Two of the house owners, Khun Aung (Thai), Age 50 years old and Khun Usaburu (Japanese), Age 60 years old, both have worked together with local villagers on Thai traditional fabric. Both are interested in the vernacular household, love to live surrounded by nature, and keen on Buddhist Dhamma practice.
After having worked with the villager for a long period of time
together with becoming older, they have decided to build a house, which is aimed to become the last house of their life.

“to become their last house, having brought them into a peaceful death.”

--- Navigation dialogue/ Master’s words ---
In Buddhism, one phase is told that the last mental soul is like a cow standing by the end of the stall.
The death is also a window of opportunity, though it turns well or not well, depends on surrounded reasons.
We have a chance to meet Lung Phi Paisal Visalo, who has spent his life working with coma patients. He said that
“The way we live is actually the way, we die.”
“To live well is also to die well. Live along with nature.”
“To die well, two tasks must be completed which are a physical task, and mental task”
We, designers, have responsible to complete the mental task before the death come.
The mental with thoughtfulness, with conscious, without worry from the understanding of Buddhist trinity rule (Tri-Luc – transient, suffering, and non-self)

--- Huen that has Dhamma pavilion as the center heart of the house ---
At first, the owners preferred only a standalone house, being isolated, however, their lifestyle is surrounded by good friends, as well as masters (Luang Pho Kamkhien, Phra Phaisal, Luang Phi Tuum, Sulak Sivaraksa, Satid kuman, etc), who are all nobly respected.

Designer proposed them the Dhamma pavilion included. Because it seems to be a program/ space for the owner selves to practice Dhamma
The pavilion is a place to welcome all friends and noble masters to facilitate, to relax, to practice Dhamma, and to teach Dhamma lessons as well.
Being an area of the true offering.
The mind of a giver (alms) is a generously great heart, without any mental worry bond.
“A one with great heart/ generosity/ compassionate heart, when one dies, one can go without any worries.”

--- A house based on Buddhist teaching ---
“Making conscious meditation”
Knowing oneself with consciousness in every breath, be able to deal with the death firmly and steadily, keeping the mind in the state of death before actual death.
The house has an area designated for practicing mindfulness distributed in every house such as a space for walking meditation on the long terrace and having a prayer space.
“A conscious mind will ready to die when the time has come”

--- Blissful Mind ---
Persuading charity through signs that appear in the house.
The Dhamma pavilion itself is a large Dhamma object that everyone in the house must walk through, must see and use every day.
Big Buddha statue enshrined at the Dhamma pavilion.
And the Buddha statues that are placed in each house
Walkway to the bedroom of the house owners that can view the relics from the opposite mountain on a daily basis before going to bed
"Charitable hearts Familiar with charitable images when passing away, there is an anchor in a good way, dependent on happiness. "
the mind also has a good thing to hold and reline on, rest in peace.

--- Sappaya Territory ---
We want to build a Sappaya area that has the proper environment To support the Dhamma practice with physical and mental comfort.
1. Awas Sappaya, Baan Huen Dhamma is in a quiet area in the valley surrounded by trees and pure nature.
2. Cojon Sappaya, this place is in the valley but not far from the complete food sources.
3. Passapp Sappaya is a quiet place that encourages proper conversations.
4. Pukklap Sappaya, we have the Reverend Luangpor's house for teachers. There is the Dhamma pavilion for the friends.
5. Pochana Sappaya, this place is wealthy in food by determining to have the vegetable plots for being completely self-reliant.
6. Autu Sappaya, we apply local wisdom to the modern lifestyles. Being a local contemporary house. Being a house that makes the inhabitants live well through the use of important elements such as the under the house ( Tai-Toon) , the veranda space, the space under the roof that have the long eaves. Being a house that uses natural materials such as wood that provide a soft and warm touch.
7. Ariyapata Sappaya, we prepare the areas that suitable for the Dhamma practices, such as preparing a space for walking meditation and preparing a space for praying.
"We built the land of Sappaya
for the mind and body that is ready for Dharma practice
Body and mind who practice Dhamma regularly is ready to cope with death which may occur at any time."

--- Nature ---
Under the house (Tai-Toon) / pavilions / verandahs are a major component of the entire project allowing residents to completely live in the natural environment although there is no wall at the under the house (Tai-Toon) or pavilion, which is the area that is used during the day for a long period of time.
But nature, trees, mountains, and the cool breeze are the walls of the house, are the surrounding walls of the house.
Allowing the surrounding nature to fully heal both the physical and the mental.
And allowing people to learn these natures that change all the time (Trinity rules).

--- The Houses at Huen Dhamma ---
Baan Huen Dhamma is an attempt to decode the local wisdom of the northern houses (Chaan – outer terrace, Tern – inner terrace, balcony, pavilion, Homrin – narrow passage way in line with roof gutter, Khuang – open courtyard, under the house (Tai-Toon), lath wall, etc.) in order to adjust them to current way of living (Life is changing from agricultural societies and there are more choices of building materials
apart from wood), as well as clearly define the goals in building the houses for the peaceful death of the dwellers.
On the area of 4 rai, the houses consists of several houses which have been decoded to fit the lifestyle of the residents, separated according to user groups and usage characteristics in each house (Owner’s house, Older sister’s house, Office house, etc.) with a pavilion in the middle as their heart. Khuang (open courtyard) is used to connect each house together. Spreading the houses in groups instead of bringing all the living space together in the same area reflects the image of the village with small houses scattered in nature and losing in the environment.

--- Energy Saving House---
Baan Huen Dhamma uses very little energy. For the current world weather conditions, the house barely uses air conditioning.
The house is appropriately applied with the local wisdom that is suitable for the way of life. Making the house as a shelter that can protect from the Sun and the rain and orientating the house in the right direction which is related to the wind / solar direction and the surrounding natural scenery
The open-air basement with the extended awning around the area
The Dhamma pavilion extends the second floor and the long eaves at the top of the building to draw the wind and also shade the pavilion area.
Using timber as the main material and making void that is sufficient to let the natural light into the interior creating a quality dim light of the Eastern style which is the soft light. At the same time, there is no need to rely on artificial light but can live safely with natural light.

Team:

Architect: Arsomsilp Community and Environmental Architect Co., Ltd.

Structural Engineer: Anake Siriphanitchakorn        

Electrical Engineer:  Dutsadee Chanapai                                                      

Sanitary Engineer: Banyat Watcharakasemsin     

Main Contractor: Pratiw Yasai                                                                                                                Photographer: Kanate Chainapong