Cultural Baggage in Vernacular Architecture : A Case Study of Lao Wiang Houses in Bang Sai Kai, Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

Settlement patterns and vernacular architectural forms are crucial factors reflecting the cultural identity and adaptive strategies of ethnic groups within the constantly changing urban context. The Bang Sai Kai community in Thonburi District, Bangkok-originating from the migration of Lao Wiang people-serves as a significant case study that clearly demonstrates both the continuity and adaptation of architectural heritage.

This research aims to analyze the physical characteristics of Lao Wiang houses in Bang Sai Kai, utilizing comparative data from Lao houses in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. The study focuses on physical components such as structure, materials, proportions, orientation, and spatial arrangements informed by cultural beliefs, thereby explaining the persistence of “Cultural Baggage” and the transmission of identity within a contemporary context.

The concept of “Cultural Baggage” is applied as the main analytical framework, classifying phenomena into three processes: Inheritance, Adaptation, and Transformation. This framework seeks to answer the research question of how Lao house forms are sustained under differing urban contexts. The study employs a qualitative ethnographic methodology through document review and fieldwork, including observation, in-depth interviews, and measured drawings of four case study houses. All data were analyzed by constructing comparative tables of architectural elements and categorizing results according to the framework.

Findings reveal that Inheritance is evident in the emphasis on the orientation of sleeping positions and the placement of sacred spaces dedicated to master artisans. Adaptation is observed through the blending of architectural features, such as incorporating central Thai wall patterns while retaining twin-gabled roofs and sia (semi-outdoor living spaces) typical of the Lao Wiang tradition. Transformation is most pronounced in the decline of the Lao language as a medium of daily communication.

In conclusion, the physical characteristics of Lao Wiang houses in Bang Sai Kai reflect a complex process of cultural adaptation, illustrating the negotiation of ethnic identity through the selective inheritance, adaptation, and abandonment of cultural elements. These processes enable the community to integrate into contemporary urban society. The analysis, conducted through comparative architectural tables and systematically categorized within the “Cultural Baggage” framework, effectively links the persistence and transformation of community identity.