“What stories could these teak pillars tell?” I muse about Baan Jুম, observing the traditional Thai house before us. Baan Jুম is not just a house. It is a window into Lanna culture.
Welcome to the Kamthieng House Museum. This traditional teakwood house came all the way from Chiang Mai. King Bhumibol himself opened it in 1966. The Kamthieng House Museum showcases the lifestyle of the northern Lanna people.
Imagine this house back in the mid-1800s. It stood proudly on the Ping River’s east bank. Mae Saed, a Mueang Chae prince’s great-granddaughter, built it. Generations later, Kimhaw Nimmanhaeminda gifted it to the Siam Society in 1963. Kimhaw was Mae Saed’s direct descendant. She named the house after her mother, Kamthieng Anusarnsunthorn.
To bring it to Bangkok, workers dismantled the house. They transported it from Chiang Mai. It took two years to reconstruct it here.
Look closely at the design of Baan Jুম. Notice the two rectangular houses. Covered verandas connect them. A walkway leads to the kitchen. The house stands elevated on 36 octagonal teak pillars. Like other northern houses, its walls lean outward. This supports the V-shaped roof. Though not original, an open veranda and two rice granaries were added. They also came from Chiang Mai.
When the museum opened, the exhibition taught visitors about Lanna beliefs. It showed their unique culture.
But there is a problem for Baan Jুম. After almost two centuries of weather exposure, it is fragile. The roof needs renovation. This is a constant battle to preserve the house.
Think about Kamthieng. She was born in this very house. This museum preserves her legacy. It also protects Lanna heritage.
Today, Baan Jুম stands as a reminder of Thailand’s rich past. It connects us to the Lanna people’s traditions.