A Survey of Roof Structures and Construction Techniques of Western-Influenced Buildings for Architectural Documentation: A Case Study of Five Significant Buildings in Phrae Historic Town

Abstract

This article examines the roof structures of Western-influenced buildings in Phrae Province, which represent an understudied area of architectural history. The primary research problem is the lack of understanding of structural details, which are often the best-preserved elements of a building and can clearly reflect processes of cultural integration and construction techniques. This article employs a qualitative research methodology through a comparative analysis of five significant case-study buildings, using Amos Rapoport's conceptual framework of House Form and Culture as the primary analytical tool.

The findings reveal that these roof structures are not simply imitations of Western architecture but rather the outcome of a negotiation among Western spatial concepts (such as the use of attic space), the knowledge and traditions of Lanna craftsmen, and the need to adapt to a humid tropical climate. The analysis reveals three distinct construction traditions: one associated with the Queen Post Truss system linked to missionary groups, another rooted in Lanna vernacular roof structure, and the other a group that developed structural solutions through the adaptation of Lanna and Chinese carpentry knowledge under the influence of Western architecture, enabling wider spans and accommodating larger interior spaces.

These findings have a significant implication for architectural conservation which is highlighting the need to understand and respect the unique hybrid structural logic of these buildings, rather than restoring them according to the standards of either purely Western or purely Lanna architectural forms.