SOUTH-EAST ASIA ARCHITECTURE

ARCHITECTURE OF
THAILAND
THAI ARCHITECTURE ELEMENTS

 TRADITIONAL THAI HOUSE –STILT HOUSE

 BUDHIST TEMPLE - THAI WAT

 KUTI
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.
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
THAI STILT HOUSE
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.
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.
TRADITIONAL THAI HOUSE IN CENTRAL THAILAND
ELEVATION OF TRADITIONAL THAI HOUSE
TRADITIONAL THAI HOUSE - THAP KWAN
SELECTING TEAK (JATI) LUMBER
CUTTING TEAK LUMBER
TEAK LUMBER FOR MAIN STRUCTURE
THAI HOUSE GABLE COMPONENT
THAI HOUSE TEAK (JATI) WALL
WORKING AREA FOR CONSTRUCTING ROOF & GABLE
THAI SALA (GAZEBO)
TERRA COTTA PANELS FOR FENCING
THAI WAT
WAT ARUN VIEW FROM CHAO PHRAYA RIVER
 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.
THAI WAT

 Consists of two parts

 1-Puttha Wat
– dedicated to Buddha.

 2-Sangha Wat
– The living quarters of monks.
ELEMENTS OF WAT
 CHEDI
UBOSOT

HO TRAI

WAT CHIANG MAN

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
HOLY CHEDI OF THE BEGINNING, PHRA PATHOM
ASHES ARE ENSHRINED IN SMALL PAGODA/ CHEDI AS
CEMETARIES.
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.
PRANG – KHMER STYLE CHEDI
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
UBOSOT HALL
UBOSOT HALL, WAT BENCHAMABOPHIT
UBOSOT HALL, WAT SUTHAT
INTERIOR OF ORDINATION HALL, WAT ARUN
THE KAMPHAENG KAEO (CRYSTAL WALL) SURROUNDING
THE UBOSOT AT WAT RATCHABOPHIT IN BANGKOK
BUDDHA IMAGE, SUKHOTHAI WAT SI CHUM
 VIHARN, CHIANG MAI
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 IN BANGKOK
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

HOR TRAI, WAT PHRA SINGH
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
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.
SALA
PUTTHA WAT
7. HOR RAKANG
- The bell tower

- For waking the monks and

to announce the morning
and evening ceremonies.
PUTTHA WAT

8. PHRA RABIENG
- A peristyle

- Built around the sacred inner area as walkway.

PUTTHA WAT

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

 Contains the living quarters of the monks.

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.
A cluster arrangement of Kuti
around a central terrace
MONK KUTI, WAT TUM SUA
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.
ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS

 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
ROOF AND GABLE OF THE MAIN VIHARN OF WAT PHRA SINGH IN
CHANG MAI
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.
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.
CHOFA
ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENT

Chofa of Ubosot,
Wat Phra Kaeo,
Bangkok
GARUDA TIP
FISH TIP

Chofa of Ubosot,
Wat Phra Singh,
Chiang Mai (Lanna
art Chofa)
FISH TIP
Chofa of Viharn,
Wat Ched Yot, ELEPHANT HEAD
Chiang Mai
ELEPHANT HEAD
CHOFA
NAGA HEAD
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
END