sustainable design – habitat for humanity · 2020-06-03 · sustainable design – habitat for...
TRANSCRIPT
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.