Architecture of the Thai monastery  By Pierre Pichard 
Though legacies of external Hindu and Buddhist traditions, from India to Cambodia and Pagan, can be traced in its architectural details, the Thai Wat has a distinct cultural identity which sets it apart from the monasteries of other Theravada countries. 
Today there are more than 30,000 Wats in Thailand, half of them having been built in the 20th century at an average rate of 200 new monasteries each year during the last seventy years. These modern Wats are rather stereotyped, built on a common model all over the country, while in the past there was a much wider diversity. Examples of provincial and vernacular monastic halls, particularly from Lanna and Isan, provide comparative or alternative concepts to the mainstream of institutionalized architecture. 


Date: Thursday February 20th, 2013  Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM 
Venue: National Museum Auditorium, Bangkok 
Donation: Member 100 Baht / Guests 200 Baht 
Contact: Aurelie - nmvmonthlyprogram@gmail.com  Registration is not required but would be appreciated. http://www.museumvolunteersbkk.net/html/monthly/2014/20Feb2014.html

 conference