Why Thais don’t build underground

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Transcript

00:00Have you ever seen a house like this before in Thailand?

00:03And have you ever wondered why Thais don't build underground? So here is why.

00:07There are many types of Thai houses, each categorized by region with a unique style.

00:13One of the most common styles in the central region is made of hardwood.

00:17Its most distinctive feature is that this type of house stands on columns raised high above the

00:23ground, leaving an empty space beneath. This is because Thailand is an agricultural country

00:29and the central region is prone to flooding during the rainy season.

00:32The columns are not perpendicular but slightly inclined for stability, preventing the house

00:38from sinking into the muddy ground after the rain. You might wonder why Thais chose to settle

00:43in areas where flooding is a whim. Well, as an agricultural country,

00:47Thailand benefits from the floods, which brings minerals to the land acting as natural fertilizer.

00:53Also, waste houses protect people from poisonous animals that may come with the flood water.