Cheewit Cheewa Home of Nature by Teerachai Leesuraplanon & Thitiphong Phoonthong

The Cheewit Cheewa Home of Nature, also known as the Sikhio Natural Agriculture Learning Center, was born from a vision by Dr. Mavin Dankul, who sought to expand the Project Approach model of learning beyond the classroom and into nature. Rooted in the philosophy of “From Seed to Table”, the initiative integrates soil restoration, water management, renewable energy, and zero-waste practices into a holistic program that nurtures sustainability and self-reliance. Designed by Teerachai Leesuraplanon and Thitiphong Phoonthong, the architecture embraces this mission, shaping an environment where built form and landscape are inseparably intertwined.

Learning Through Nature

The center redefines education as an immersive and borderless experience. Rather than confining students to enclosed classrooms, it extends learning into the open air, encouraging children and youth to develop life skills and environmental awareness directly through interaction with the land. Every element of the site becomes part of a living curriculum—gardens demonstrate food systems, water channels reveal ecological cycles, and architectural spaces themselves serve as teaching tools.

The project is located on former rice fields along the upper reaches of the Lam Takhong Canal, a vital waterway for the region. The presence of a traditional rahad vid nam—a locally crafted water wheel that still functions using natural energy—embodies the self-sufficiency and ingenuity of local traditions. This fertile landscape, capable of near year-round productivity, provides the foundation for a learning center where nature is not only the backdrop but the heart of the experience.

Climate-Responsive and Sustainable Design

At the core of the architectural strategy lies a commitment to low-energy, breathable design. Responding to Thailand’s tropical moist climate, the buildings employ passive cooling techniques that minimize reliance on mechanical systems. Cross-ventilation, shaded spaces, and semi-open areas help regulate temperatures naturally, ensuring comfort while reducing energy consumption.

This approach aligns seamlessly with the ethos of sustainability. Beyond minimizing resources, the architecture actively teaches by example—showing visitors that climate responsiveness can be achieved through thoughtful design rather than technological excess.

Equally important is the use of reclaimed timber, a material that not only carries ecological value but also embodies cultural memory. By reusing old wood, the project reduces the carbon footprint of material production while celebrating the enduring value of natural resources. The act of giving wood a second life becomes an architectural gesture that reinforces the project’s dedication to sustainable, circular practices.

Form, Space, and Material

The architectural identity of Cheewit Cheewa Home of Nature is shaped by three fundamental aspects: form, space, and material.

• Form: The buildings adopt low-pitched gable roofs, echoing vernacular traditions while establishing a respectful relationship with the surrounding landscape. Repetition of simple forms, oriented in alternating directions, creates a sense of rhythm and unity across the campus.

• Space: Semi-open areas dissolve the boundary between inside and outside, allowing natural light, breezes, and greenery to permeate daily activities. Classrooms, workshops, and gathering spaces are conceived as transitional zones that invite the environment into the learning process.

• Material: A palette of locally accessible materials roots the project in its context. Brick provides solidity, perforated blocks allow for ventilation, and reclaimed timber introduces warmth and ecological integrity. Together, these materials evoke a sense of familiarity while expressing a forward-looking commitment to sustainability.

The resulting composition is neither monumental nor ornamental; instead, it is practical, rhythmic, and deeply contextual, blending into the agricultural setting while offering a modern reinterpretation of local building traditions.

Architecture as a Teaching Tool

More than an enclosure for activities, the architecture itself becomes an educational instrument. Each design decision—from passive cooling strategies to material selection—demonstrates sustainable practices in action. Visitors and students are not only taught about environmental stewardship; they experience it directly through the spaces they inhabit.

In this way, the built environment communicates values of self-reliance, resourcefulness, and respect for nature. The center is a place where form and function align with pedagogy, where every brick, beam, and opening serves as part of a broader lesson in living harmoniously with the environment.

A Model for Sustainable Futures

Cheewit Cheewa Home of Nature stands as a model for how architecture can advance educational missions and ecological values simultaneously. It demonstrates that sustainability is not an abstract principle but a lived reality, achievable through thoughtful design, community integration, and respect for local traditions.

By weaving together vernacular wisdom, reclaimed materials, and climate-responsive strategies, the project creates an architecture that is as much about teaching as it is about sheltering. It shows that the future of education may not lie in high-tech classrooms but in spaces that reconnect children and communities to the land that sustains them.

Ultimately, the center is more than a school; it is a living landscape of learning, a place where architecture and agriculture converge to cultivate resilience, awareness, and harmony with nature.

Photography: Rungkit Charoenwat