Traditional Thai Houses

• The Thai house, like other houses in Southeast-Asia, is a wooden structure raised on posts. 
• The houses are well designed to fit the lifestyle needs and climatic conditions of Southeast Asia. Ideally adapted to its environment.
• It is held together using no nails - wooden dowels and dovetailing planks serve instead - it can be taken apart in a day's time. ( The pieces can then be stacked on a boat, moved elsewhere, and reassembled.)
• The open high-pitched roof - for air circulation.ž
• Open windows and walls in combination with a large central terrace -  provide ideal ventilation and offer relief from the hot and humid climate.
• žWide overhanging eaves -  protect the house from sun and rain.
• The use of wood and bamboo -  reflects the once abundant forests that provided these materials ubiquitously and cheaply. 

4 TYPES OF THAI HOUSES 

INFLUENCED BY CULTURAL REGION

• žThe Central Thailand
• žThe North (Lanna)
• žThe North-East (E-Sarn)
• žThe South

Thai house in the central plain has its roof line oriented along east west direction.  This is to cut down the amount of sunlight into the  main body of the house and at the same time obtain the maximum benefit of the cool winds.

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.    

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.

Sources : Asian Thai Architecture , Traditional Thai Houses

ss