DrAndys Wooden Cottage in the ricefields

[The_Dude]

Fantastic house! And, excellent photo log. I enjoy reading this type of thread.

[DrAndy]

Thanks Dude

more drilling pics, all hi tech stuff



and the water flows

all lovely and clear

[benlovesnuk]

wow fantastic really inspirational im sure not just for me....i have been looking in this area to build with land similar to this 4-5 rai with large pond and khlong. you have in part encapsulated what i hope to build for myself and wife and child on the way.

we are looking for traditional lanna thai teak houses and as mentioned in a previous post we hope to make a business from home with a guest house idea that i think is a kin to real natural living. so i understand where you coming from in lot of aspects of getting things right and your knowledge and wifes knowledge which is accredited in kind by the way the house and land looks which is exquisite! congrats!

really has helped in many ways with certain things being made clear in mind, however i am like my father in law a wood purist and whilst i can maybe forgive you for the brick at the back as you have made the whole building unique and functional. one being british must have a gripe at one thing im not sure that i can so easily accept the concreted pillars and the painting of them but it is my own personal aesthetic preference i would have preferred wood again with a concrete bottom to protect from pond...... still really well done. it stands out by far as the best foreign built house ive seen in this style - and in modern twist rivals some thai!

[DrAndy]

Thanks again Ben

as for being a wood purist, we did have to rein in the architect a little, he wanted a metal framed roof. We convinced him otherwise and it looks and feels good. he originally thought we could not bridge the gap where the posts would have been in a trad house

he also wanted more concrete support for the floor but we also vetoed that

he managed to find out how to do it properly with a little research

we love our pillars and are happy to have painted them! we have found some massive teak posts now for another project.

[Marmite the Dog]

we have found some massive teak posts now for another project.

My house?

[DrAndy]

yeah Marmite...but I thought you had a budget?

[Marmite the Dog]

yeah Marmite...but I thought you had a budget?

Free teak posts will be a big help though.

[Frankenstein]

Beautiful house and great thread. Thank you for sharing.

One thing I noticed is the verandah level looks a bit too close to the water level for comfort... is there no risk of flooding in that area?
Anyways, I guess you will be ok upstairs.

[Smithson]

Lovely house, I really like the open areas underneath, in many of the houses built these the only shaded area is the carport.

For the interior you've used that woven bamboo stuff, we were planning on using the same thing. Any idea of the price on that?

[Itchy]

Without a doubt the best thread I've read for a long time.

Truly Excellent.

[DrAndy]

thanks guys, I liked doing it

Smithson, as for the bamboo stuff, it is sold in several thicknesses. I used 6mm and the price was around B450 a sheet, I think, from our local woodyard

Frankenstein, the lower fishing/gin&tonic deck is about a meter above the water level. The surrounding ricefields and canals all have that water level. It does not flood much in the area. So no problem.....unless .....

[sunsetter]

ahhhh epic thread dr a, your house is a topper mate! love that place,spot on!

thanks for getting me here, now, the cm party pics please!

[DrAndy]

no idea where they are, sorry

FF any ideas?

[DrAndy]

OK folks, we now have a small update

the pond is coming on well, the plants are now becoming established

we even have Jungle Waterfowl nesting in the Papyrus grasses as well as Egrets, Great and Small, in the adjacent ricefields

At least two types of Kingfisher visit at this time of year, as well as numerous other species

we have bats in the belfry, well, the roof, and they are a pleasure to watch in the evening

here is the pond




and a view from the downstairs terrace



all cool and lovely, even in this hotter weather

we put some waterlilies in and hope they do OK




The biggest job we have done recently was pave the area between the house, ricebarn and road with secondhand bricks. They were reclaimed from an old cigarette factory; secondhand smoking even

here is the entrance to the new courtyard from the gravelled road

the stone sculpture stops trucks driving in
you can see the two wooden Lions guarding the ricebarn




they are big beasties, and were happy to relocate from a bankrupt restaurant







the main reason for this yard was to create a positive entrance, so that visitors are not confused (some old hands still drive around the back but they will be discouraged). We have a new parking space next to the road

The courtyard, in itself, has turned out to be a very pleasant place to sit and have a coffee

it then leads to the house

[DrAndy]

We built a little gazebo thingy, for orchids etc



they seem to be very happy






The main problem at this time of year is the pollution caused by the burning in the hills, bastards!

8am and the sun looks like an orange





never mind, the rains will clean it all away

[rubik101]

The burning of rubbish etc, really does spoil life oop North. I was under the impression that the Gov't were going to make it illegal! Remember how all the stubble used to be burned in UK about thirty years ago?

Anyway, a great house, great pictures and a great thread Dr Andy.
You're lucky to have all that space.
I will start on my little piece of land in CM maybe next year, when I retire for good!
Take it easy!!

[hillbilly]

I love the layout. Well done!

[SEA Traveler]

Well Done Khun Andy. I'll have to take a few pages out of your book if I ever need to put in a pond. Thums up!

[DrAndy]

Thanks guys, it is fun designing things and seeing them come into reality

especially if they work as intended!

[rubik101]

Dr Andy, you may already have done this but if not, then get some of the reeds and grasses that line the streams and lakes nearby and plant them around the lake perimiter. You can even use rice pants, just let them go to seed and remain in the ground. They will bind the soil and prevent erosion. If you plant lots more lilies, hyacinth, lotus and other floating aquatic plants your water will probably eventually go clear. Try to avoid the spirella type plants which will fill the pond up and prevent other plants from flousihing. The taller reeds look great and will help to shield the pond from predatory birds which might take your fish!

[Nawty]

Well done....love the rice paddy views

[DrAndy]

Dr Andy, you may already have done this but if not, then get some of the reeds and grasses that line the streams and lakes nearby and plant them around the lake perimiter. You can even use rice pants, just let them go to seed and remain in the ground. They will bind the soil and prevent erosion. If you plant lots more lilies, hyacinth, lotus and other floating aquatic plants your water will probably eventually go clear. Try to avoid the spirella type plants which will fill the pond up and prevent other plants from flousihing. The taller reeds look great and will help to shield the pond from predatory birds which might take your fish!

Thanks for that Rubik

I agree with all except the last comment, I love predatory birds and they are welcome

we have herons, egrets, kingfishers etc etc, I love to watch them and there are plenty of fish for everyone

[dirtydog]

^Got to agree with that, my pond the birds are welcome.

[SiLeakHunt]

Looks brilliant !

[chassamui]

Only just found this.
Dr A An outstanding thread and an awesome outcome. You seem to have remained quite calm throughout the project, well done as i am sure there must have been frustrations.

I am not in the least bit envious of your property and idyllic lifestyle! OK then, i am, maybe, just a bit.
Congratulations