Earthen\u2013wooden hybrid houses built by the Dai in Dehong Prefecture, South China

Rawiwan Oranratmanee,Pandin Ounchanum

doi:10.1186/s43238-021-00035-9

Abstract

The Dai (or Tai) are an indigenous ethnic group distributed across the upper part of Southeast Asia and South China. Whereas the majority of the Dai living on the Southeast Asian mainland build wooden houses on stilts, Dai populations in South China, especially in Dehong Prefecture, are known for the distinctive architectural style of their hybrid earthen–wooden houses, which stems from their enduring social contact and cultural assimilation with Chinese settlers. This paper, which draws on comprehensive fieldwork conducted in Dai villages in Dehong Prefecture, explores the Dai’s hybrid earthen–wooden architecture. Specifically, it examines the development of forms, the relationship between settlement layouts and house plans, as well as building materials, structures and constructions characterising this architecture using data from qualitative surveys, architectural measurements and interviews. The hybrid architecture of the Dehong Dai demonstrates the fusion of two building cultures—earthen and wooden—that has shaped a vernacular architectural identity that is unique to this area. This paper also presents illustrative examples of earthen–wooden houses, thereby contributing to advancing knowledge about this eclectic, hybrid architecture that remains a gap in the academic literature.

Highlights

Vernacular architecture reflects the relationships among geography, environment, a social system and cultural values
In most types of earthen–wooden hybrid architecture, earth is used as wall material on the ground floor, whereas wood is used for structural reinforcement and as the main material on the upper floors and roof structures
This paper aims to explore the diverse forms and spatial planning techniques that account for the production of hybrid architecture in multicultural areas, where different groups meet and exchange building cultures

Summary

Introduction

Vernacular architecture reflects the relationships among geography, environment, a social system and cultural values. Whereas most parts of the world have developed particular building cultures in relation to the availability of materials and cultural styles associated with building structures, some multicultural areas evidence hybrid built forms that can be attributed to social and cultural exchanges. Earthen and timber building cultures have long been considered ancient building cultures throughout the world (Mileto et al 2018) Both building cultures are acknowledged to be ancient building prototypes that have a global geographical distribution and that have been sustained over time (Guillaud 2018). Depending on the available materials and cultural traditions, both earthen and timber construction styles entail the use of Oranratmanee and Ounchanum Built Heritage (2021) 5:16 diverse techniques, ranging from palisade and pug, to lehmwickel, wattle and daub, through to cane and daub. In most types of earthen–wooden hybrid architecture, earth is used as wall material on the ground floor, whereas wood is used for structural reinforcement and as the main material on the upper floors and roof structures

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