Laos - Cultural Village
Sam Rattanavong Project Architect and Coordinator
Location
Laos, Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
Concept drawing for the future development of
the Laos Cultural Village by Peter Edgeley
Geography
Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia and the thickly forested landscape consists mostly of rugged mountains, the highest of which is Phou Bia at 2,817 m. The climate is tropical and monsoon. The capital and largest city of Laos is Vientiane. The population in Laos in 2008 was 6,677,534.
The site is approximately 35184m2. It has direct access from the main Road (Orphanage Road) and also access via a smaller road (Little Road). The service road separates it from my family’s land to the northwest. It has a direct link an orphanage to the South.
Culture
Laos is a developing country and there is poor infrastructure and educational opportunities. Traditional Lao culture and the arts are being threatened both by neglect and the pressures of modernization and development. Theravada Buddhism is a dominant influence in Lao culture. It is reflected throughout the country from language to the temple and in art, literature, performing arts, etc. Laotian music is dominated by its national instrument, the khaen. Rice is the staple food and has cultural and religious significance. The country has two World Heritage Sites: Luang Prabang and Vat Phou. The government is seeking the same status for the Plain of Jars.
Socio-Economic
The Laos economy is heavily dependent on investment and trade with its neighbors, Thailand, Vietnam, and China. Much of the country lacks adequate infrastructure. 10.6% of the population lives below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day. Subsistence agriculture still accounts for half of the GDP and provides 80% of total employment. Only 4.01% of the country is arable land, and 0.34% used as permanent crop land. Rice dominates agriculture, with about 80% of the arable land area used for growing rice. Lao PDR may have the greatest number of rice varieties. Since 1995 the Lao government has been working with the International Rice Research Institute to collect seed samples of each of the thousands of rice varieties found in Laos.
The economy receives development aid from the IMF, ADB and other international sources, and foreign direct investment for development of the society, industry, hydropower and mining, most notably copper and gold. Tourism is the fastest-growing industry in the country. However, economic development in has been hampered by brain drain, with a skilled emigration rate of 37.4% in 2000. Tourism sector has grown rapidly, from 14,400 tourists visiting Laos in 1990, to 1.1 million in 2005. Annual tourism sector revenues are expected to grow to $250–300 million by 2020.
Project Aim
- To build a centre that encourages the ideas of culture and community, that is facilitated by the arts, calling particular attention to local customs, products and materials.
- To encourage and facilitate sustainable community growth.
- To create a centre for learning.
- To create a series of separate but interconnected spaces, with independent yet dependant parts, like a traditional Laotian village.
- To encourage the pursuit of learning old and new skills by:
- Providing a centre with facilities, teachers, information, shared knowledge.
- Encouraging the self-pursuit of education.
- Encouraging individuals to continue to educate themselves and others.
Objectives
- Accommodate approximately 50-100 people at one time.
- The Centre aims to be a place that is able to direct people to other facilities that are equipped to deal with their particular needs. It also aims to be a place that encourages education, the development of skills, maintaining and re-invigorating Lao culture.
- Creation of Centre for activities based on traditional vernacular architecture and modern building design with an emphasis on transparency to include a weaving centre, books area/building, architecture/arts and fine arts centre/building and community garden and kitchen facility/building.
Physical Facilities Required
- Weaving room: space for looms; dyeing pots; timber drying racks; tables; chairs; display; storage; office; natural light and ventilation.
- Book room with: adequate shelving for books; archive space; quiet contemplative space; meditation space; benches; wall space, storage; display space; floor space, natural light and ventilation; tables and chairs.
- Architecture/Arts/Fine Arts rooms: easels/boards; drawing boards; computers; wall space, storage; display space; floor space, natural light and ventilation; tables and chairs.
- Community garden and kitchen: benches; light; ventilation; stoves; cupboards; storage; utensils; pots and pans; crockery/cutlery; tables, benches.
Design Criteria
- Building to be raised off the ground and on platforms, incorporate indoor/outdoor spaces.
- Materials: concrete; brick; roof tiles; post and beam structures with infill walls; pre-fabricated roof trusses;
- Utilize a combination of permanent and semi-permanent materials. Allowing some semi-permanence to the exterior (i.e. Columns can be timber and infill can be thatch or rendered brick).
Sustainability
- Sustainable development practices; conservation; preservation; health issues; and socioeconomic issues outline for developing areas.
- Renewable energy resources as well as water and waste water recycling.
- Easily accessible and local building materials that can endure ease of maintenance.
- Website will be created to market the products and illustrate the Centre.
- Income generated through Centre’s activities.
- Long-term support: Sponsorships from Individuals, industry players and donor agencies will be aggressively sought to subsidize fees to meet some of the recurrent expenditure.