Cover picture: Black House
Those arriving by car can park directly opposite the museum
Admission costs 80 baht per person. At first glance, the whole thing seems quite unspectacular
But there are interesting constructions hidden inside, everything suddenly seems huge!
Numerous dark wooden houses adorn the extensive grounds
Each cottage was built individually and contains different objects
Here's an insight into the artist's "preference" - no idea what to do with it, but it's art!
No comment 🙂
All buildings are idyllically embedded in the Thai nature
The roofs of the houses in particular are very interestingly designed. They originate from the ancient Lanna architecture.
Simple thatched-roof houses have been erected on logs, with whimsical animal skulls on display
We also see some semi-circular stone domes that resemble small pavilions
Soft singing could be heard from a dome, which attracted many visitors (including us). We listened to a private concert, which was simply wonderful in this sound setting!
Even though there were some VERY strange exhibits, the day at the Black House was a pleasant change from the other highlights in Chiang Rai!
Costs
80 THB p.p.
(≈ 2,11 EUR)
Opening hours
Daily 09:00 - 17:00
Black House
The Baan Dam Museummore commonly known as the Black Houseis another art project in the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai. Contrary to what one might think, this is not just a single house, but a huge complex with more than 40 individual buildings and partly very bizarre exhibition objects. The exterior façade of the houses is uniformly finished in a dark color scheme mainly in black and dark brown, from which the nickname "Black House" resulted.
The museum was founded in 1976 by the Thai artist Thawan Duchanee and is designed similar to the Blue Temple and the White Temple constantly supplemented with further building elements. The architectural style is based on the Lanna architecture and fascinates with traditionally pointed roofs, artistic wooden constructions, carvings and large, open exhibition halls. What makes this place special are the bizarre exhibitsthat one would not necessarily expect at first glance.
In some halls there are animal remains such as skulls, horns, bones, hides or reptile skins. The art is found in the combination of these with other materials such as wood, metal or in the form of painting. Duchanee wanted his objects to make people think: About human nature and about our own consumption. The gloomy aesthetic was also deliberately chosen - it illustrates the phases of Life and death, from Beauty to transience. Fun fact: The artist apparently also had a soft spot for the male genitals. Throughout the complex, there are objects and figures with clear Phallus imageswhich can hardly be overlooked (!) ... see picture gallery.
The Black House is located approx. 10 kilometers north of Chiang Rai and draws annually over 300,000 visitors to. If you would like to visit the museum in peace and quiet, you should at least 1-2 hours Plan to spend some time here, as there really is a lot to discover. The extensive area offers long walks through the green nature, many shady spots, photo spots and a small ice cream parlor. In addition to the many houses and art galleries, there is also a souvenir store and free toilets.
Note: Even if the appearance resembles a Buddhist temple, this is not a religious site, but a place of worship. modern place shaped by artistic freedom. So if you want to visit something a little more unusual in addition to the typical sights in Chiang Rai, this is the place for you!
Places of interest in the vicinity
Map
More Chiang Rai highlights
Blue Temple
The Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten) is one of the most visited temples in northern Thailand. Its unique design with a bright blue exterior façade and golden decorations attracts over a million visitors every year. In Thai culture, the colors stand for purity, wisdom and the divine. The murals inside also shine in magnificent shades of blue and purple. The highlight of the Blue Temple is the large seated Buddha in the main temple hall (Viharn), whose posture symbolizes the moment of enlightenment, inner peace and harmony.
Choui Fong tea plantation
The Choui Fong tea plantation is located in the north of Thailand, just under an hour's drive from Chiang Rai. This picture-book location is a popular excursion destination for all nature and tea lovers and should not be missed on any tour of northern Thailand! Due to the altitude, the fields in the north are ideal for growing various types of tea such as green and black tea. With a cultivation area of over 1,000 rai (= 1.6 square kilometers), the Choui Fong plantation is one of the largest tea producers in the whole of Thailand.
White Temple
Wat Rong Kung, better known as the White Temple, is a magnificent work of art combining traditional Thai architecture with a white façade and hundreds of thousands of mirror ornaments that glitter in the sunlight and symbolically reflect the wisdom of Buddha. This spectacle of light and spirituality is truly unique in Thailand. With over one million visitors a year, the temple is now one of northern Thailand's most famous landmarks and a must-see attraction in Chiang Rai!
Wat Huay Pla Kang
Mistakenly known as the „Big Buddha of Chiang Rai“, Wat Huay Pla Kang embodies a giant statue of Guan Yin - the Chinese goddess of mercy; and is therefore not an image of Buddha. Behind the walk-in statue is a unique building concept of a temple that combines spirituality, purity and aesthetics. The temple is located about 8 kilometers outside the city center in a rural area. The respected monk Phra Ajarn Phob Chok had the impressive building erected on a hill in 2005. The 69-metre statue of Guan Yin (in Thai: „Chao Mae Kuan Im“) is easily recognizable in many places in and around Chiang Rai.
