© David Hoicka 2009

Thailand’s Innovative Low Cost Housing

Baan Eua-Arthorn ● David Hoicka
 Benefits of Thailand’s Low Cost
Housing Baan Eua-Arthorn Program
• Thailand’s Low Cost Housing – Baan Eua-Arthorn
Program has several benefits:
1. Lower construction cost for attractive
independent homes
2. Expandability as family income increases and
family grows
3. Commercial possibilities to increase family
income
4. Empowers family self-help resourcefulness and
dignity by rewarding family initiative
 © David Hoicka 2009

Thailand’s National Housing Authority has embarked on an ambitious program

to build hundreds of thousands of affordable homes.
 © David Hoicka 2009

Typically these are starter homes, which can be expanded as the family gains
income or grows. Here, expandable area includes the front first floor area.
 © David Hoicka 2009

Initially, the homes are attractive and simple. These photos were taken at a
housing development a few kilometers north of Bangkok.
 © David Hoicka 2009

Over a short period of time, the families customize their homes with gardens
and construction of new additions.
 © David Hoicka 2009

Many families install commercial areas, such as stores, beauty parlors, and
workshops, to increase family income.
 © David Hoicka 2009

Many improvements and decorations are simple, attractive, and effective,

personalizing each family’s home.
 © David Hoicka 2009

In this case, a family is replacing a wooden fence with a sculpted concrete wall,
and building out the ground floor area.
 © David Hoicka 2009

This family has changed the entrance from the front to the side.
 © David Hoicka 2009

Another family is building a personalized fence. Small trees are starting to

mature around family homes.
 © David Hoicka 2009

Some families build ceramic tile decks around their homes, to make the outside
an easily usable extension of the inside family area.
 © David Hoicka 2009

This picture shows construction of a new room in the ground floor expansion area.
 © David Hoicka 2009

Another picture of ground floor construction (on left) to expand the home. On
the right is a completed ground floor expansion.
 © David Hoicka 2009

In this photo, the first house has expanded the ground floor for residential use;
the next for commercial. Other homes on the right have not yet expanded.
 © David Hoicka 2009

A popular retail store on the ground floor expansion area.

 © David Hoicka 2009

A family retail store on a street corner.

 © David Hoicka 2009

Another family retail store on a street corner.

 © David Hoicka 2009

Another family retail store on a street corner.

 © David Hoicka 2009

A well-stocked small retail store on a street corner.