bangkok based practice, creative crews, has designed the ahsa farmstay in the maechan district of chiang rai, thailand. in chiang rai, vernacular building techniques are not passed down from generation to the next. this lack of familiarity coupled with the changing socio-cultural landscape has eroded the relationship between traditional buildings and the people living in them. this project aims to examine architecture as the relationship between buildings and culture.

double skin walls for flexible use and activities during the day and added insulation at night
all images courtesy of creative crews ltd.
 
 
the ahsa farmstay project by creative crews addresses this issue through the programme of cultural tourism and the conservation of vernacular architecture for future generations. reclaimed timber from dismantled houses was selected as the main building material and the architect chose to conserve the essence of the original buildings in parts, rather than restoring as a whole.
view from the walk-in closet, hard crafted ceramic washing basin, over looking lush greenery of a freshly planted rice paddy
 
 
extensive documentation of individual pieces was undertaken to minimize construction cost and material wastage. some material has distinctive forms resulting from the previous joinery, which are preserved and celebrated. each mark tells the story of the journey of each piece of timber, where it has been, and how it was used. some details are designed to mimic ver...