SEOUL DESIGN AWARD

Elephant World is a project that began in 2015 in Surin Province, Thailand.

The Kui people of Surin have a history of raising elephants that is several centuries old. For the Kui, the elephant is a special animal that, socially or traditionally, is like a member of the family.

Surin once had a large forest and rich soil. In the modern era, however, it suffered from indiscriminate cutting down of trees due to rapid economic growth, resulting in drought and a lack of food.

Over the past several decades, with no food or means of making a living, the Kui and their elephants were forced to go to tourist capitals such as Bangkok and Pattaya to sell souvenirs or beg.

Elephant World aims to bring the Kui and the elephants back to their home and offer an environment in which residents can make an adequate living. Residents are given jobs and/or taught how to earn an income. Elephant World has been featured in the media and is today a well-known tourist attraction.

The project was begun in Baan Ta Klang Village, the oldest “elephant village” (over 400 years old), which was an abandoned forest reserve. Bricks were made with the dirt dug up to make an artificial pond. And there is also a museum on the village’s history and its raising of elephants.

There is a Kui village along the boundary of Elephant World as well as an elephant hospital and land for growing elephant feed. There is also a Buddhist temple with a graveyard for both humans and elephants. Facilities newly built in 2020 include three by prominent designer Boonserm Premthada: the Cultural Courtyard, Elephant Museum, and an observation tower.