Most all Thai-style houses display some unique, but common, architectural characteristics that have resulted from mixing the cultures of diverse ethnic groups. Even at first glance, the harmony that exists between the prevailing architectural style and the Thai climate is notable. For example, the most commonly recognized traditional Thai-style house is built on stilts. This is a consequence of climate and usefulness playing an important role in building the original Thai house. Thailand is situated in a tropic, but monsoon, zone where large amounts of rainfall regularly cause flooding. Consequently, by building the houses on stilts much of the impact of the flooding during the annual rainy season is reduced. Furthermore, the houses are able to stay cooler because the air circulates much more efficiently. Likewise, by having the houses on stilts, the ground floor is left open to store a loom, farming machinery, fishing equipment, and the like. It also serves as a playground for the children. Another common characteristic is the upstairs of traditional Thai houses, which was traditionally partitioned into one big bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom.

However, beyond certain common characteristics, Thai-style houses also reflect regional differences. The regional architectures of the north, central, northeast, and south were developed to meet the needs of daily activities, careers, and personal preferences of the area. The regional differences also reflect the diversity of life styles, economic situations, social structures, concepts of beauty, and beliefs between the regions.

For instance, the architecture of the central region reflects two main characteristics of method and technique. The Ruan Khruang Phook is a simple temporary house, while the Ruan Khruang Sap is a permanent one that was made of hard and tough wood by a sophisticated technique (as can be seen in some old houses that still stand today).

In northern Thailand, the Ruan Khruang Phook is a temporary house made of leaves of Bai Tong Tung or Phluang (Dipterocarpus tuberculatus Roxb) and vetiver grass. The well-known Ruan Khruang Sap in the north is the Ruan Kalae, which is a style of construction where twin houses were built on one level. The house itself, though, sits on high stilts and the top of the gable is decorated with inter-twined small pieces of carved wood called Kalae.

An original Thai house of the northeastern region is difficult to find nowadays. From the few that remain, one can see that the Lan Xang culture had a strong influence on this region. Here, spirits, the worship of ancestors, and the supposed existence of supernatural entities had great effect on the daily lives of the populace. Consequently, rites and rituals played an important role in finding a suitable location for the home, in choosing auspicious kinds of wood for the house, building dates and procedures, and so on.

The traditional Thai house in the south also has its own unique architectural characteristics. The southern Pan Ya houses are not raised as high as those of the central plain or the northeastern parts of Thailand. Instead, they are kept as close to the ground as possible due to the region’s unique architectural adaptation to the climate. Since the monsoons more heavily affect the southern part of Thailand, design differences are implemented. Support posts are not hammered in the ground, but are rather placed firmly on foundations made of tough hard wood, stone or cement. One advantage of this construction technique is that it prevents the house from sinking or collapsing when an excessive amount of rain softens the ground. Another advantage is that it makes the house the easy to move. In the southern style, planks are laid lengthwise to minimize the force of the wind, and the roofs display mixed styles of the gabled roof and the distinctly southern Pan Ya house. The spacious large open balcony removes any need for air conditioning since the high ceiling allows total air circulation.

Today, examples of each of the original Thai-style houses can be seen in one location. Houses from each of the four regions have been built at the Royal Arts and crafts Center, Bang Sai District, Phranakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, where Thai heritage and architecture are well preserved. To enhance the quality and authenticity of the products, and to create a truly Thai atmosphere, replicas of traditional-style buildings have been constructed on the center’s open-air grounds. These houses, in the Arts and Crafts compound, are exact replicas of the rapidly disapearing traditional houses of Thailand, which are becoming scarce due to modernization of the economy and the associated influence of modern architectural styles and construction techniques.

All Thais are well aware that the Royal Arts and Crafts center at Bang Sai is not just a center for Thai arts and crafts but also a fountainhead for their genesis. It was founded under the gracious patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and later officially incorporated into the Supplementary Occupation and Related Techniques (SUPPORT) Foundation on 21 July 1976. Since then the foundation has offered craftsmen from all regions of Thailand opportunities to display their craftsmanship both to the Thai public and visitors from around the world. Thus, they have gained the well-earned recognition they deserved for their rare skill and expertise.

Numerous traditional activities are performed as part of the center’s exhibition of traditional Thai houses. For example, women paint paper umbrellas in the northern house, while men weave bamboo baskets and fishing nets in the central plain house. Clay pots are hand shaped and decorated in a production line in the northeastern house. Batik material is dyed or painted, and classical Nang Taloong characters are made from leather in the southern house.

Today, the regional Thai-style houses are among the main attractions of the Royal Arts and Crafts Center at Bang Sai. It is a treat for all visitors, and a stop especially worth visiting for those who appreciate Thai architecture, and are interested in learning more about Thai handicrafts.