Houses at Golden Buddha come in various styles and sizes. But all are united by a common theme. They are harmonious with the surrounding nature and with each other.

The typical module for a one-bedroom bungalow is a 4 x 4 meter bedroom with a bathroom in the back (4 x 3) and a veranda (4 x 3) in the front. This can be done as a rectangle or as an L-shape, which is also nice. (Baan Gaby) If you want two bedrooms, two of these units about 6 metes apart provide privacy and give flexibility in renting to paying guests, who can rent either one or both of your units. Some members add to this a separate open sala for hanging out, cooking and eating. (Baan Tugae sala)

It is also possible to adapt a Thai-style house (Thai-style house) with a large central living area, and a loft for extra sleeping area. Where roofs are steep, lofts are often a good way to use otherwise wasted space.

Another popular model is a single construction with one bedroom on each side of a central open breezeway/living area, which extends to an uncovered sundeck in front. (See Baan Woll and Simple but nice.)
 
     
- There should be as many bathrooms as sleeping rooms.  
- There should not be too much open wood deck. There can be some, but keep in mind that in monsoon conditions all woods except teak will deteriorate very fast, and these days we can't afford teak.  
- To improve rentals, bedroom units should be separate enough that they can be rented to people who don't know each other.  
     
 
- Thatch is cool and clean. It is inexpensive too but needs to be replaced every three to four years. (Baan Chang)
  
- An inexpensive large tile made out of compressed cement is also cheap and practical and comes in green and a natural brick red. (See Baan Ole)  
- Terra cotta tiles are more traditional and up-scale. But they are much more expensive and subject to leaks if the roof is too steep.  
     
And most members opt for the beautiful louvered teak shutters going right down to the floor for folding doors as well as side windows.

A house can be built in 3-5 months. The simpler the design the better. Complex designs are very difficult to implement on a remote island in the Andaman Sea, and management and procurement costs escalate.

As of 2002, a simple two-bedroom house could be built for 1.5 million baht (US$35,000), but a more complex design can cost up to twice as much.
 
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