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Baan Dam Museum by Thawan Duchanee @Chiangrai | Chiangrai

Baan Dam Museum
The nearby White Temple (wat rong khun) is much better known to tourists and is often described as “heavenly”. The Black House is its opposite, a construction of darkness, filled with death. But it isn’t really a “Hell Temple”, and it isn’t designed to be evil or frightening at all. Come here to see an extraordinary showcase of meaningful art that leaves a powerful impression on every visitor.
The main building is the largest and most photographed. At first glance, it looks like a traditional Lanna-style Buddhist temple, from its external structure to its statues and carvings the Buddha and naga serpents. Yet the architect changed course from the norm in a few subtle and surreal ways, giving the whole building a frightening aura. The gables are steep, like a haunted house, with sharp metal blades at the tips. The face of the building stabs upwards above you like a threat as you walk towards it.
Contrary to what some people sometimes think when visiting it, this place is not a temple but a set of 40 black houses (not all black actually) created by Thawan Duchanee.