ISSUE 005

Hey you!

Welcome to the fifth issue of Lan Na Biophilia's bulletin.

If you want accurate information, go straight to the source. Around a week ago, I embarked on a journey to the ancient cities of Lan Na to draw inspiration as we finalise the small details on our prototype and revisit the place where this journey first began 17 years ago.

Foundations of sustainability and harmony

King Mangrai founded the Lan Na Kingdom, establishing Wiang Kum Kam, home to a 750-year-old Bodhi tree from Sri Lanka, and later Chiang Mai as its capital. He championed sustainability, equality, and living in harmony—values that are deeply embedded in Lan Na Biophilia. Under his rule, the Lan Na Kingdom flourished, and he formed strong bonds with the neighbouring Kingdoms of Sukhothai and Phayao to ensure their regions' safety and abundance.

Cultural heritage and unexpected encounters

Chiang Rai, a rich cultural centre at the very heart of the Lan Na Kingdom, was where I visited the stupa and gave an offering at the final resting place of Phaya Mangrai. A chance stopover led to a morning greeting from the resident artist of Baan Dum, who insisted on singing me a song. His suggestions prompted a change in our itinerary to Chiang Saen, which lies along the Mekong river bordering Laos. Chiang Saen, the birthplace of Phaya Mangrai and the ancient capital of the pre-Lan Na Kingdom, offered new insights into our journey.

From throne to trade

Ascending to the throne at 21, Phaya Mangrai established Lan Na, which extended through the mountains to Nan, a key centre for coffee, corn, and rice trade on the Nan river. I then travelled through the mountains to Phrae.

A resilient outpost

Phrae served as an outpost of the Lan Na kingdom and faced many territorial changes, especially as it borders Laos and was a target for the Angkor kingdom seeking access to Lan Na. It survived 500 years of war during the Siam/Burma conflict. While there is not much of the Lan Na kingdom to investigate here, except for small nuances in housing architecture, I named my pilot project “Phrae.” The intention is to have my front door made from local hardwood and decorated in Lan Na carvings to incorporate a piece of Phrae into the prototype.

Marc B. 

📈 PROGRESS REPORT

Project meetings across April

Throughout April, we held pivotal meetings to advance our pilot project. On the 11th, we reviewed the design process and devised a construction management strategy. On the 29th, we met with our Project Manager and Contractor to ensure compliance with our working hours, inclusion, and equality policies. The next day, we finalized the interiors with the Design team and agreed to submit the planning application for construction to commence on the 4th of July 2024

First look at our pilot project's design

On the 8th, we shared an initial 3D rendering that, while still in progress, provided an early look at our evolving design process. We planned to refine and enhance these visuals over the following weeks to align perfectly with our vision for the final design. Later, on the 27th, we received model updates from our designer at 2wins Design, marking our entry into the final stages of fine-tuning finishes and details.

Embracing practical imperfections in project mockups

We recently approved the mockup for our external boundary fencing, which matches our project's unique roof geometry. Embracing the philosophy that perfection is subjective, we accepted the mockup to minimize material waste. This approach saves time and resources, allowing us to focus on more critical tasks and promote sustainability in our projects.

💡INSIGHTS CORNER

Reducing energy with advanced cooling techniques

We focus on clean energy and design optimisation to cut energy use by 50%, eliminating traditional A/C systems. Our advanced cooling methods—passive cooling, active circulation, and economical geothermal heat transfer—enhance airflow efficiently. These strategies support our commitment to sustainable living.