Sarasatr: Journal of Architecture and Design

Ruen Thai: A Comparative Study between Thai Traditional House and Villa Savoye

Thanunchai Limpakom — 2024-04-26

Traditional Thai houses were discovered in the 13^th B.E. petroglyphs and were documented in the memorandum of Simon de La Loubère, also known as ‘Du Royaume de Siam’ in French. Simon de La Loubère was a French ambassador during the Ayutthaya era. In his book, he described a traditional Thai house as a house standing on the high columns, leaving a vacant space underneath, with a high-pitched roof and straightforward construction. On the other side of the world, 200 years later, stands a house called “Villa Savoye”, designed by Le Corbusier, a Swiss-French architect. His manifesto, ‘Five points of Architecture’ laid the foundation for the Modern architecture movement. The manifesto encompasses ‘pilotis, free plan, free facade, ribbon window, and roof garden’. Interestingly, both houses share some similarities. Therefore, this research aims to explore the similarities and differences between the two houses. The author reviewed documents from multiple sources about Traditional Thai houses, Villa Savoye, Le Corbusier, and the Five points of Architecture manifesto and compared them. The study demonstrate that a traditional Thai house and Villa Savoye share certain similarities in alignment with the manifesto. Pilotis, free plan, and free facade are among their shared similarities, although they differ in terms of concepts, appearance, material, and methods. Ribbon window and roof garden are not found in a tradition Thai house. Additionally, the research has discovered that both buildings feature extensive roofless terraces, zonings, and accessibilities in a comparable manner. Contrastingly, the construction methods are different.

Japanese Martial Arts Architecture

panyawat supapitakpong — 2024-04-26

This research article takes phenomenological approach in order to begin to understand the spirit of Budo martial arts architecture and the ways in which the possibilities of architectural atmosphere might be generated in three-dimensional forms of diagram. The primary sources of this research article are 1). The analytical drawings of Budo martial arts architecture, 12 plans in total, which have been collected from academic journals and reports. These plans include Shuri Castle (ฺBuilt 1322 AD), Nikko Tosho Gu (Built 1617 AD), Eisho-Ji Temple (Built 1636 AD), Dai Nippon Butokai (Built 1895 AD), Old Kyoto Budo Center (Built 1899 AD), Toshugu Budokuden (Built 1915 AD) through to Saigoku (Built 2017 AD) 2). The interviews of specialists and students of the Association of Japanese Martial Arts of Thailand that currently needs practicalities for training, organising competitions, and most of all, architecture that expresses the spirit of Budo, based on the practice of samurai warriors.

The theoretical framework for this research article comes from the work of German philosopher Martin Heidegger entitled The Origin of the Work of Art (2002) and In Praise of Shadows (1977), written by Junichiro Tanizaki. The literature review is divided into two parts. The first part covers the historical context of Budo martial arts architecture. The second part deals with phenomenology in Japanese architecture, such as how 'darkness and mystery' play the important roles in achieving ideal aesthetics, known as 'yugen'.

The results of this research are, first of all, the proposed design process of translating Budo body movements into architectural diagrams that convey Budo spirit, which consists of Sin (mind) Gi (skill) Tai (body). This research systematically documents a series of photograph of bodily movements of Budo technique named ‘Seienchin’. Secondly, the research result demonstrates the design possibilities of Budo architecture that combines Budo spirit by using bodily movements diagrams with the structure of Budo significant buildings.

Design Guidelines for an Environment Suitable for the Elderly in Hospices in Thailand

Paitinee Jintakanon — 2024-04-26

Hospice for elderly people is a novel concept in Thailand about which people lack awareness and understanding concerning ways to systematically manage it. In fact, Hospice is essential in Thailand due to disproportionately expensive bed occupancy fees at hospitals, leading to the inability of the terminally ill to afford hospital beds for long periods of time. The current research endeavor aimed to study and present the appropriate physical environment for hospice in Thailand, especially for senior people, by means of a survey to collect physical information of the case studies, and in-depth interviews with the users and experts. The information is collectively used to draw a conclusion.

The results revealed that hospice gives the top priority to the accommodation segment, especially patients’ rooms which are in use the most. However, there were other areas that did not sufficiently respond to all uses. Therefore, the appropriate design of the environment for elderlies in hospice should take familiarity into account, allowing them to be comfortable in the place where they receive care, along with the appropriateness of the place for therapy. In addition, hospice necessarily responds to palliative medical needs, the variety of uses, and comprehensive standards of safety, in order to enhance the terminal stage of life and having a good death in Thailand.

