Analysis and Effect on the implementation of Thai Vernacular Architecture in Modern Thai Residential Buildings

1. KATHLEEN CHAN
NURUL HIDAYAH
TIANG KOR SHEAN
AHMED MOHAMMED
AYESHA AZAM
CHRISTINE SEE
JANICE LIM
ANALYSIS AND EFFECT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THAI VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IN MODERN
THAI RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.

2. TO DATE, THAILAND REMAINS THE ONLY SOUTHEAST ASIAN
COUNTRY THAT HAVE NOT BEEN COLONISED BY THE
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES; THUS THE MODERN THAI BUILDINGS
STILL BARES A RESEMBLANCE OF THE VERNACULAR
ARCHITECTURE.
THIS PRESENTATION FOCUSES ON THE VERNACULAR THAI
ARCHITECTURE OF THE CENTRAL REGION IN THAILAND,
FROM THE RATTANA KINGDOM ERA TO DATE (1782 - 2018);
THE TYPE OF ARCHITECTURE PRESENTED IS THE
TRADITIONAL THAI HOUSES AS RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.
THE PURPOSE IS TO OBSERVE THE APPLICATION OF
THAILAND’S VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE IN THE CURRENT
AGE OVER YEARS OF MODERNISM AND TECHNOLOGICAL
ADVANCEMENT.

3. 1. WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF APPLYING THAI VERNACULAR
ARCHITECTURE IN THE MODERN THAI RESIDENTIAL BUILDING?
3. WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS OF THAI STILT HOUSES APPLIED IN
MODERN THAILAND RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS?
4. HOW DOES THE MODERNIZATION IN THAILAND AFFECT THE
CHANGE OF MATERIALS USED IN MODERN THAI HOUSES COMPARED
TO THEIR TRADITIONAL COUNTERPARTS?
5. WHAT ARE THE COMMON ARCHITECTURE PRINCIPLES APPLIED
BETWEEN MODERN AND TRADITIONAL THAI RESIDENTIAL
BUILDINGS?
QUESTIONS

5. EFFECTS OF THAI VERNACULAR
ARCHITECTURE IN MODERN
HOUSES
PROVIDE LONGER PERIOD
OF THERMAL COMFORT
EFFICIENT SHADING
traditional Thai design of their houses responded
better to the climate and its surroundings.
• The design of the roof provides efficient
shading to counter its hot sun during noon

6. EFFECTS OF THAI VERNACULAR
ARCHITECTURE IN MODERN
HOUSES
The contemporary design of houses provides
insufficient shade especially during noon
This results in the contemporary houses absorbing
more heat than its traditional counterparts

7. EFFECTS OF THAI VERNACULAR
ARCHITECTURE IN MODERN
HOUSES
PROVIDE LONGER PERIOD
OF THERMAL COMFORT
COOLER INTERIOR
Thai traditional houses are able to cool
its interior better than standard
contemporary housing designs
However, contemporary houses
does have an upper hand if
mechanical support are installed
into the houses.
- require less energy to cool
down.

8. EFFECTS OF THAI VERNACULAR
ARCHITECTURE IN MODERN
HOUSES

9. EFFECTS OF THAI VERNACULAR
ARCHITECTURE IN MODERN
HOUSES
IMPROVES CHANCES OF
AVOIDING FLOOD DAMAGE
Raised columns improves chances of
avoiding flood damage as central Thai
houses tend to be built closer to the rivers
The central block has several
projections which allows for
short cross-ventilation routesAir vents designed to promote natural
ventilation
IMPROVES NATURAL
VENTILATION

10. EFFECTS OF THAI VERNACULAR
ARCHITECTURE IN MODERN
HOUSES
LOWER COST
Possibly lower cost as the
lower income group could
not afford the authentic
traditional materials
• timber and teak
• labor cost of
carpenters who are
building it
Advantages of Concrete
•Very durable
•Low maintenance
•Does not rust, rot, or burn
•Absorbs & retains heat
•Wind & water resistant
•Non-combustible (fire safe)
•Effective soundproofing
material
Disadvantages of Concrete
•More expensive
•Heavy & difficult to
transport
•Limited versatility
•Slower to build with
•Susceptible to
efflorescence

11. WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING THE TRADITIONAL
THAI ARCHITECTURE OVER YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT?

12. IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING THE TRADITIONAL THAI ARCHITECTURE OVER YEARS OF
DEVELOPMENT
Thai stilt house
(Central Thailand)
nation’s identity for
vernacular architecture
SENSE OF IDENTITY + CONTINUITY
represents past history and
culture of a nation

13. IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING THE TRADITIONAL THAI ARCHITECTURE OVER YEARS OF
DEVELOPMENT
recognize the uniqueness
of their local cultural
landscape
experience the “spirit” of
the place
TOURISM

14. IMPORTANCE OF CONSERVING THE TRADITIONAL THAI ARCHITECTURE OVER YEARS OF
DEVELOPMENT
Local educational resource
Understand and
acknowledge the value of
their historic wood houses
and local history
Understand and respect
people who lived in
different eras with
different habits and
traditions.
EDUCATIONAL

16. COVEREDVERANDA
Traditional
Long strip of space with 1.5 metre high
walls on the side of the house
Can be changed into an indoor area when
covered by a convertible roof
Modern
Roof is made permanent instead of
convertible
Allows smooth transition between
outdoor to indoor spaces
Acts as semi-public area by supplying
natural sunlight and ventilation

17. STILTS
Traditional
Allow the structure to be elevated above the ground level
Helps provide space for storage, protection from floods
and dangerous wildlife
Modern
No longer possess stilt feature but tries to incorporate in design
Creating an under-floor air circulation and reducing humidity in
the living spaces

18. CHAAN
Traditional
Largest open space in the whole house and
Initially is an open roofless space, to contribute
to the supply of sunlight and ventilation
Modern
Roof is incorporated to allow for more space to
be usable during rain and extreme heat, slowly
transforming the central terrace into an indoor
space
Has walls to make it a bigger room

19. HOW DOES THE MODERNIZATION IN THAILAND AFFECT THE
CHANGE OF MATERIALS USED IN MODERN THAI HOUSES
COMPARED TO THEIR TRADITIONAL COUNTERPARTS?

20. THAIHOUSES
Grass
Bamboo
Wood
Concrete
Metals – Steel
Wood
Bamboo

21. ROOF
Roof Supports
Bamboo beams
Wooden beams
Roof Cladding
Clay (tiles)
Grass (thatched)
Bamboo
Wood
Concrete
Steel Structures
Steel sheets
Clay (tiles)
Wood

22. MAINSTRUCTURE
Walls, doors:
Wood,
bamboo,
woven grass
Floor, beams,
columns:
Wood,
bamboo
Walls, doors:
Wood, Concrete,
bricks + plaster,
Glass
Floor, beams,
columns:
Wood, Concrete,
Marble, bricks +
plaster

24. BALANCE BY HIERARCHY
The Chaan (Terrace)
Resembles hierarchy in both traditional and
modern Thai buildings affects the natural light
falling onto the building itself which plays an
important role in architecture. This can be seen in
the Triangle House. The chaan is the largest public
space which functions as the heart of the central
Thai houses which is grouped by cabins, occupies
40% of the floor plan(figure 1, area 3). This open
space allows prevailing winds to flow into the
building through the openings
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

25. BALANCE BY HIERARCHY
High Pitched-roof
High pitched-roof was designed to adapt
to local climate and function as climate
control system. The roof in the Triangle
House was designed in a large surface
area of heat insulation roof tiles with long
eaves and the roof height allows air
ventilation to occur and for heat to rise up
and flow away from the living space and
escape through the openings under the
eaves and this can be seen in figure 4, 5
and 6.
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6

26. BALANCE BY SYMMETRY
Floor Plan
The axis of symmetry is nearly symmetrical in the
Triangle House when compared to the traditional
Thai houses. This shows that it can be described as
having equal weight on equal sides of a centrally
placed fulcrum (in this case the chaan). This can be
shown in figure 1 which is the ground floor plan of
the Triangle House.
Figure 1