Thai-style House - What Goes Downstairs?

[simon43]

Maybe it sounds a strange question! I'm working on an idea to build a small Thai-style house (Mai Sak/Mai Dairng), with 2 upper rooms, terrace etc. So the house would consist of an upper floor for living and then you have the open lower section of the house. But what can you use the lower part of the house for, assuming you don't go and spoil the appearance by building block walls!?

I can see that I could park my pick-up under one of my upper floor rooms, but what could I use the other areas for?

Suggestions that are not acceptable include room for ex-wife, ex-wife's mother, ex-wife's brother, ex-wife's husband/boyfriend etc (you get the idea...)

Serious question though

Simon

[GungaDin]

For starters that space will aid cooling your upper floors.

It's a good place for Thai neighbours and relos to meet and chat leaving you to your privacy upstairs.

Install a laundry.

Install some rainwater tanks in the shaded area.

[simon43]

Good suggestions! I'll make some amendments to my house plan

Simon

[GungaDin]

How about showing us your house plan?

[simon43]

How about showing us your house plan?

OK here goes! The sketch here is very unfinished, and I'm playing around with dimensions. This is a plan view only.

Basically, I am not rich (was once, maybe again!). I am looking to rent a quarter rai of land (20 x 20 metres) which is quite adequate for my needs. I can rent this very cheaply for 30 years, register the rental contract in my name at the Amphur office and no-one can throw me off the land so long as I pay the rent. If there is a big problem with the land in the future, then I can simply relocate my wooden house to another peice of land

This small Thai-style house is for me only. I'm an academic sort of guy and enjoy my own company. My MAAB ex-wife and her relations will not be welcome!

The house basically consists of two major rooms, a living room and small kitchen on the left and a bedroom and bathroom on the right. These will have typical pitched and tiled roofs. They are joined by a covered corridor at the front that has a massive entrance door and a door through to the internal terrace area. That terrace will be shaded by flowers growing on a wooden slatted roof. Then there is an open terrace that is the width of the house and this will overlook some peaceful paddy fields (in the location where I intend to build). At the front of the house are wooden steps up to the massive entrance door, with a small covered area by this door. The living room has a fold-back french windows side that opens it up to the central terrace area.

In the downstairs area below, I can park my car under the living room and use the other area as you suggest!

Why are there 3 diagonal lines right across this plan? I am a radio amateur, and intend to install a 100 feet height radio mast right through the middle of this house! (Crazy yes...) So the mast will be erected prior to the house being built. The 3 diagonal lines represent the supporting guy wires for this mast and they are thus located so as to avoid the pitched roof of the rooms.

Anyway, sorry for this appalling sketch!

I have followed a thread on <URL Automatically Removed> about building a house using Mai Sak etc and the overall costs look very reasonable (for a small house) and within the budget that I have left after being bled dry by ex-wives.

The location of this house is maybe unusual! I hope to build it directly overlooking some paddy fields in north Phuket (yes, there are some). It's only 3km from a beautiful beach and the international airport, but totally peaceful and like rural Issan.

My intention in the future is to live alone, do my academic work and fly my kite when I get desperate!!!

Simon

[GungaDin]

Nothing wrong with your sketch.

Layout looks sensible.

Keep us updated with your progress or lack of.

Good luck with it

Getting married again?

[simon43]

Getting married again?

Actually not! I don't care how beautiful the women are - that is only skin-deep:) I prefer to become a monk

Simon

BTW - here is the view from the land that I'm thinking about

[Totster]

The Buffaloes live under the house - downstairs

Normally the kitchen and bathroom are at ground level also, not necessarily under the main house though, normally off the the side under a lean to.

Totster

[Starlifter]

Why are there 3 diagonal lines right across this plan? I am a radio amateur, and intend to install a 100 feet height radio mast right through the middle of this house! (Crazy yes...) So the mast will be erected prior to the house being built. The 3 diagonal lines represent the supporting guy wires for this mast and they are thus located so as to avoid the pitched roof of the rooms.

Simon

Is this safe? I'm not an expert however, I always seens large or tall antennas away from structures possibly due to lightning strikes?

[simon43]

Yes, very safe. You install a lightening conductor that is suitably grounded etc Need a professional to install it.

Most people don't build houses around radio masts because they are not as eccentric as me....

Simon

[GungaDin]

"Most people don't build houses around radio masts because they are not as eccentric as me...."

Good-on-yer!

[Macx]

Hi, Simon.

Sounds like a good plan on the house and land. How much would a house like that cost to build (out of hardwood or mai sak, teak?)?

I like how your terrace is enclosed on 3 sides, rather cozy.

I've noticed that many Thais with similar houses have a whole sitting area under the house to receive guests. Neighbors drop by all the time, and the hosts rarely bother to invite the up/into the house. Everyone just seems more happy and comfortable sitting under the house. Just make sure it's a decent height.

