Survey and Recommendations for Utilization on Vernacular Houses of the Phu-Tai Ethnic Group in Kalasin Province.

Abstract

The research-based article which is titled as Survey and Recommendation for Utilizationon Vernacular Houses of the Phu-Tai Ethnic Group in Kalasin Province, was undertaken as the survey research on vernacular houses of the local architecture. And in particular, it was studied to find utilization of Phu-Tai community architecture located on National Highway No.  227 and by applying participative process. The focused architectures were ‘Huen’(house), ‘Huen Fire’(kitchen)unit and ‘Loa Khaw’(home rice barn). The survey employed survey guidelinesfor the architectures in 3 subdistricts situated in Kalasin Province and on National Highway No. 227, and non-structure interview guidelines for target groups. The target groups were 26 house owners, executives or administrators and officials working in Local Administrative and Government Organizations. The findings were; Phu-Tai vernacular architectures located on the National Highway No. 227 which is all original and classic ethnic houses, have been declining in crisis stage but obviously witnessed the adaptation of the owners to modern, contemporary styles. However, the contemporary adaptation has affected to the changes of kitchen unit (Huen Fire). In the part of home rice barn or Lao Khaw, it has been in consistency and persistency by and in relation with the rice farmers’ way of life. The rice barns have been existing in their function as families’ entire-year, food stock that the local farmers’ community need it. And it was viewed as the important vernacular architecture in this survey. In the utilizations of Phu-Tai vernacular architectures,it has been outlined as guidelines in the 6 approachesas following. Conservation, Learning, value-added and elevation of these classic housesand their compounds, Tourist attraction and studying resource, Research and local wisdom collection and resources, Publishing purposes and in the approach for Exploration drive force and utilized in local government organizations’ conservation and development action plans.