Physical Development Guidelines for Elderly Care Homes with Less than 20 Beds of Single House Types in Bangkok

Phitsinee Tunpaibool — 2024-04-26

Nowadays, Aging society is an issue that many countries are increasingly paying attention to as the proportion of elderly people were continually increasing every year. From progresses in various fields such as medicine, food, and living conditions that are better than in the past. Makes the average life expectancy of the population longer. The World Health Organization has revealed that the number and proportion of people aged 60 years and over is increasing and is likely to reach 2.1 billion by 2050. In Thailand, it has entered the “Complete aged society” in 2022 and it is also estimated that in the next 15 years. Thailand will become a “Super-aged society” when the proportion of the population over 60 years of age increases to 28 percent of the total population this makes the "Elderly care business" continue to grow more than 1.5 times every year. Most projects are usually single houses and located in main provinces and regional provinces. As a result, the researcher was interested in studying the relevant laws for development and factors affecting the development process. Including suggesting ways to develop care facilities suitable for the elderly. The researcher conducted a study of 4 case studies using non-participant observation and in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs and practitioners in nursing homes for the elderly. Including interviews with specialists.

The results of this study found that entrepreneurs of nursing homes often choose single houses to develop because they want the residents to have areas for walking, doing activities, and relaxing, which will feel like their own home. As for the physical aspect, found that most of them were done correctly according to the ministerial regulations, Set standards for location, safety, and service in health establishments in the category of caring for the elderly or dependent people, 2020. However, there are some problems and limitations in use, for instance around bathrooms, stairs, ramps, parking, etc. Also, for ease and speed of access support areas should be provided near the elderly living areas. Therefore, the entrepreneurs need to have knowledge and understanding of caring for the elderly and providing an environment suitable for the elderly. In Addition, having to study and verify the accuracy of facilities in the nursing home for the elderly by relevant requirements and laws.

Ceramic Cladding for Tropical Environmental Performance

Takanao Todo — 2024-04-26

This design research project questions how ceramic cladding systems correspond to tropical environments. This research began by uncovering precedents from Thai traditional architecture and applications of ceramics in architectural ornamentation. They are used as a decorative feature but not for the ventilation screen. Thai Modernism, particularly from 1950 to 1970, used concrete screens to create comfortable interior environments by blocking the sun and rain while wind penetrates the screen for cooling. This initial study explores the possibility of developing a ceramic cladding system that responds to tropical environments. The performance of the screen is simulated through computer software (Rhinoceros 7.0, including plug-ins such as Grasshopper/Ladybug for sunlight analysis, and ArchiDynamics for wind simulation). After a series of prototypes, the team completed the ceramic cladding and installed it at Koto Tea Space in Bangkok. The team tested its performance for brightness, airflow, and temperature. As a result of these tests, the cladding system demonstrated an ability to block sunlight and mediate wind, but there was no impact on temperature. This research demonstrates a potential application for ceramic cladding in architecture that can also be adapted to specific sites.

Energy Daylight Efficiency of Aerogel Skylights in Warehouses Building according to Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA)

Benjaporn Phongklang — 2024-04-26

The use of lighting energy for warehouse operations is one of the problems of energy use in warehouse buildings. Current warehouse designs still do not fully utilize the efficiency of natural light. This is because the use of natural light during the day that shines through the translucent panels on the roof will create heat inside the building and affect the higher cooling energy usage in the case of a temperature-controlled warehouse building.

This research studied a warehouse building with a size of 23,200 square meters and a height of 10.00 m as a case study. It presents design guidelines to increase the efficiency of bringing in natural light to reduce the use of electrical energy, lighting and cooling energy within the warehouse. and evaluate with Definition Spatial Daylight Autonomy (SDA) according to LEED V4 criteria, Daylight topic, using the Design Builder program to help simulate the results, which has the variables: U-Value, Visible light transmittance (VLT), Skylight roof ratio (SRR), and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC).

The the study it was found that Warehouse building that uses air gel sheets (Paneri et al., 2019) can help pass the 55% sDA criteria must use an SRR area that is not less than 5%. Transparent fiberglass sheets that are commonly used must use an SRR area that is not Less than 25% will be able to pass the 55% sDA criteria. It can be seen that using the roof area proportion between 5%-15% has a clearly different effect on light reception. In terms of total energy use, using translucent airgel sheets can help reduce total energy by 19% per year. However, using translucent light to help save electricity and artificial lighting can help reduce it by only 3% per year. Therefore, consideration must be given to the appropriateness of choosing each type of translucent sheet. However, taking advantage of natural light must depend on the daily environment as well as the type of building. This will create efficiency in using natural light to suit each type of building.

Applying 5D-BIM to Improve the Quantity Takeoff: A Case Study of Educational and Laboratory Building Construction Project

Somjintana Kanangkaew — 2024-04-26

According to the quantity takeoff and cost estimation process using the two-dimensional drawings, there may be errors in the process due to misunderstanding by quantity surveyors, leading to incorrect quantities and construction prices. In recent years, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been implemented in construction projects to create drawings and present the physical characteristics of construction projects in three-dimensional (3-D) visualization. This study aims to propose the application of 5D-BIM, which integrated the information of time scheduling and cost estimation into a 3D model, to improve quantity takeoff and compare the differences between quantities from Autodesk Revit and the Bill of Quantities (BOQ), of the Educational and Laboratory Building construction project at the Nakhon Ratchasima Technical College. The results showed that applying 5D-BIM for quantity takeoff in construction projects can reduce work time, verify the accuracy of construction drawings, decrease errors in quantity takeoff, and enhance the understanding of quantity surveyors' work compared to traditional methods. Additionally, the average percentage comparison between quantities in structural, architectural, and sanitary works from Autodesk Revit and Bill of Quantities (BOQ) are less than 2.69%, 4.12%, and 8.43%, respectively.

In conclusion, the quantity of work from Autodesk Revit offers more accuracy by eliminating duplicate measurements inherent in traditional methods. For instance, traditional measurement of structural concrete elements includes floor, beam, and column, which overlap and cause double counting. On the other hand, Autodesk Revit measures each element separately for the precise quantity of work.

A Survey and Development of the Location Map of Songkhla Old Town Cultural Heritages

Natchanika Keatsuwan — 2024-04-26

The purpose of this research was to survey and develop the location map of Songkhla Old Town Cultural Heritages. The study of documents, maps and other secondary data was conducted to explore Songkhla’s cultural heritages. Followed were a site survey and classification of the cultural heritages.
The study area consisted of 4 areas 1) Hua Khao Daeng 2) Laem Son 3) Boryang and 4) Kohyor.
These areas contained a diversity of cultures and ways of lives. In line with the literature from UNESCO,
the Fine Arts Department and the Department of Cultural Promotion, this study suggested criteria to classify the types of cultural heritages into 3 groups, consisting of 16 categories. Included were Tangible Cultural Heritage with 8 categories, Intangible Cultural Heritage with 7 categories, and Natural Heritage with
1 category. It was founded that Songkhla Old Town obtained 3 categories with a total of 118 cultural heritage items. By utilizing the developed criteria of 16 categories, Songkhla Old Town Cultural Heritages were classified into 9 categories. These data were also mapped, using GIS, into the location map of Songkhla Old Town Cultural Heritages, presenting the overall study area with the legends of the cultural heritages. In conclusion, Songkhla Old Town Cultural Heritages were diverse in terms of historical and cultural values, as well as ways of life. All of which brought the values and local identity of Songkhla Old Town.

The Roles and Changes of Kaeng Nam Ton Wetland, Mueang Khon Kaen District, Khon Kaen Province

Nantana Thawornfang — 2024-04-26

The wetlands play an important role in ecosystems because they are the boundary between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The distribution of wetland types and quantities varies by topography with specific vegetation characteristics of adapted to the constantly changing water environment and confined soil conditions. As a result, each wetland has the particularities that vary according to the dimensions of space and time. For this reason, the role of wetlands is important to creatures living around them. However, it has been found that the number of wetlands has decreased significantly due to changes in areas to accommodate urban expansion or from encroachment, and the occupancy of wetlands for agriculture, resulting in the deterioration of wetlands and leading to the permanent loss of wetlands.

The objective of this research is to study the role and changes of Kaeng Nam Ton wetlands, Khon Kaen Province within a time limit of changes in the role of wetlands caused by a development project for water retention for agricultural use by using satellite image data from 2001 to 2022 and a geographic information system classifying land use and analyzing changes in two periods, namely during 2001 to 2010 and during 2010 to 2022 as well as analyzing to explain how such changes affected the role of Keang Nam Ton wetlands.

The research results revealed changes. Rice fields and forest areas tended to decrease while urban areas and built-up structures tended to increase. Moreover, there were increasing areas of aquaculture facilities and other agricultural areas. It has also been found that after 2001, Keang Nam Ton wetland have changed in size with dwindling areas due to changes for water retention and the construction of a water storage dam for water use in agriculture. These changes have reduced the ecological role of areas and may result in the deterioration of wetlands, leading to the loss of wetlands.

Factors of Decision Making in Selecting Condominiums Around Mass Rapid Transit Station: Case Studies of Samyan and Talat Phlu

Sasina Kaewsuk — 2024-04-26

Rapid mass transit has been considered the most critical factor affecting the growth of condominiums for over a decade. A massive expansion of condominiums has been witnessed around the BTS and MRT, rendering condominiums a major accommodation for people in modern days.

The current research endeavor aimed to study socioeconomic conditions, factors, and objectives pertinent to decision making in selecting condominiums around mass rapid transit stations by employing Samyan and Talat Phlu as the case studies. The study delved into the opinions of both buyers and renters as well as their future plans in accommodation adjustments. Data were collected from four hundred questionnaires distributed to residents in four condominiums in both studied areas. Two hundred of them came from two condominiums around Samyan and the other half came from two condominiums around Talat Phlu. The statistics were analyzed using SPSS.

The results revealed that the majority of condominium buyers and renters around Samyan and Talat Phlu were 26-45-year-old working individuals whose monthly income ranged from 20,001 to 60,000 Baht and students who were 25 years old or younger who studied close to the condominium locations. Condominiums around Samyan were located in Pathumwan, Bangrak, and Sathorn, while those around Talat Phlu were in Thonburi as well as Pathumwan, Bangrak, and Sathorn. All three districts are central business districts. Most buyers of condominiums in both areas were those who never rented them, whereas the most popular reason for buying was for accommodation and most bought the condominiums as their first residences because they are located in the spots which offered convenience in commuting to work. However, renters of condominiums in both areas had no interest in buying them because there was a possibility that they change their jobs and they did not want an additional financial burden. Besides, the most crucial factor influencing their decision making was the locations and facilities which included a swimming pool, a fitness center, and parking spaces. Also, the factors pertaining the rooms were prices, sizes, and room layouts.

The Operations in Interior Building Design in the Course of Active-used Adjacent Area: A Case Study of the Out-patient Department’s Renovation Project of a Medical School Hospital in Bangkok

Prapaporn Jongcheauchanvit — 2024-04-26

Buildings with many years of operation often experience deterioration that affects their usability and utilities. This paper presents a study on a renovation project that involves a large hospital that periodically upgrades its outpatient department. The contractor of the project has gained valuable lessons from previous projects, enhancing the ability to carry out renovations under specific field conditions. These renovations aim to improve the quality of hospital treatments provided in an appropriate environment. The project focuses on the renovation process while the adjacent areas remain in use. The study includes the scopes, types of work, renovation processes, and associated problems and effects, along with solutions for the outpatient department during active use of adjacent areas. The study compiles architectural drawings from a case-study building, Terms of Reference (TOR), studies of meeting summaries, and thirteen inspection reports. According to the study, the scopes of the outpatient department renovations include architectural structures, indoor decorations, and outdoor gardening. The contractor must be more prepared than in other types of construction to avoid potential issues such as undesirable noise, vibrations, dust, odors, and work delays that could impact the project timeline, budget, and most importantly, the quality of the building.

Signage in the Outpatient Buildings of Large Government Hospitals

Suratchana Thanadechdamrongsiri — 2024-04-26

Signage in hospitals is crucial for communication and convenience for service users. Effective management and design are essential. Hospitals consist of various buildings with different facilities, catering to diverse needs. Navigation and communication within the premises are vital, considering the diverse range of users, including administrators, staff, doctors, nurses, patients, and visitors. Appropriate signage not only facilitates quick navigation but also communicates essential health information, reception processes, and reduces waiting times.

Current study reveals that signage in large public hospital outpatient buildings poses several challenges for users. Issues include a high quantity and variety of signs, inconsistent formats causing confusion. This study aims to investigate, collect, analyze, and categorize signage within hospital premises. It also aims to study formats and types of signage using a case study approach in four large public hospitals in Bangkok. Signage types are categorized based on their utility, type, and material. Additionally, it compares with regulations and standards of healthcare service systems.