Good luck.

[jaiyenyen]

Hey Simon,

I really like that plan, something like that (Excluding the radio mast) would suit Mrs Jyy and me down to the ground. We have some land near Roi-Et that we intend building a holiday home on one day.

How much do you think the building will cost.

Good luck with the build, I'll be watching with interest.

[simon43]

Although I'm posting in the Issan forum, I actually live in Phuket! (I posted in this forum because the style of house is more 'at home' in Issan where my ex comes from...)

On another forum there was a price-quote of about 800,000 baht to build a house of this size. That included all building works, labour, material, electrics, plumbing etc. Here in Phuket there is a company who have quoted me 1.2 million to build the same thing, using experienced builders who will come down from Ayuthaya to do the work. Take about 4 weeks only.. So, bearing in mind the higher expense for Phuket location, the price seems about right.

This is a house just for me! Being divorced, I have absolutely no interest in making the same mistakes that I made before and living with another woman My ex is extremely 'clingy' and will be round as quick as a flash to help out/cook food/wash dishes etc etc. I do not want that and it's actually why this little house plan resembles Fort Knox! There is only 1 solid door at the top of the steps and there is no other way up to the house. Good also to deter burglers. (I will probably get some geese because they are a great intruder detector...)

I have found a nice location for this house, but I now need to speak with the land-owner to see if he will rent me a quarter-rai (20 x 20 metres) for my house and small garden, overlooking the rest of his 20 rai paddy field. Hopefully, my monthly rent that I'll offer for 30 years should keep him very happy

Simon

[Cuban]

Another reason to live apart from the mast is wind noise, the structure will vibrate and pitch a little even if built into a very solid concrete re-enforced base and having tight guys.

Under the house: An undercover BBQ/cooking area is nice when it rains. Empty space is good when it floods, will there be any natural drainage flow of flood water that might erode the house/mast supports?

If in a remote location, consider gravel/stone chips as a ground covering, any approaching person makes a noise that will alert your dogs. If no wife during the day dogs are better security than nothing.

The thing that I feel is missing from your sketch is storage space. My own house design (with a ground floor) include two levels of secure storage, first level wife has access to basic food stuffs etc. Second level inner store room is my access only, alcohol, wines, expensive things.

If house size is not an issue consider adding a dressing room bewteen bed and bathroom, keeps clothes storage out of the bed room and allows a little sound isolation from the WC.

Consider if you seek the sunrise to wake you up (but bed should not face East) or cooking area to benifit from the setting sun for afternoon BBQ parties.

HTH

Edited December 10, 2008 by Cuban

[simon43]

...allows a little sound isolation from the WC

[\quote]

no worries about that. no-one is going to share this house with me, (well, maybe the geese and a 'rent-a-wife' for the night)

Simon

[Tywais]

I used to live in a house similar to that in Ban Chang (many years ago). We used the open area primarily for cooking but also had a hammock or two to take a break in. But it was the primary "visitors" area so some rattan type furniture may fit the scheme of it.

[Svenn]

Maybe it sounds a strange question! I'm working on an idea to build a small Thai-style house (Mai Sak/Mai Dairng), with 2 upper rooms, terrace etc. So the house would consist of an upper floor for living and then you have the open lower section of the house. But what can you use the lower part of the house for, assuming you don't go and spoil the appearance by building block walls!?

I can see that I could park my pick-up under one of my upper floor rooms, but what could I use the other areas for?

The most aesthetic thing to do with the first floor of a wood stilt house is certainly not white concrete walls, I agree . I suggest enclosure of the first floor via woven-natural material awnings or bamboo shades that lower down- both of which blend well with the wood upstairs. Granted, neither of these things will completely enclose the first floor, but u can't enclose that floor without losing the aesthetics of a stilt house. Mind you enclosed rooms DO look ok on the first floor so long as they are of smaller dimension than the walls above, i.e. are inset from the stilts and upper walls thus retaining the stilt-house appearance. so you could get an enclosed bathroom down there.

[Boo]

I would include a downstairs wc in the plan for the open space under the house, that way, if you do have visitors for bbq's etc they don't need to invade your private rooms upstairs.

I would also consider a 2nd exit or maybe a firemans pole in case of fire. having one point of entry is all good to keep the rabble out but what about if you need to get out & cant from your only exit point?

Or at least remember to install a rope fire ladder & make the window big enough to climb out of in the bedroom.

Safety first

[simon43]

Boo, yes agree with you. I want the house to be secure, but I will ensure that I can get out in case of fire. In any case, jumping from the second floor into a paddy field should not be too dangerous...

But first I need to await the results of my job interview. If that goes ok, then this project is rolling!

Simon