Minimalistic Thai temple
Thai monks are known to live a simple life, which means that they shouldn’t acquire luxury items or focus on materialism. So, you’ll notice that most monasteries where monks reside are simply made from wood and sometimes don’t have the best hygiene and sanitation because it can get too crowded.
One group of architects thought that everybody, no matter what their status and career, should have equal access to a good quality of life. So, they came up with a functional dormitory for novice monks to suit their simple needs while looking sleek like a MUJI-inspired home.
This is the very first minimal architecture in a Thai temple.
Live and learn for free
In the past, when schools were not accessible as nowadays, Thai boys would devote themselves to be novice monks in order to learn about Buddhist principles along with how to read and write because it was free.
Image credit: กัลยาณมิตร
Some temples in Thailand still have this kind of school to offer opportunities to children who can’t afford to go to school, and Phuttanimit Temple in Udon Thani is one of those.
Minimal dormitory under the budget
Due to this, the temple has more and more novice monks coming in, which leads to them needing a suitable place and space to live and learn.
The team consisting of architects Sakarn Jaiyawat, Rina Chindo, and Withe Wisutaumphon, decided to offer the young monks a cosy atmosphere with facilities suitable for children and teens their age.
Image credit: The Cloud
Sakarn informed The Cloud that he went to the temple, talked with the monks, and observed how they spent their life. Then, he started designing the dormitory, restroom, and library to suit them best.
The temple before renovation
Image credit: The Cloud
Image credit: The Cloud
They decided to convert an old building that the temple used as a storage room to be the new dormitory. The result was a sleek and simple space which was built under a reasonable budget.
Image credit: The Cloud
Image credit: The Cloud
The dormitory was renovated for over 40 novice monks to live comfortably
Image credit: The Cloud
The place looks modern and totally different from the usual temple architecture that we are familiar with. This even proves that we can have a beautiful house without the need to spend too much money.
This can be an inspiration for many other temples to offer a higher quality of living for monks and novices.
Images adapted from: The Cloud
We hope that the young monks at Phuttanimit temple can concentrate on their learning while enjoying their life in the newly renovated area.
Also read:
- Villagers Transform Thai Temple Into Rainbow To Attract Local Youngsters & Tourists
- Wat Pariwat Is Bangkok’s Most Unique Temple With Sculptures Of Pikachu, Obama, & David Beckham
- Thai Monk Has Taken Care Of Over 100 Less-Fortunate Children Since 1997, Provides Free Educational Support
Featured image adapted from: The Cloud
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