bangkok tokyo architecture uses recycled materials to construct cabin for thai rice farmers

on a forested hill, just 40 minutes from the center of chiang mai, thailand, bangkok tokyo architecture designed ‘hut A’ as a prototype home proposal for the rice farmers of the area. with a construction budget of less than 3,000 USD, the house took shape as a rural low-cost cabin, self-constructed by the inhabitants, using ready-made and recycled industrial materials. 

all images courtesy of bangkok tokyo architecture

in rural thailand, it is not uncommon for locals to build their own homes by using readily available materials. in the hot and humid weather, these self-constructed units mainly serve as a place for security and protection from the sun and rain. bangkok tokyo architecture topped ‘hut A’ with a large gable roof, providing an ideal spot where farmers can cool down and rest during the day. at night, the elevated bedroom keeps the farmers dry and safe from wild animals. underneath the bedroom, there is spacious storage for farming tools, supplies, and small machinery.

when opened up, the light thin walls that clad the cabin turn into large windows, overlooking the rice paddies located less than 100 meters away. apart from the raised floor, the farmers can freely utilize the extended sloped landscape as an outdoor dining room, kitchen, storage, and living space. during the summer, wind flows through the gaps above the wall and underneath the floor, naturally ventilating and cooling down the house.

in this instantly assembled low-cost home, there is no clear distinction between inside and outside, walls and windows, or floor and ground. the openness allows for unconstrained spatial usage which extends towards the surrounding landscape. built with local knowledge, basic tools, and readily available materials, perhaps this home is not only a prototype but also a juxtaposition of contemporary and vernacular architecture.

project info:

name: hut A
architects: bangkok tokyo architecture
location: chiang mai, thailand

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom