
- Six boundary stones (Bai Sema) placed around
the perimeter - mark the limit of its sanctuary.
- Building facing East
- Houses an altar and one or several Buddha
images.
- Chofah on top of roof finial

33. UBOSOT HALL

34. UBOSOT HALL, WAT BENCHAMABOPHIT

35. UBOSOT HALL, WAT SUTHAT

36. INTERIOR OF ORDINATION HALL, WAT ARUN

37. THE KAMPHAENG KAEO (CRYSTAL WALL) SURROUNDING
THE UBOSOT AT WAT RATCHABOPHIT IN BANGKOK

38. BUDDHA IMAGE, SUKHOTHAI WAT SI CHUM

39. PUTTHA WAT
4. VIHARN
- Assembly hall where monks
and believers assemble.
- Open to public
- Public must be properly
dressed, shoes off, and
behave quietly
- Contains the altar and several
Buddha images.
- Same as Ubosot but with no
Sema stone
VIHARN, CHIANG MAI

40. VIHARN IN BANGKOK

41. PUTTHA WAT
5. HOR TRAI
- The temple library or Scriptures Depository
houses of the sacred Tripitaka Scriptures.
- Very small highly decorated building
- Sometimes, built in the form of Mondop

42. HOR TRAI, WAT PHRA SINGH

43. MONDOP
The Mondop is a
square based
building with a
pyramidal shaped
roof supported by
columns. It is
typically used to
house sacred
relics or scriptures

44. PUTTHA WAT
6. SALA
- An open-sided pavilion.
- Open on four sides.
- A place for meeting, rest, eat or listen
to sermon from the monks.

45. SALA

46. PUTTHA WAT
7. HOR RAKANG
- The bell tower
- For waking the monks and
to announce the morning
and evening ceremonies.

47. PUTTHA WAT
8. PHRA RABIENG
- A peristyle
- Built around the sacred inner area as walkway.

48. PUTTHA WAT
9. ADDITIONAL BUILDING
- Depends on local needs, such as Crematorium
or a school.

49. SANGHA WAT
 Contains the living quarters of the monks.

50. SANGHA WAT
KUTI
- Originally a small structure built on stilt.
- Designed to house a monk.
- Proper size defined in Sanghathisep, Rule 6 to
be 12 by 7 keub( 4.013 by 2.343 m)
- Modern Kuti – shape of an apartment with
small rooms for the monks.

51. A cluster arrangement of Kuti
around a central terrace

52. MONK KUTI, WAT TUM SUA

54. SANGHA WAT
2. Also contains ‘Hor rakang’ (bell tower) and
even the ‘Sala Kan Prian’ (Sermon Hall)
3. Will house most of the functional buildings
such as kitchen building and sanitary building.

55.  Roof forms
Multiple roof tiers
Ornamented roof
 Roof finials
Decoration structure attached to the
bargeboard (long thin panel on the edge of
the roof at the gable ends.)
The ornament called Chofah/ Chofa
ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS

56. ROOF AND GABLE OF THE MAIN VIHARN OF WAT PHRA SINGH IN
CHANG MAI

57. CHOFAH
 Chofah is a decorative ornament that
decorates the top at the end of Wat and
palaces roof.
 It resembles a tall thin bird and hornlike looks.
 The Chofah is generally believed to represent
the mythical creature Garuda, half bird and half
man, act as vehicle of the Hindu god Vishnu.

58. CHOFAH/ CHOFA
 Same function as the ‘tunjuk langit’ of Malay
traditional house
 Usually designed based on the animal figure.
 Design as the holy symbol.
 Usually painted in golden color as a symbol of
dignity and richness.

59. CHOFA
ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENT
Chofa of Ubosot,
Wat Phra Kaeo,
Bangkok

60. GARUDA TIP

62. FISH TIP
Chofa of Ubosot,
Wat Phra Singh,
Chiang Mai (Lanna
art Chofa)

63. FISH TIP

64. ELEPHANT HEAD
Chofa of Viharn,
Wat Ched Yot,
Chiang Mai

65. ELEPHANT HEAD
CHOFA

66. NAGA HEAD

69. REFERENCES
 Ruethai Chaichongrak. (2002). Thai House: History And
Evolution. Weatherhill. ISBN 0-8348-0520-0
 Karl Döhring, Buddhist Temples of Thailand: an Architectonic
Introduction, White Lotus, 2000. ISBN 974-7534-40-1

70. END