Thailand Architecture

Thailand

• Prathet Thai = Land of the free

• Formerly known as Siam

• Main Religion: Buddhism

Social & Political Background

• Hierarchical Society are reflected on the architectural features of homes

• Incorporation of Elements in Buddhism as central to their society

Geographical & Climate

• North: Cooler Climate

• Central and South: Prone to flooding and heat (stilts)

• Tropical Climate: hot, humid, and rainy seasons

Wat

place for worshipping Budha

Sala

open pavilion

Kalae

v shaped design at the end of a roof ridge representing buffalo horns

Ku

reliquary containing the main image of Buddha in the form of a miniature chedi

Singha

a pair lion guarding at the entrance of the Ihan

Makara

baluster in the form of a dragon with features of a crocodile, elephant, and fish

Kong Kheaw

an arch representing Buddha’s eyebrows

Phutta-Wat

• solely dedicated for worshipping

• has seven parts

  • Chedi / Stupa

  • Bot / Ubosot

  • Ho Rakhang

  • Sala Kan Parian

  • Viharn

  • Crematorium

  • Para Rabieng

Sanghawa

• utility area

• has three parts:

  • Kuti

  • Ho Rakhang

  • Sala Kan parian

Wat Phra Kaew

• Temple of the Emerald Buddha (inside the Grand Palace)

• doesn’t have a living quarter for monks

• purely a place for worship, royal ceremonies, and Buddhist festivals

Phra Ubosot

• ordination hall

• eaves are lined with bronze bells that tinkle in the slightest breeze

• doors are inlaid with mother of pearl designs

Royal Pantheon

• largest building on the upper platform

• contains life-sized statues

Prang

• A Khmer style tower commonly found in temples from Sukhothai

• covered in porcelein during the reign of King Rama III

Phra Mondop

• a copy of the mondop covering the Buddha's Footprint in Saraburi province

• covered in green mirrored tiles inlaid with gold medallions depicting Buddha

Ho Phra Nak

• houses the ashes of minor royals

• Nak: Thai word for an alloy of gold, silver and copper

Phra Si Wattana Chedi

• essentially balances the structures on the upper terrace

• recalls the monumental pagodas of the old capital in Ayautthay

• covered with small gold mirrored tiles

Emerald Buddha

• depicts a standing Buddha, and is about 66 cm (26 inches) tall, carved from a single jade stone

• deified over an elevated altar surround by large guilded decoration

Grand Palace

• walled city within a city

• Home of Emerald Buddha

• contains multiple pavilions, halls, courtyards, each serving specific ceremonial or administrative purposes

• use of symbolic structure that reperesents Mount Meru, the center of univese in Hindu Buddhist cosmology

Sala

open sided pavilion

Ubosot/Bot

contains multiple pavilions, halls, courtyards, each serving specific ceremonial or administrative purposes

Bai Sema

eight sema stones that mark the consecrated area of Ubosot

Wihan

• shrine hall that houses the principal Buddha image

• placed where both monks and ordinary people gather for Buddhist ceremonies

Mondop

square or cruciform based building with a spired roof sometimes a housing a Buddha image or sacred texts

Chofa

• ornamentation on the roof edges of a temple

• often in a shape of mythical creatures

Ho Rakhang

• bell tower used to wake monks and announce ceremonies

• used to signal monks to pray

Naga staircases

a multi-headed naga serpent helped shield the Buddha from heavy rain during one of his meditation sessions

Wat Pho

• known for giant reclining Buddha

• one of the oldest public educational institutions in Thailand

• it was built during the reign of King Petracha, who ruled Ayutthaya kingdom in 1688

Viharn Phranorn

• blue roofed building

• enshrines the iconic reclining Buddha statue

• interior features murals illustrating the life of Buddha

• Adjacent to a chinese garden with bodhi trees donated from Sri Lanka

Reclining Buddha (Phra Buddhasaiyas)

• Housed in Vihan Phranorn; created in 1832 during King Rama III's reign.

• Depicts the Buddha just before entering nirvana

Phra Rabiang

• outer corridor of Wat Pho showcasing 400 Buddha statues selected from over 1,200 collected by King Rama I from across Thailand

• Originally varied in appearance; later gilded uniformly with gold leaf under King Rama I for aesthetic consistency

Kuti

living quarter for monks

Sala Kan Prian

seminar hall for monk’s study, prayer, and public sermons

Outer Core

• government functions

• included the royal mint

• serves as the administrative center during early Bangko

Middle Court

• contains king’s residence and Phra Maha Prasat Group

• main area for ceremonies

• highly restricted and accessible only to king, family and officials

Inner Court

• served as the private quarters for the king’s wives, daughters and other female royals

• off limits to men; secluded

Phra Maha Prasat Group

major section of the Grand Palace used for royal ceremonies and receptions

King Rama I

• founder of the Chakri dynasty and Bangkok

• commisioned & conceptualized Bangkok

  • Grand Palace

  • Wat Phra Kaew

Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong

• royal architect, artist, & cultural reformer

• “The great craftsman of Siam”

• was a member of the royal family

  • Wat Benchamabophit

  • Wat Ratchabophit