Cultural interactions among diverse ethnic groups in a frontier region of a mainstream culture:A case study of Thai Korat,Laotian,and Tai Yuan vernacular houses in the central Lamtakong watershed,Nakhon Ratchasima

This study aims to study the conditions for the architectural form of vernacular houses of Thai Korat,Laotian,and Tai Yuan ethnic groups living in the central Lamtakong watershed.Nineteen stilt houses with the age of fifty-three to one hundred years were incorporated in the case study.Data were meticulously gathered through methods such as observation,photography,surveying,architectural drawing,three-dimensional modeling,and interviews.The analysis,conducted within the frameworks of ethnic identity and cultural diffusion,involved morphological and comparative assessments.The findings showed that the houses in the present case study could maintain their ethnic identities as can be clearly seen in the space planning and the shapes of the houses passed down from generation to generation.In addition,there was cultural acceptance among these ethnic groups through exchanging,adopting,and borrowing house construction techniques,in order to express the common traits in the larger social context in a friendly and smoother way.This phenomenon indicates that the co-existence in a multicultural society is the key that makes different ethnic groups be able to maintain their ethnic identity and live with the larger society in a friendly way.Hence,the cultural significance of stilt vernacular houses in the study area is embedded in the dynamic process of exchanging house construction techniques,fostering harmony within the broader social context.This preservation simultaneously safeguards the essential elements and key attributes of ethnic identity in architecture.

Self-adaptability and topological deformation of Ganlan architectural heritage:Conservation and regeneration of Lianghekou Tujia village in Western Hubei,China

The authenticity of architectural heritage is interpreted differently in diverse cultural traditions.Can this inspire the conservation and contemporary regeneration of architectural heritage to adapt to the changing needs of modern life and society,rather than static exhibits in museums?This research focuses on Ganlan(pile-built timber construction)architecture to demonstrate how adaptive conservation and regeneration can keep traditional construction systems living and sustainable.Ganlan,a vernacular architectural archetype in the humid subtropical regions of Asia,has the following common features:free plans with an assembling frame structure,open and interactive envelopes to cope with the hot and damp climate,and stilts to deal with the rugged terrain.This research employed a threefold method of field investigation,topological deformation,and experimental design in examining Lianghekou,a historic Tujia village in Western Hubei,China.The findings reveal that Tujia people build their stilt houses with adaptable features to meet the changing functional requirements and variable topographies.These traditions can be transmitted into the contemporary design,as our experimental design illustrates.The self-adaptability and topological deformation of Ganlan architectural heritage demonstrate a unique perspective of understanding authenticity,and contribute toward innovative application in the conservation and regeneration of vernacular architecture.