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Historically, the religious and domestic
architecture of Thailand shared some common characteristics.
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Like temples, Thai houses
have steep roofs arching upwards towards the sky.
Both the walls are inclined towards the center
creating the illusion of height.
There is a functional aspect
behind this design and structural element. Hot
air rises so the height of the roof keeps the
house cool.
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elements are found in Thai religious and domestic
architecture of earlier periods |
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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.
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Traditional
Thai houses are well adapted to the
lifestyle needs and climatic conditions.
Simplicity and open space are the
core features of the Thai style house.
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Entrance
to the stairwell, flanked by two Chinese
stone lions.
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In the hot and humid
tropical climate, the airy, open quality of a Thai house
and the broad overhangs of its roof protect the interior
from both sun and rain.
Elevated houses facilitate
the circulation of air and offered a more comfortable
living space. It was cooler to live in and protected
the home from the risk of floods in the monsoon season.
It also offered protection from hostile wildlife.
The open space beneath the house was versatile. It was
used as a living area in the hot season, as storage
for the season's harvest, and as a place to keep livestock.
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| DECORATIVE
ELEMENTS |
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In contrast to the ornate decorations
of the temples and palaces, there were relatively
few purely decorative elements and these were
largely confined to panels carved in Chinese designs
under the windows and sometimes over the doors
and the curling roof ends, possibly reflecting
the Khmer architectural style.
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Carved
panel beneath a window. Only the houses
of affluent Thais bore such decorative elements.
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A carved wooden
bracket of a similar kind to those used to support
eaves on Thai temples and palaces. |
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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 serpents that adorn the Khmer
temples. They have been stylized and often bear little
resemblance to the original art form.
CONSTRUCTED
WITHOUT NAILS
One practical feature
of the Thai house is the ease with which it can be assembled
or taken down. 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.
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THE THRESHOLD
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An arched doorway
frames a 13th - century seated sandstone Buddha,
while in the niches on either side are limestone
images of Siva and Uma, all these are Khmer - Style
sculptures that were found in Thailand. |
Keeping Evil Spirits Out and
Babies In
According to superstition
and traditional Thai belief, the raised thresholds of
Thai houses prevent evil spirits from creeping in at
night and disrupting the sleep of the inhabitants. It
also served a functional purpose.
The raised threshold
acted as a structural aid holding the wall sections
firmly in place on their frame.
Additionally the early
settlements of the Thai kingdom were largely agricultural
communities built along rivers, canals and waterways.
Hence to prevent babies and small children from falling
into the water, the thresholds of the door were raised.
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Whole families would
sleep together in a single room. In some instances,
the open space was partitioned off into separate living
areas to accommodate various generations.
In a typical old Thai
house, the various rooms would be separate units connected
by open walkways and the staircase was on the outside.
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The entrance
hall and stairway. The black-and-white marble
tiles which probably originated from Italy, came
from a 19th century Bangkok palace. |
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However in the interest
of comfort and for aesthetic considerations, the main
house does not conform with the traditional practices
of Thai architecture. The connecting corridors and the
entrance hall is enclosed.
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