Thai House in the North
Written by National Culture Commission
Friday, 09 February 2007 20:47
The Lanna or the northern people favor the valleys that are the river basins for settlement. The northern region which begins from Sukhothai all the way to Chiangmai and Chiangrai is dominated by mountains and rain forest. The year round climate is the coolest of all regions. The typical house in the north is rather well walled in with less space for windows, and ample space for platform known in the northern dialect as "toen". A shelf for a row of earthenware water jars is to be found on one side of the house. The walls tend to be slanted toward the eaves the main body of the house is usually surrounded by large open space. Close to the house, fruit bearing trees and "sompoi" known for its leaves that are used in the rites of the northern people are grown.