Regardless
of weather conditions in Thailand the local created a "Thai
Classical House" is good to stand for the weather
conditions of the country, whether it may rain or shine. Thai Classical
Houses are made up with many parts that complement each other. In the
old day, builders took the art of housing as unique to Thailand.
Basically, there are two main parts, namely, the upper section is
composed of "OKKAI" (Ridge of Roof) which
is a long wooden plank filled into an aperture of the centrally
pillars, coupled with "JUA" (Gable) an
apparatus made of a tangle-shaped wood to secure the roof for
protection against the wind and the sun. There is "CHANDAN"
(Rafter) looking like Jua but hollow, placed to receive the wooden
piece placed on purloin or lathes. There is "PANLOM"
(Ornamental Gable end) which is a pointed wooden piece placed Chandan
to fit in with "KLON" a piece of wood
placed atop Pae to serve as the structure for roofing. There is "RANEANG"
(Purloin) a piece of wood spliced lengthwise to place roofing tiles and
finally comes "CHERNG CHAI"(Eaves) a
piece of wood designed to receive the apart of the roof.
The aforementioned parts are called the "Upper Structure". When the
upper structure is filled into the lower section composed of
floorboards, the beauty of each Thai Classical House rested with a
thing called "PANLOM"
"
The beauty of Thai
Classical House
lies in the fact that
the whole structure
is a product of
individual pieces
fitted together
without using a nail. However, nails are used when the structure is
fitted to the pillars. Formally, builders used strings or wires. Indeed
Thai craftsmen did not rely on nails at all
"
as it is the heart of
the artistic construction. The advantage lies in the
fact that Thai Classical House can be moved from one place to another
one without damages or difficulties as they are not secured by nails.
An entire house can be moved by mean of rails. Thai Classical Houses
are not hot. They are standing tall, can let the wind pass underneath
with ease, with house spared from the force of the wind. Moreover,
people may sometimes rest under the house. It takes not more than three
months to make a Thai Classical House elsewhere without trouble. A Thai
Classical House has a long story. For example, Thais choose the most
auspicious month of a year to construct a home. Holes are dug in the
ground and placed with wood (the first pillar) with good names and as a
gesture of goodwill, before setting up the poles. The direction to
which a house faces is significant factor which must be observed
according to Thai custom in order to bring peace and happiness to the
members of a household.
Ancient craftsmen of Thailand invented this craft and passed it on from
generation to generation. Today, they stand as witnesses to the
glorious days of the past in the eyes of be holders in Thailand,
foreigners as well.