Study findings reveal that hospital signs typically utilize the institution's color scheme and often opt for space-efficient installations, as well as durable materials with lightweight properties for easy maintenance. The text and background colors of the signs should contrast, ensuring clear visibility, and relevant symbols should be incorporated to enhance communication clarity. However, regulations and standards in healthcare service systems do not specifically dictate the details regarding colors and formats of signage. Interview results indicate that color choices are made considering interior space divisions within the building and the hospital's identity.

Mode Choice for Children’s School Trips: A Case Study on Independent Mobility in Schools Proximate to Mass Transit Stations in Bangkok, Thailand

Phannarithisen Ong — 2024-04-26

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is essential to promote independent travel and encourage mass transit use among students, which has several advantages for their physical well-being and boosts their confidence in society. Despite a decade of mass rail transit development and TOD development in Bangkok, cars still queue to drop students at schools, even near transit stations. This presents a paradox: Why do students go to school in proximity to the mass transit system but not use the mass transit system? The high reliance on personal cars will inevitably shape children’s transportation habits in adulthood, significantly impacting the city’s air quality and exacerbating environmental pollution and traffic conditions. This research builds on the necessity for students attending schools near mass transit stations to use public transportation more.

This study reveals critical factors influencing school trips, including safety concerns, parental permission, and travel costs. Notably, children’s independence levels from their parents affect their mode choice and the frequency of using mass transit for school trips. The socioeconomic, demographic, trip characteristics, and transportation traits explain students’ high reliance on private cars.

A significant finding of this study underscores the enduring impact of the typical lifestyle of Thai households and their strong reliance on private cars on travel behavior in Bangkok. The outcomes of this study provide valuable insights for urban strategic policies, advocating and encouraging students to use mass transit for school trips and normalizing its usage. This study holds potential benefits for BTS, MRT companies, and the Bangkok metropolitan administration in achieving their goal to promote mass transit.

Behavior, Decision Factor and Satisfaction of Natural Hot Spring Tourists: Case Studies of Porn Rang Hot Spring, Taryn Hot Spring in Ranong, and Wareerak Hot Spring and Wellness in Krabi

Ratthawit Setthayukanont — 2024-04-26

The trend of health tourism at natural hot spring destinations in Thailand has been growing significantly, with both the public and private sectors showing interest and promoting wellness tourism businesses. This research’s objectives are to study the demographic and behavior of tourists at natural hot spring tourist destinations, to study the decision factors and satisfaction of tourists towards the tourism components of natural hot spring tourist destinations and to propose development guidelines for natural hot spring tourist destinations. The study includes a sample group of tourists three locations which are Porn Rang Hot Spring, Taryn Hot Spring in Ranong and Wareerak Hot Spring and Wellness in Krabi, with 410 respondents in total and In-depth interviews were conducted with three business operators

The study found the following 1) The majority of respondents were female, aged 41-50 years, working in private companies or as private sector employees. Their monthly income ranged from 10,000 to 25,000 Baht, and they had bachelor's degrees. Most of them resided in South of Thailand. Their main purpose for traveling was relaxation, it was their first visit to a natural hot spring destination. They spent less than one day at the location, usually traveling with family or relatives, and their expenses were less than 100 Baht. They learned about the tourist destinations through friends or acquaintances. 2) Tourists ranked the importance of decision-making factors for visiting natural hot spring destinations in the following order: the attractions, amenities, activities, ancillary services, accommodations and accessibility. Overall, tourists were very satisfied, had a tendency to revisit, and recommended the destinations to acquaintances. 3) Tourists have suggested adding activities at the tourism destination, such as massages and spas, improving access roads and transportation to the tourist site, adding restaurant services, enhancing staff services, and improving physical facilities, especially the mineral water pools. Business operators have emphasized the importance of understanding the context and considering the unique features of the natural hot springs. They also suggest closely observing the behavior and preferences of tourist groups to adapt and tailor the tourism destination according to the specific needs and desires of the visitors.

Factors Affecting Travelling Behavior around Mass Transit Stations

Piyanan Maneelert — 2024-04-26

Transit-oriented development (TOD) is an important elements in urban planning. It encourages people to travel by public transportation to connect many areas. Most countries, particularly Thailand have prioritized land development around rail transit stations focused travelling behavior of individuals as it is very important to TOD development. The objectives of this article are as follows: 1) to review and synthesize literatures and researches related to travelling behavior and travelling behavior by rail transit system. 2) to identify gaps identifying factors affecting travelling behavior around mass transit stations in Thailand. This study would encourage sustainable development of feeders that certainly connect the rail transit system in the future.