Surin, Thailand

While most museums prioritize the display of objects, the Elephant Museum also aims to convey the voice of the Kui and their elephants; to communicate the unique familial bonds between them and to transmit the devastating impacts of habitat destruction. The building’s distinct footprint and profile stand out on the barren site. Sloping and interlocking in an almost labyrinthine layout, the museum’s curved walls vary in height, their spacing seems to be scaled to the size of a Thai elephant. The museum architecturally translates the spatial rhythms of the elephants lives, as they go from the shelter of their homes to the forested pathways that lead to bathing rivers, and then to muddy dirt playgrounds. Unique courtyard spaces open off of the four exhibition galleries, each distinct in shape and size. Some contain little ponds while others are enlivened by reddish earth. A material perspective is not inconsequential. The museum is built from over 480,0000 handmade clay bricks, fired locally using a longstanding technique. The construction process bolstered the local economy, providing income and jobs, also valorizing the material. In this sense, the material decision reinforce the raison d’etre of the Elephant Museum: it is meant to “empower the Kui, the elephants, and the people of Surin..[e]ncouraging them to take pride in their heritage, and restoring the dignity of their beloved elephants once again. #kidsoceanworld #thailandmarkets #themepark#zoo#nationalpark#lakes