Cultural identity, local wisdom and sustainability of bamboo in forming vernacular architecture: a case study of Bang Chak and Khlong Noi communities, Mueang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Bamboo is a culturally significant native material in Thailand, expressing local identity, indigenous wisdom, and sustainability through vernacular architecture. This research aims to study the indigenous knowledge of using bamboo in the formation of vernacular houses in Bang Chak and Khlong Noi communities, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, where the use of bamboo has declined in recent years. Data were collected through interviews, field surveys, and analysis of six case-study houses, guided by the concepts of cultural identity, local wisdom, and sustainability across environmental, social, and economic dimensions. Findings show that Phak bamboo woven walls embody local know-how suited to the region’s hot-humid, flood-prone lowland context by promoting natural ventilation and helping regulate moisture. Bamboo construction also supports sustainability in three ways: environmentally, as an abundant, low-impact, locally sourced material; socially, through intergenerational transfer of craftsmanship embedded in everyday life; and economically, via community-based resource management and affordable production of bamboo materials and woven panels that enable low-cost repair and reduce construction expenses. The study concludes that the use of bamboo not only enhances the sustainability of vernacular architecture but also provides a pathway for conserving and integrating bamboo into contemporary architectural design in the future.