Story : Voralak Suwanvanichkij  
Images : courtesy of Professor Soontorn Boonyatikarn
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Sitting in a dimly lit lecture hall in Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Architecture, I am surrounded by polygonal models resembling futuristic dwellings, some the size of my hand and others large enough to envelop a person. Books are strewn about. As I am about to peruse the titles, Professor Soontorn Boonyatikarn ambles inside.

Our conversation begins gingerly, and almost immediately settles upon the topic of eco-design and environmental sustainability in Thailand. As we chat, the softly spoken professor becomes increasingly affable and animated, perfectly embodying his role as eco-architect, academic, and resident of one of the few self sufficient houses in the world.

Sustainable Living

From pictures, the 180 square metre, three bedroom house looks like a typical home on the outskirts of Bangkok. Overhanging eaves shade parts of a neatly landscaped garden. Tropical plants flank an oblong pool and a single car is parked under a covered driveway.

Sixty two square metres of solar cells mounted on the roof, however, indicate that the house is not quite ordinary. Indeed, beneath the surface, the dwelling employs dozens of meticulously crafted techniques that completely integrate sustainability with modern living.

Buried in the garden alone are a photovoltaic system, biogas unit, water treatment facilities and storage tanks.

Professor Soontorn explains that the house is fifteen times more energy efficient than a conventional one. Its solar panels generate more that enough electricity to power the cooling system, lights, and appliances. Surplus energy is sold to the national power grid.

Applying simple commodity trading rules, the professor remarks, “I store excess energy in batteries and sell it to the national electricity grid during the day when rates are higher, and buy back electricity at night when rates go down.”

Nothing is wasted. The roof is angled in such a way that it optimises collection of morning dew.  Condensation from the air conditioning and rainwater is also salvaged and filtered, providing water for everyday use, including filling the pool. Waste water is recycled and used in the gardens. Leaves, grass clippings, and kitchen garbage fertilise an organic vegetable plot, and are also used to produce biogas for cooking.

Passive eco measures are also employed, including incorporation of a glass walled room over the pool that maximizes use of natural light. The house is angled for optimal cross ventilation. Large trees and ground covering plants help reduce surrounding air temperatures.

Need for Change

How did this fantastic vision take shape?  “The idea built up gradually, through two decades of teaching in the United States, extensive study, and experience as an architect,” says the professor. “But I was always interested in sustainable living.

“In the US, I was exposed to ideas from colleagues and students from over 70 countries. I realised that people have similar living requirements but our homes have to conform to appropriate conditions. I felt that people are generally not in tune with their surroundings, building without regard to natural elements.”

Personal circumstances also forced him to consider more radical eco building methods. His wife suffered from severe allergies due to bacteria and fungal spores in the air, and the condition was exacerbated by the way homes were built in Thailand.

“Walls are not built to keep moisture out. When the wind blows against the home and the air conditioning drops below 25 degrees, you get condensation in the house, causing mould.” He explains.

“At the time, I knew we needed a sealed space where air is continuously filtered, but I had no ideas as to where to begin. Thailand’s climate baffled me; it posed a serious challenge.”

Economics also provided an additional impetus for change. “Keeping the air conditioning running continuously is expensive. On a professor’s salary, this isn’t sustainable. Now when I retire, I don’t have to worry about paying utility bills.”

Lesson from a Mango Tree

“I grew up in a Thai style house in upcountry, surrounded by expanses of land, and I developed an understanding of nature.”

When he moved to Bangkok to further his studies at Chula, however, he noticed that the natural elements he was in tune to in his bucolic hometown were in disarray in the city.

He elaborates, “Forty years ago, Bangkok was already polluted by noise from tuk tuks, planes, and people, and from smoke from automobile exhaust.  The air was different. It was hotter.”

He also noticed that Bangkok buildings were not well equipped to handle the urban pollution, nor the ever changing tropical climate. New homes were obsolete, lacked incorporation of new technologies, and were constructed without regard for the environment.

“While I understood this, it took a simple, and almost coincidental experience, to trigger the fundamental concept behind the Bio-Solar House.”

He explains, “I tossed a mango seed away into a nearby lot, and one day I noticed that it germinated. Three years later, without any human interference, this discarded seed blossomed into a fruit-bearing tree.” The epiphany was astounding, leading to a belief that humans can thrive by being as self sufficient as the mango tree.

He smiles.  “It uses what it can get from nature. And it’s flexible.”

Prototype for the Times

Once the concept was solidified, “I was lucky to have collaboration from a multidisciplinary team, encompassing architecture, engineering, and the sciences, from the university.” But the building process was fraught with obstacles. 

“This was back in 2003, and many people said I was crazy. Engineers didn’t want to work with my design because it was something completely foreign to them, and the workmanship in Thailand was a nightmare. It was a long, painful process, but the house finally got completed.”

The total cost of the house, furnishings, and pool was 5 million THB, including 1.4 million THB solar cells.  He says, “Solar requires patience. The cells are imported and have high duties so it takes even longer to break even. But for the long-term, it’s worth it.”

Our conversation ends on an encouraging note. “There will always be detractors but more people are interested in the Bio Solar House now. With a working prototype and this sort of price tag, it’s within reach.”

If one has an intimate understanding of one’s environment and a desire to change the way one is accustomed to living, it can be done. We could be on our way to solving energy problems and bettering mankind, while maintaining a high standard of living.”