Wisdom of Binder House : Knowledge Transfer and Design Guidelines for Small Bamboo Houses for Sale by the Community Enterprise Group of the Lum Sum Subdistrict Community Forest, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province

Abstract

       This research aims to develop a body of knowledge on the wisdom of Binder Houses to guide the design of small bamboo houses for the Community Enterprise Group of the Lum Sum Subdistrict Community Forest, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province. The primary goal is to transfer local knowledge and design skills for houses suited to hot and humid climates. The study gathers information on bamboorelated wisdom, local identity, tied-frame house designs, and tropical architecture. It also develops bamboo house designs for knowledge dissemination and practical community use. The study employs purposive selection to identify three sample groups. (1) Key informants for in-depth interviews (10 individuals), including community leaders. (2) Participants in participatory action research activities (30 individuals). (3) Participants in focus group discussions (10 individuals), including community representatives and activity participants. The collected data on binder house wisdom from communities that build bamboo houses for both residential and commercial purposes revealed the following key practices. 1. Selection of suitable bamboo species. 2. Pre-use treatment for bamboo durability. 3. Construction sequence of bamboo houses. 4. Construction of foundations and house posts. 5. Construction of house frames. 6. Construction of floors. 7. Construction of roofs. 8. Construction of walls. 9. Assembly of structural components and integration of electrical and sanitary systems into tied-frame houses to meet functional and market demands. The research then designed three bamboo house prototypes for sale by combining local binder house wisdom with modern construction technologies and consumer preferences.

       After creating the knowledge base and designing bamboo houses, the knowledge was transferred to the community. Surveys were conducted to assess satisfaction with the small bamboo houses and the knowledge transfer process. The findings provide a framework for utilizing the research to design small bamboo houses for commercial purposes. These designs preserve traditional construction techniques while integrating prefabrication and modular construction technologies to enhance production efficiency, resource utilization, and waste reduction. Furthermore, the research promotes community capacity building to generate income and ensure economic stability. It also establishes guidelines for extending knowledge toward sustainable local development.