A form of natural architecture built with environmentally friendly materials, earth construction provides indoor protection from outside temperature conditions. In Thailand, adobe brick that contains rice husk is the most widely used material in earth construction. It is important to consider the strength and moisture absorption capacity of adobe brick. This research focuses on the feasibility of using agricultural by-products such as rice husk and bagasse in adobe brick mixtures with a percentage replacement of 0, 1, 2, 3 and 6% by weight of materials. The study explores the level at which replacing rice husk and bagasse in adobe brick effects optimal compressive strength, shrinkage, thermal conductivity, and moisture absorption. The results provide a guideline for producing adobe brick containing agricultural by-products with improved strength and lower moisture absorption. Adobe brick with performance improved in these ways will be beneficial for developing low-cost architecture for local people and for building hotels and recreation facilities for the tourism industry.

Bagasse ash (BA) and rice husk ash (RHA) are by-products from electricity power plants. Ground calcium carbonate waste (GCW) is the by-product of the mining of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) in the color pigment manufacturing industry. Both BA and RHA are classified as low-quality pozzolanic materials, differing from GCW, which contains a high calcium oxide (CaO) content that leads to products equivalent to the hydration reaction. Therefore, GCW is likely able to improve the properties of self-consolidating concrete (SCC) incorporating BA and RHA. This paper discusses the production of green self-consolidating concrete (gSCC) and identifies the benefit of using GCW in gSCC prepared by triple combined GCW (10 and 20 wt%), BA (10, 20, and 30 wt%), and RHA (20 wt%). The results indicate that the majority of the gSCC retain acceptable flowability. The differences in the levels of gSCC substitution and the V-funnel flow results show general correlations with the increase in GCW. The gSCC prepared by 10 wt% GCW associated with 10 wt% BA and 20 wt% RHA was improved significantly. The filling and passing abilities of the gSCC were improved by using GCW. In addition, gSCC achieved mechanical property development and was able to minimize the consumption of OPC by up to 40%.

In Thailand, the concept and measurement of urban planning rely on conventional zoning, which includes land use, building usage, and open space ratio. Conventional zoning focuses on both the growth of buildings in terms of physical dimensions and their usability in lowland areas. The guidelines and measures used in urban planning do not reflect the spatial relationship of the community, as they have a less detailed design and place no emphasis on the identity of the district. Urban planning might not protect the sense of any given place, as it often uses a one-size-fits-all plan that is then applied to whole communities. Form-Based Codes (FBCs) are urban planning tools that are used to maximize land use, benefit the public, focus on creating a specific physical form, and design the development and public spaces in a way that matches the community’s vision. FBCs are the result of the cooperation between stakeholders, architects, urban planners, government agencies, and members of the local community who are willing to create a plan for their public space and to preserve the physical characteristics of the city. In this paper, we aimed to understand the relationship between various historical contexts and the FBCs using the case study of Phuket’s old town, which has a fusion of Sino–Portuguese architecture. Building form standards suitable for Phuket’s old town were created by comparing them to a baseline case that uses existing codes and regulations and using the FBCs’ components. FBCs have the potential to enhance the character and vibrancy of the historic area by improving façade design and preserving the sense of place and community pride. The results support the hypothesis that FBCs are able to supplement conventional zoning in historic districts. Recommendations for a local historic preservation commission and communities that are considering the adoption of FBCs for historic resources and districts are provided.

Among the major challenges facing the modern era of technological and industrial advancements are pollution and exponentially growing energy consumption. Pollution continues to be a menace affecting different aspects of life such as health, productivity, and comfort. This paper focuses on the elimination or reduction of sound pollution in buildings using cement-based boards made from pretreated coconut coir and oil palm fibers obtained from agricultural residues. The study includes an account of the preparation of fiber cement boards made from Portland cement Type 1, limestone powder, water, sand, and pretreated coconut coir and oil palm fibers at 5, 10, 15, and 20% by weight of powder materials, respectively, and a high-range water reducer in order to make sure that the natural materials would be spread in an even way throughout the specimens. Sound insulation tests were performed as key indicators of the performance of the fiber cement boards. It was found that an increase in the proportion of natural materials resulted in fiber cement boards with decreased density, compressive strength, and flexural strength. Furthermore, in relation to both physical and mechanical performance, the boards incorporating coconut fibers were superior to those incorporating oil palm fibers. With an increased proportion of natural fibers, sound insulation performance tended to improve. The boards prepared with coconut coir and oil palm fibers in this study yielded acceptable physical and mechanical properties and showed promise in relation to providing insulative protection against sound.