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The classic wooden house
The Classic Thai wooden house
originated in Central Thailand in the
17th century. Raised on round posts, it has steep roofs with expansive
overhangs to protect the interior from both rain and sun. It is made
entirely from wood and most parts like walls, windows and doors are
prefabricated and joined together by wooden pegs. Teak wood is the
most favored wood, the pillars supporting the house however are of
stronger woods.
The building of a traditional Thai house, simple as it may appear to
an outsider, requires a complex succession of symbols and beliefs,
covering many aspects of it's construction and arrangement of living
space.
Before building starts, an astrologer is consulted, who will determine
the most suitable day and month to begin placing the pillars in the
ground. Next the placement of the house is equally important:
The entrance of the house should be located south wards, so a person
entering the house would face north. The bedroom never should face to
the west, only the kitchen and washing room can be located in the
western part of the house. Doors and windows must always open in
wards. The altar holding the Buddha image faces east. The number of
posts supporting the platform is determined by the size of the house,
the number of spaces between the posts however always must be an odd
number. The same rule applies to the stairs, leading up to the
platform - the number of steps must be odd as well. Once the first two
posts have been put into the ground, a ceremony is held to ask the
spirit guarding the land for permission. Coconut, bananas, boiled eggs
and Thai desserts are placed beside the hole. Later on a miniature
house, also raised on a pole, will be placed on the property to give
the spirit of the land a new home. Food and drink, flowers and incense
sticks are regularly offered to the spirit. The date for moving into
the newly built house again is determined by an astrologer. Monks are
invited in the morning and offered food, which brings merit and good
luck to the owner of the house.
Choosing plants for the garden is an equal important task. There is a
large number of plants known by Thais as "whan', which means lucky.
Jasmine is chosen for their fragrance and beauty, crotons for their
names, which are associated with good fortune. A jack fruit (kha-nun)
will always be planted in the back of the garden, since "nun" suggests
the idea of support. Star gooseberry (ma-yom) on the other hand is
grown in front of the house, as "yom" means admiration. Frangipani
(lan-tom) should not be grown at all because of it's similar sound to
"ra-tom", which means sorrow. Trees belonging to the family of the
Ficus are considered to harbor spirits and therefore hardly seen. The
Bodhi tree is forbidden in private homes because of its association
with Buddhism.
02. December 2004