International Conference on Built Environment

in Developing Countries

TRADITIONAL HOUSES AS A COMPLEMENT

IN BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Mr. Yin Min Paik

Department of Architecture,
Mandalay Technological University, Mandalay, Myanmar
mongyi02@gmail.com

OUTLINES OF PRESENTATION
Part (I) INTRODUCTION
• MON STATE, MON NATIONAL AND THEIR RELIGION
• MON TRADITIONAL HOUSES AND THEIR TYPES
• INFLUENCING FACTORS ON MON TRADITIONAL HOUSES

Part (II) ARCHITECTURAL ASPECTS OF MON TRADITIONAL HOUSES
• FUNCTION
• FORM
• CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES
Q
• DÉCOR ARCHITECTURE AND DETAILS
• AUXILIARY FUNCTIONS AND SITE COMPOUND
• ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF MON TRADITIONAL HOUSES

Part (III) CONCLUSION
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 PART (I)

INTRODUCTION TO MON TRADITIONAL

HOUSES

Mon State, Mon National and their Religion

Paung Township

Mawlamyine Township
Chaungzone Township
Kyaikmaraw Township
Mudon Township

Tanphyuzayat Township

Ye Township

Location of Townships with Traditional

Location Map of Mon State
Houses in Mon State
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Mon Traditional Houses and their Types

It was built under the guidance of the old people and others 

Referred to the rule of Lawkasiddhi dissertation

Characters of Mon traditional houses

The types of Mon traditional houses

At the present day only wealthy person houses are built

It will be studied on the wealthy person type

Influencing Factors

There are three main factors influence upon

Mon traditional houses.

Cultural Factors

Religious Factors

Climatic Factors
Photo of Mon Traditional House
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Cultural Factors
Mingalar doors N

Level of main house and verandah
Verandah
Parent
A
Area Room
R
Living
Can enter the living room Room

Landing
Daughter
Room
No specified space for son 

The “Mingalar” doors
Dinning Area

The parents’ room
Kitchen Area

Water Usage
Main stair
Typical Plan of Mon Traditional House
7

Mon nationals regulated the following cultural factors according 
to the rule of Lawkasiddhi dissertation.

Selection of Construction Time and Earth Spirit 

Site Selection and preparation of the Site

Selection of the Site Level

Digging the Holes

Digging the Holes

Calculation for the Ratio of House 

Length of the post and Raising up the Posts
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 N
Religious Factors Shrine king-post

Verandah
Build the large house Area
Parent
Room
Mingalar
doors

They also make the large doors Landing
Daughter
Living Area Room

All of the large openings are opened

The Monks and the audience seat Di i Area
Dinning A

The king‐post of the house Kitchen Area

Water Usage

Shrine room Typical Plan of Mon Traditional House

9

Climatic Factors

Thatch, Stitched nipa palm roofing

of low thermal capacity gives good
insulation against heat
Ventilated roof space helps
to cool the house
Interior spaces
with minimal
partitions allow
good ventilation

Fully open able

windows allow
Lightweight
ventilation at
construction
body level
using low
thermal capacity
Stilted house
materials keeps
catches winds of
house cool
higher velocity

Climatic Factors Influence upon Mon Traditional House

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 PART (II)

ARCHITECTURE ASPECTS OF

MON TRADITIONAL HOUSES

Function

Floor Plan Zoning Plan Area Utilization

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 4. Parents’ Room 5. Daughter’s Room

3. Living Area

6. Dining Room

2. Verandah Area

1. Landing Area 8. Water Usage Area 7. Kitchen Area

Function of each Floor Plan Compared with Photo Records 13

Form

The form of typical Mon traditional house is studied by the

following factors how these are designed.

Floor 

Wall and

Roof
Form of Mon Traditional House 14

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 Floor
• High floor level allows a person
• To allow free ventilation and sitters
To allow free ventilation and sitters
• Protection

Floor Level Change Height

Ground to Landing 6.5’
Landing to Verandah 3”
Verandah To Living area 9”
Living to Dining area 9” Below
Dining to Kitchen 6” Below
Kitchen to Water usage 3” Below

Floor Height of Mon Traditional House

15
Elevated Floor of Mon Traditional House

Wall
• Used as the exterior and interior cover in main 
building. 
• Made of weather boards walling
• Folded doors and windows, swing doors and windows
• Verandah and kitchen area 

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Weather Board Walling Walling of Mon Traditional House

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 Roof 
• Parallel and steep roofing
• Gable end roofing 
g
• Bamboo pole, log and Palmyra pole gutter 

Roofing of Mon Traditional House 17

Construction Materials
• Building materials
• Timber 
Timber
• Rattan and tree roots 
• Bamboo and stitch nipa palm

Construction Materials; Bamboo Strip and Stitched nipa palm

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 Construction 
Techniques
• Footing
• Stout out girder
• Gutter
• Timber Connection
Stout out Girder
Footing

19
Gutter Timber Connection

Construction Systems
(3) (4)
(5)
(6) (1)
(7)
(14)
(2)
(11)
(10) (9)
(15) (8)
(19) (13)
(16) (17)
(24)
(20)
(21) (25) (12)

(22) (18) (21)

1. Ridging 8. Tie beam 15. Flooring 22. Column

2. Roofing 9. Pole plate 16. Floor joist 23. Gable end
3. Ridge piece 10.Eaveboard 17. Floor beam 24. Concrete footing
4. Top port 11.Vergeboard 18. Girder 25. Gutter
5. Bamboo piece 12.Vertical strud 19. Floor edge trimmer
6. Purlin 13.Horizontal strud 20. Handrail
7. Rafter 14.Walling 21. Stair 20

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 Décor Architecture and Details
• Decorative elements
• Simple decorative elements
• Roughness and smoothly texture
• Untreated and painted with the earth‐oil

21
Swinging door with double leaves Swinging window with double leaves

Auxiliary Functions

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Site Compound

23

ARCHITECTURE FEATURES

Building orientation faces to the North or West

Building axis is parallel with the sun path (East‐west direction).

Steep parallel roofing types and stilt posts houses are generally found.

Large verandah areas are provided and railed with only handrail.

Windows are based from floor level and split‐levels are preferred.

Stairs used to be placed in the North and South of the house.
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 PART (III)

CONCLUSION OF THIS PRESENTATION

CONCLUSION

Mon national 

Used Lawkasiddhi dissertation

A few traditional houses in Mon region 

Mon national develop their living

Mon traditional houses should be studied, recorded and conserved 

The research work would contribute towards built environment
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