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Phuket South Coast-13 :
With today’s emphasis on reducing energy consumption
and greenhouse gas emissions you might expect a house that was
designed 6 years ago by the Thai Government and when built in
Phuket remains on average 4-9 degrees C cooler than the outside
temperature would get a lot of attention. But it did not, and
the largely ignored Baan Harn Song Program (energy saving house)
is now sadly defunct and no longer making these plans available.
The four homes designs produced by this program demonstrate that
if you are willing to accept some design limitations and use
common sense in selecting building materials it is relatively
easy to build a home in Phuket that remains comfortable without
air conditioning. The design focus is on preventing heat buildup
in and around the home by harnessing the cooling monsoon winds
that caress Phuket from the northeast for half of the year than
reverse 180 degrees and blow from the southwest the rest of the
year. Each Eco-Cool Thai Home is built facing northeast which
has the same effect as tacking a sailboat into the wind. Double
wide extra large windows are positioned on the north and south
side of the house to catch the monsoon winds and naturally cool
the home. Using (old-fashioned) louvered wooden shutters in
place of glass window panes allow air flow even at night or
during rain storms.
As in traditional Thai design the roof not only affords
protection from rain but acts as the primary heat shield. A
steep-angled roof running on an east west axis in effect reduces
the surface area exposed to the harsh tropical sunlight and the
shiny light grey ceramic tiles further reflect heat and glare
away from the home. The extended roof overhang lends a
distinctive Thai style feel to the house and prevents heat
buildup by shading the sides of the house from the baking
tropical sun.
Catching and storing rainwater into a 20K liter underground
water tank is another method of harvesting nature and reducing
the strain on Phuket’s creaky over burdened infrastructure.
Shielded from the heat and benefiting from a near constant
breeze the open air design affords a true outdoor tropical
lifestyle.
The main daytime living area of this home is a large sheltered,
naturally cool patio overlooking the pool and surrounded by a
cooling lotus/fish pond with a beautiful waterfall. Being energy
efficient does not mean sacrificing quality of life as this
spacious (240sq M) 3-bed 3-bath home comes complete with a large
office area, fully furnished modern kitchen, designer bathrooms,
and beautifully finished hardwood doors, windows and floors.
Priced at only 10 million Baht the house sits on a quarter rai
plot of land (400sq M) and offers both privacy and security.
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