Ancient Village in Hongsa

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Ancient Village

Project of the Ancient Village

As outlined above, we are will be buying and restoring traditional Lao wooden houses, mostly built in the local hardwood, Padauk Rosewood (in China, they make the "Ming" style rosewood chairs and furniture from this heavy and precious species). The buildings will be grouped around the Clinic, forming an Ancient Village complex. Each building will house a particular handicraft production, as still to be seen in other traditional villages: the stupendous Lao weaving, woodwork, elephant-dung paper production, and others. There will be village life and laughter, orchards, ponds, ducks, geese...and elephants!
It is our hope that you will assist us in this project and provide funds for one of these houses. Prices are very reasonable indeed: for a fully-restored building they vary from US$ 4.000 - 10.000, also depending on the degree of "modern comforts and hygiene" one wants to install.
Our Lao architects can add to them and modify at will, all wiithin the classic Lao canon: verandahs, gazebos. bathrooms etc.
 The restored house will bear a rosewood plaque with the name of the donor and will be referred to  daily by that name, so in that way you will be "present" all the time. Physically, you will have staying rights in the building for up to 3 weeks a year, or delegate to your friends or children. At this point we are in the construction mode but we add a picture of the Founder's rosewood house in Luang Prabang to show our  style concept. 
Imagine waking up in "your" Oriental dream house, encircled by a centuries-old city wall , with an elephant sidling up to your second-floor verandah, picking you up for your morning ride... All this in the context of helping our trusting, and dependant  animal friends, the noble Elephant!

 

 

Below some suggestions of available houses, please contact us at oliverbandmann@help-elephants-laos.org .... for further information.

 

 

Object A

Before

Proposed

After (Nearing Completion, note the rosewood-shingle roof!)

Description : 12-colum traditional house, now under construction, with veranda, bathroom + kitchen extensions

 

 

Object B

Before

Proposal (Sold)

Large traditional double house, on 32(!) rosewood columns, original wooden roof. Prestigious building

Price fully restored US$ 8.500-10.000

 

 

Object C

Before

Proposal (Sold)

Two-storey shophouse, poor condition but excellent old flooring. Needs additions.

Price fully restored and extended US$ 6.500

 

 

Object D
 

Before

Proposal

Large traditional single house, on 24 rosewood columns, nice frework, original roof.

Price fully restored US$ 8.000-9.000

 

 

Object E
 

Before

Proposal

Medium-sized old building, very poor condition, requiring extensive restoration

Price fully restored US$ 7.000-8.000

 

 

Object T : We may even be able to acquire an ancient wooden temple building, exquisite, picture and prices on request

 

Note : Sponsors will get a Donor's Certificate and a beautiful scale model in authentic materials, in addition to a rosewood plaque inscribed with their name on "their building".