The spatial arrangement of house environment and importance of Charn (semi-outdoor terrace) for older adults: case study of Nonmuang community, Khon Kaen Province

This paper aims to clarify the spatial arrangement of house in Nonmuang Community, Khon Kaen, Thailand. As Thailand moves toward a super-aged society, understanding how everyday domestic spaces support aging in place is increasingly important, especially in rural-peri-urban communities. Based on field observation (walkthrough surveys, photographs, and rapid sketches) accounts from 30 households, two existing house types. Type A mixed-material houses and Type B contemporary concrete houses were identified, and daily-use patterns of key spaces were analyzed. During daytime, older adults most frequently used semi-outdoor terraces (Charn) and toilets, whereas at night the living area/living room and bedrooms were the primary settings. More than half of households (53%) reported daytime use of Charn for sitting, resting, eating, and light activities, while around 73% reported that older adults slept in the first-floor living area at night to reduce mobility burden and improve accessibility. These findings position Charn as a multipurpose transitional space supporting everyday routines and informal caregiving, and suggest practical implications for incremental improvement of rural-peri-urban housing, including safer thresholds/level changes, accessible connections between living areas and Charn, and shorter, safer routes to toileting spaces.