My first night riding out of Bangkok, I stopped in Amphawa to couchsurf with a Thai couple named Bat and Gui. Little did I know that we would end up becoming fast friends, and that I would come to see them as role models for future Chris.
B & G have a house in the countryside, which they designed and mostly built themselves. While keeping the structure modern and maintenance free, the two made a house out of mostly recycled or otherwise cheap materials. The walls are kept light but well-insulating by using styrofoam bricks covered in concrete; many of the elements of the exterior and interior are made from scrap metal, wooden palettes, stuff from junk yards, or donations from friends.
But as you can see, the inside is eminently liveable, from the spacious living room,
to the generously equipped kitchen...
...and even a porch with stools made of old tires.
The whole house is raised high off the ground to keep bugs and other creatures out, and the cool breeze blowing in. The roof is also designed such that hot air escapes through large vents in the upper portion of the walls, creating an interior space that feels extraordinarily open and airy, not to mention being energy efficient. While other middle-class Thai people are sealing up their homes and installing western-style air conditioning units, B&G have made something extremely energy efficient, and easy on the pocketbook as well.
But the environmental friendliness doesn't stop there. B&G's house is literally surrounded by edible plants, from herbs and spices intermixed with leafy greens,
to more herbs and spices hanging on and under the porch...
...to kale, bok choy, and other greens in the yard outside the house. Basically they grow enough vegetables that they only have to occasionally supplement their home-grown produce with items from the market.
And I was fortunate enough to get to sample some of their cooking as well! Thanks guys!
B & G have a house in the countryside, which they designed and mostly built themselves. While keeping the structure modern and maintenance free, the two made a house out of mostly recycled or otherwise cheap materials. The walls are kept light but well-insulating by using styrofoam bricks covered in concrete; many of the elements of the exterior and interior are made from scrap metal, wooden palettes, stuff from junk yards, or donations from friends.
But as you can see, the inside is eminently liveable, from the spacious living room,
to the generously equipped kitchen...
...and even a porch with stools made of old tires.
The whole house is raised high off the ground to keep bugs and other creatures out, and the cool breeze blowing in. The roof is also designed such that hot air escapes through large vents in the upper portion of the walls, creating an interior space that feels extraordinarily open and airy, not to mention being energy efficient. While other middle-class Thai people are sealing up their homes and installing western-style air conditioning units, B&G have made something extremely energy efficient, and easy on the pocketbook as well.
But the environmental friendliness doesn't stop there. B&G's house is literally surrounded by edible plants, from herbs and spices intermixed with leafy greens,
to more herbs and spices hanging on and under the porch...
 |  |
...to kale, bok choy, and other greens in the yard outside the house. Basically they grow enough vegetables that they only have to occasionally supplement their home-grown produce with items from the market.
And I was fortunate enough to get to sample some of their cooking as well! Thanks guys!
