TY  - JOUR
T1  - Chinese Clay Building in Ubon Ratchathani Province
AU - Kaewvisit, Songwoot AU - Chaipratoom, Jarun AU - Wongpongkham, Niyom AU - Sriruksa, Kittisan 
JO  - Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
VL  - 15
IS  - 4
SP  - 1000
EP  - 1006
PY  - 2020
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1816-949x
DO  - jeasci.2020.1000.1006
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=jeasci.2020.1000.1006
KW  - Building
KW  -raw soil
KW  -Chinese people
KW  -Ubon Ratchathani province
KW  -maintenance
KW  -community
AB  - This study is part of the research titled “Chinese Building and the Cultural Assimilation to the
Artistic Creation”. The objective of this research is to study the style, the structure and the materials used in
the Chinese clay buildings in the Muang district, Ubon Ratchathani province. This research is a qualitative
research, conducted using the following tools: field surveys, observations and interviews on the people involved
with the buildings including the owners, the tenants and the experts on the old Chinese buildings n the research
area. The interviews include both structured and non-structured interviews. The acquired data were analyzed
through the semiotics theories, structural-functional theory and cultural assimilation theory. The result of the
research shows that the Chinese who migrated into Thailand, especially in the Muang district, Ubon
Ratchathani province, first came to live along with the local people. Most of them were hired labor working
in the gardens and catching fish from the Mun river. When these people were able to save up some money, they
would look for a suitable place that they can settle in such as building their own shops. These shops were
mostly built along the bank of the Mun river such as in the Guangdong port, Chuan port and Talad port. These
were important ports for the transportation of merchandise and people as well as connecting the other side of
the river which is Warin Chamrap district. This area is currently on Promthep road which later on expanded
to Promthani and Kuanthani road (the first road in Ubon Ratchathani). Trading areas like this one mostly
consists of Chinese style buildings. The buildings are mostly one-story and two-story Chinese architecture style
buildings. The structure of the buildings is a long-span structure. The importance is the ability to bear the
weight of large and heavy structures. As for the poles or Dou Gong, all the parts were built fro support and
connected using wooden spurs. No iron nails were used within the buildings. Other materials consist of
hardwood and “raw soil bricks” which made the walls. This is local wisdom from China. For the raw soil, apart
from being a material that can easily be found in Isaan can be applied and used to their full potential. This also
helps reduce the expenses for the construction. The benefit of raw soil bricks is their tolerance and their ability
to adjust the temperature inside of the buildings. For instance when the temperature outside is hot, the interior
will be cooler. When the temperature outside is cold, the interior will be a little bit warmer. The roofs in the
past were made using clay tiles, wood, thatch and straws. Currently, the roofs are all made from zinc sheets.
Currently, it is also found that both the one-story and two-story Chinese buildings are all in the degraded status
due to the fact that they had gone through a long period. Furthermore, they also lack the maintenance from both
the owners and the tenants. Even though the main structure of many buildings are still strong but there are
cracks in many connecting points and may lead to the collapse in the future. Other materials such as wood and
raw soil bricks are also in a degraded status. The leading causes for the degradation were the lack of
maintenance and the inappropriate use of the buildings such as the drills into the walls, the deconstructions or
the addition of new structures without proper knowledge or the understanding in the architectural values.
Therefore, the researcher believes that people who are involved with the buildings, such as the academics, the
architects, the community leaders and the local administrative team will see the importance of these old
buildings, educate the communities and provide the budget for the conservation of these Chinese buildings.
ER  -