thailand - innovative low cost housing - baan eua-arthorn - david hoicka

© David Hoicka 2009

Thailand’s Innovative Low Cost Housing

Baan Eua-Arthorn ● David Hoicka

Benefits of Thailand’s Low Cost Housing Baan Eua-Arthorn Program

• Thailand’s Low Cost Housing – Baan Eua-ArthornProgram has several benefits:

1. Lower construction cost for attractive independent homes

2. Expandability as family income increases and family grows

3. Commercial possibilities to increase family income

4. Empowers family self-help resourcefulness and dignity by rewarding family initiative


Thailand’s National Housing Authority has embarked on an ambitious program to build hundreds of thousands of affordable homes.


Typically these are starter homes, which can be expanded as the family gains income or grows. Here, expandable area includes the front first floor area.


Initially, the homes are attractive and simple. These photos were taken at a housing development a few kilometers north of Bangkok.


Over a short period of time, the families customize their homes with gardens and construction of new additions.


Many families install commercial areas, such as stores, beauty parlors, and workshops, to increase family income.


Many improvements and decorations are simple, attractive, and effective, personalizing each family’s home.


In this case, a family is replacing a wooden fence with a sculpted concrete wall, and building out the ground floor area.


This family has changed the entrance from the front to the side.


Another family is building a personalized fence. Small trees are starting to mature around family homes.


Some families build ceramic tile decks around their homes, to make the outside an easily usable extension of the inside family area.


This picture shows construction of a new room in the ground floor expansion area.


Another picture of ground floor construction (on left) to expand the home. On the right is a completed ground floor expansion.


In this photo, the first house has expanded the ground floor for residential use; the next for commercial. Other homes on the right have not yet expanded.


A popular retail store on the ground floor expansion area.


A family retail store on a street corner.


Another family retail store on a street corner.


A well-stocked small retail store on a street corner.

thailand - innovative low cost housing - baan eua-arthorn - david hoicka

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