Paper short abstract:

This panel is concerned with the remaining of local roof tiles production of Pattani people, native Muslim Malays in southern Thailand, and ability to survive sustainably while the majority prefers the development towards modernization.

Paper long abstract:

This aim of this panel is to look up at the remaining of local roof tiles production of Pattani people, native Muslim Malays of southern Thailand, and ability to support their way of life while the majority of people develop towards modernization with preferable of modern product supplies and increasing of new style of construction materials.

Historically, Pattani has been rise up as a trading state by development of maritime contacts between India and China. Prosperity of Pattani can be observed through material cultures appearing in building construction of mosques, palaces, and especially densely houses in the city as a massive community. Focusing, the production of earthen baked flat rectangular roof tiles as part of building construction material has widespread used in common throughout the region for more than 400 years and become a unique vernacular of the region in the present day.

Influences of modernization lead to the increasing of new style of construction materials in the market in contrary to the declining of local earthen tiles. My observation for 25 years in this case have come across the struggle of these tile makers and found out how they manage their productions to go along with the limited market need. However, the rousing of modern concept in conservation of remaining traditional buildings either through the government policy or private sector is caused in demanding the product, resulting in sustaining this Muslim Malays' way of life and community.