Architecture of Thailand
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
A detailed, profusely illustrated survey of Thai architecture with its many styles and forms.
Thai architecture has evolved over the years to become a significant cultural art form. With a land area of about 514,000 square kilometers, Thailand is geographically and culturally divided into four regions-North, South, Central, and Northeast-each with its own identity due in part to borders shared with Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. This diversity is reflected in all aspects of Thai life, from its customs, language, and beliefs to art and architecture.
Close contact with other Asian neighbors such as China, India, Japan, and Vietnam, and Western countries such as Britain, France, Portugal, and the Netherlands, has also had an impact on the development of Thai architecture, which forms an integral part of the cultural landscape.
All types of structures are discussed here, from Thai houses to elaborate temples to crematoriums. The reader gets a close look at various sections within a building and its compound before exploring ornamentation in Thai architecture. Different materials used to achieve Thai style are also discussed.
In addition to conventional architecture, the book discusses the hybrid forms that reflect the confluence of Thai and Western or other Asian styles. It ends with a look at contemporary Thai architecture and how traditional practices have been adapted to suit modern needs. 800 color illustrations.
About the Author
Nithi Sthapitanonda is one of Thailand's most renowned contemporary architects. Brian Mertens is a Bangkok-based writer on Asian art, culture, and travel, and is the author of Bangkok Design.
Architecture of Thailand,Nithi Sthapitanonda,Brian Mertens,Thames & Hudson,0500342237,Architecture,Art,Art & Art Instruction,Asian,General,International Architecture - Asian,Architecture / General
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