Chonnabot

Design Build for Community is a program co-sponsored by the International Program in Design and Architecture (INDA) at Chulalongkorn University and Mitsubishi, Thailand. The annual program provides architectural improvements for schools in rural Thailand and gives INDA’s third-year undergraduate students the rare opportunity to work on a project from conceptual design through construction.

This year, the Community School in Chonnabot, located in Khon Kaen Province, whose existing canteen has been damaged by years of flooding and termite-infestation, was selected. The project was to design a new canteen that incorporates a cooking, serving and dishwashing area, as well as seating for 260 students.

The main concept of the canteen is derived from the roof shapes of vernacular Thai architecture and traditional cooling methods. The roof is oriented to provide the maximum amount of shade while allowing prevalent winds to blow through the space, keeping the inside cool without relying on air conditioning. Panels of recycled tetra packs act as substrate for the roofing panels while at the same time providing a highly effective insulation from the heat. The structure can easily be converted from a canteen to a communal gathering space.