Fear and Domestic Architecture

Traditionally, practices of domestic sanctification
in Thailand (i.e.
rituals of housebuilding and domestic remedies)
employed the
house as a device to prevent ill fortune, to promote
health and
prosperity, and to repair breaches in the system of
defence.
Modernised Thais associate these traditional
practices with an
outlook, which is superstitious and irreconcilable
with that of urban
modernity. Nevertheless, Thais are struggling to
overcome their fear
and these practices now reappear in urban apartments
and houses
in Bangkok. The book aims to document and interpret this
reappearance of the traditional practices of domestic
sanctification
in contemporary Thai home. The evidences show that the
modernised Thais are reusing and reinventing some of the
techniques of the traditional practices as a solution
for their anxiety,
while at the same time, the excessiveness of the
practices has
turned the familiar space of home into a profoundly
ambivalent
sphere.

Autorentext

Obtained PhD from History and Theory of Architecture Programme,Architectural Association, United Kingdom in 2005. Nuttinee is currently alecturer at School of Architecture and Design, King Mongkut's University of TechnologyThonburi (Thailand) with research interest on Thai domesticity and domestic interiors.

Klappentext

Traditionally, practices of domestic sanctificationin Thailand (i.e. rituals of housebuilding and domestic remedies)employed the house as a device to prevent ill fortune, to promotehealth and prosperity, and to repair breaches in the system ofdefence. Modernised Thais associate these traditionalpractices with an outlook, which is superstitious and irreconcilablewith that of urban modernity. Nevertheless, Thais are struggling toovercome their fear and these practices now reappear in urban apartmentsand houses in Bangkok. The book aims to document and interpret this reappearance of the traditional practices of domesticsanctification in contemporary Thai home. The evidences show that the modernised Thais are reusing and reinventing some of the techniques of the traditional practices as a solutionfor their anxiety, while at the same time, the excessiveness of thepractices has turned the familiar space of home into a profoundlyambivalent sphere.