ARCHITECTURE OF LANNA

House of the Wealthy Western-influenced Houses From the reign of King Rama IV to VI (18511925), the kingdom was economically prosperous. Western architectural style, especially Victor ian, was popular and applied in both royal and common people’s houses. This was the change of architecture style in Khum Chao. Both concrete buildings and half-concrete half-wood buildings adopted Western plans. Brick wall bearing methodology and arch construction was used. There was the combination of Victorian “gingerbread” house style and local wooden house or Lanna half-concrete half-wood house (so-called Saranai house); for instance, the building had a hip roof and horizontal louvered wooden partitions, panel doors and windows, as well as mouldings along the building. Parts of the roof, such as eaves, gables, and the top, were decorated with carved or perforated wood. The gable end was decorated with sharp-end lathed wood.

Even real wooden houses of Tai Yong and Tai Lue people adopted this style. Although some features remained similar to the traditional houses of Tai Yuan and Luo (Lawa) people, there were some noticeable differences on the roof. There were triangle roofs, hip roofs, and Manila (hipped-gable) roofs. The roof was not very steep. Louvered wooden partitions and perforated wooden motifs were also used.

Burmese-influenced House In the 19th century, logging concessions in natural forest were granted and the business grew successfully. Many large teak houses for wealthy people were built; for examples, Sao Nak House in Lampang and a 140year house in Chiang Mai. Differently from Lanna traditional and Saranai houses, the Burmese-influenced style has perimeter wall and columns extending outwards to support the eave trim.

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