Design: Gable Wall

    The Gable wall is a triangular wood panel Made up of various wooden elements. It is used to cover the hollow part of the roof on the rafter side of the house to prevent wind, sun, and rain. These gable walls are beautifully decorated with traditional patterns and designs, it is either carved or painted onto the gable wall. The design of the gable wall is according to the belief, culture, and social status of the owner and the natural site of the house.

Thai Southern Buddhism House

Tongkonan in Indonesia Laos Traditional House

The design of the gable wall of the Tongkonan in Indonesia is painted with the colors of red, black, and yellow-colored wood, with patterns carved into it. The design carvings of the patterns and colors represent prosperity and fertility. They also put their own designs that represent the importance to the family living in the house and the social standings of the family. Traditionally, villagers can only decorate their houses according to their social status. In contrast to the tongkonan that is full of colors and patterns. Laos traditional gable wall designs are simple, but the carvings are very intricate. The designs are traditional Laos patterns that are carved separately into three different shapes and each shape has its own unique pattern that is then attached to the gable wall of the roof. Furthermore, the gable walls in Thailand have a variety of designs which are the Sun radius design, Bai Prue gable (which are leaves-like patterns) and the most popularly used is the hatchling gable design which is commonly seen in the Thai Southern Buddhism houses. The front of the gable roof is decorated in a wooden structure where the hatchlings are carved on and the ventilation channels under the roof are carved into beautiful natural patterns such as floral and thai kranok patterns.