bangkok project studio completes an 'elephant museum' in thailand

bangkok project studio has completed an ‘elephant museum’, which hopes to educate visitors about the close connection the animal has with the people of northeast thailand. the design team, led by boonserm premthada, says that the relationship between the native kui people and the elephants is completely unique and dates back more than three centuries. ‘humans live under the same roof as elephants which are regarded as children rather than pets,’ say the architects. ‘this heritage of tradition, culture, and wisdom has been passed on for generations in a rural village with the largest number of domesticated elephants in thailand.’

all images © spaceshift studio

over time, with deforestation happening at an increasing pace, many elephants have been left without necessary sustenance. these animals are often forced to wander in tourist cities or labor in forest camps until they fall ill and die. however, bangkok project studio says that the museum is not for people to lament the past, but rather a place where local people can take pride in their culture, while educating others about their history and traditions. the architects say that teaching people and animals to ‘coexist with love’ is the project’s overarching theme.

the structure, made from handmade clay bricks, forms part of a larger complex of buildings that includes a play area for elephants, a research center, and educational facilities. comprising a series of arched walls that merge into the existing terrain, the flexible museum is a network of covered and open-air spaces that allow for a variety of programming. visitors can walk from one exhibition room to another through openings in the walls, which connect with the main circulation route. displays can be mounted on the exterior walls and spaces, while the interior rooms will primarily serve as areas for rest and relaxation.

the project is divided into four sections. the first area consists of a reception hall, the main exhibition room, a library, a research room, a seminar room, a coffee shop, and a gift shop. the other three sections are museum areas that focus on three different topics: the relationship between elephants and people; deforestation and the elephant’s struggle for survival; and, finally, a message of empowerment. read more about other projects by boonserm premthada on designboom here, and see another project that accommodates elephants here.