HUEN THAI PHUEN BAN PHUE : CONSERVATION FOR SOUVENIR PRODUCT CREATION

Abstract

The objectives were: 1) to study and examine Tai Phuen identity as the cultural wisdom heritage of the ethnic group, and 2) to conserve and transfer Huen Tai Phuen knowledge for the souvenir product creation. The research methodology involved field observations conducted at Huen Tai Phuen in Ban Phue District, Udon Thani Province, interviews with local residents and relevant informants, and a questionnaire administered to 67 workshop attendees. The observation and interview data were analyzed to design the pattern of the souvenir products, while descriptive statistics were applied to the questionnaire data. The result revealed that three Huen Tai Phuen houses in Ban Phue District are still in excellent condition. One of these houses is estimated to be 110 years old and features a two-story timber commercial building with a "Din Khor" clay-tile hip roof. The house lacks partitions and includes an awning at the front and a wooden balcony on the second floor. The other two houses are approximately 105 years old and are two-story raised-platform residential houses with galvanized gable roofs. The first floor serves as an open courtyard suitable for animal husbandry, parking, or as a reception area, while the second floor comprises residential rooms separated by columns and balconies adorned with carved wooden railings. The back of the house accommodates the kitchen, as well as the original and new bathrooms. The construction of these buildings utilizes beam-to-beam and beam-to-column connection techniques to enhance structural strength. The distinctive characteristics of these buildings were analyzed to design graphic patterns for the souvenir products. The evaluation of the workshop conducted with 67 participants indicated the highest level of overall satisfaction (x̄ = 4.76).