Sustainable Design – Habitat for HumanityThis Habitat for Humanity home is located in the beautiful city of Bangkok,

Thailand. With Thailand being home to treacherous flooding, this home caters to the specific needs of the environment, while incorporating sustainable and local materials. With assimilating tradition Thai design and modern techniques, this

home is a one-of-a-kind treasure. This home is located in Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok. Bangkok is 606 square miles and

consists of striking city scenery, as well as beautiful countryside. Specifically, this home is located on the coast of the Bay of Bangkok

in the Gulf of Thailand.

There are over 68.2 million people living in Thailand. 50.4% of the population live in

cities, and 12.6% of the population are living below the poverty line.

A lot of Thailand’s culture has to do with religion. Buddhism and Hinduism have been

an important influence on the country’s culture. Two thirds of Thailand’s citizens come from Thai ethnicity, and one third is

primarily made up of Chinese

Flooding is a very prominent natural disaster in this region. In 2011, a terrible

flood took place in Bangkok and its surrounding provinces of Thailand.

Exterior

Because of all the flooding that happens in Thailand, most traditional homes are built on

wooden posts, hovering above the ground. Not only does this prevent flooding, it allows

for extra storage underneath the home.

The steep roofs and overhanging eaves protect the exterior of the

home. The gabled roofs allow rain to run off and away from the home,

protecting the rest of the home from damage. The eaves overhang far past

the exterior walls so it is harder for the hot sun to come through the windows, which will ultimately

make the home cooler on the inside.

This home is constructed of bamboo siding, just like traditional Thai homes built in the past. Although traditional

Thai homes were not very sturdy, today’s technology allows for the

whole exterior of the home to be built from very durable bamboo.

Interior

The flooring is made of teak wood that has been FSC (Forestry Stewardship

Council) certified. Teak is a very strong wood that is naturally waterproof. Since

teak occurs naturally in Thailand, not only is it locally sourced, shipping costs

are very low.

All the furniture in this space is locally sourced. Specifically, the

armoire cabinet in the dining room is a traditional Thai piece with

carved wood panels. The rug is a traditional Thai piece as well.

The very large sliding doors in the back of the home allow for air

movement throughout the home. This keeps heating and cooling costs low,

and is overall more efficient.

Interior

The kitchen cabinets in this home are made from

bamboo. Bamboo is grown in Thailand so it is easily accessible. The shipping costs are also very low

because they don’t have to be shipped far from the

manufacturer

Energy efficient appliances are used in

this home to cut electric costs. These appliances

utilize minimum energy to complete its necessary

tasks.

Wall paneling is a common interior element

in a Thai home. In this home, the panel is made

from reclaimed teak wood that had a previous life before being used in

this space.