When Baanlaesuan Met the Founder of Paa Namsai: From a Childhood Dream to a Community That Respects Nature
Updated: Sep 15
At one point, Baanlaesuan sat down with the founder of Paa Namsai and told the story of this place through an article titled:
“Meet the Founder of Paa Namsai — a Well-being Community That Hopes People Can Live Together with Respect for Nature.”
The article did not simply describe what Paa Namsai has in terms of homes, forest, or water. It looked back at childhood memories, the dream of a “small house in a big forest,” experiences from business and social work, and the intention to create a place where people can live with nature and with one another in a spirit of respect.
From Childhood Memories to the Dream of a Home in the Forest
Baanlaesuan describes how part of the thinking behind Paa Namsai began with the founder’s childhood.
Memories of an agricultural family, a small house in a garden, growing vegetables, keeping animals, and a simple way of life — together with the impression left by the book “Little House in the Big Woods” — gradually shaped a dream of one day having a home surrounded by nature and peace.
As he grew older, experiences in real estate and social work expanded that dream beyond simply creating a home for himself.
The question gradually changed from:
“How can we have a home in the forest?”
to:
“How can we create a place where many people can live together with quality of life?”
Paa Namsai Did Not Begin with the Idea of Selling Land
In the interview, the founder explains that Paa Namsai did not begin with the goal of creating a conventional real-estate development for general sale.
It began as a personal dream of creating a place where friends and people close to him could live together.
As the idea evolved over time, Paa Namsai began welcoming members from outside that original circle, while keeping one important principle:
It was never only about who could afford to buy. It was also about who was suited to the values and way of life of the place.
This became the basis for the idea of talking with and selecting prospective members before a sale.
A Small Home in a Big Forest
Baanlaesuan records that the founder began purchasing land in the Ban Khlong Bang Tan area in 1989 and had a fairly clear vision from the beginning: water and nature should remain a significant part of the site, while residential use would occupy only part of the overall area.
From land that had once been rice fields and sugarcane fields, lakes and canals were gradually created, open spaces were laid out, and trees were planted continuously over time.
The trees were not planted to create a polished ornamental landscape. The intention was to let them grow in a more natural way, with attention to diversity and suitability for the site.
More than 36 years later, what began as an idea has gradually become a real landscape of forest, water, and greenery.
See the Life and Atmosphere of Paa Namsai
From Experience in a Large Development to Choosing the Right People
Another point highlighted by Baanlaesuan is the founder’s earlier experience with a large housing development.
When many people live together, management challenges also tend to increase.
That experience became an important lesson: if the goal is to create a peaceful community that can continue to live well together over the long term, choosing the people who become members is just as important as designing the physical environment.
Baanlaesuan used the heading “Looking for People of the Same Tribe.”
In the context of Paa Namsai, this does not mean people who must think or live in exactly the same way.
It refers instead to people who share certain basic values, such as:
Respect for nature
Respect for the differences of others
Appreciation for tranquility and privacy
Responsibility for how one’s actions affect those nearby
A willingness to live in a community without placing only one’s own interests at the center
Respect for People, Respect for Nature
Baanlaesuan clearly notes that one of the key principles in selecting members at Paa Namsai is to consider both respect for the humanity of others and respect for nature.
This is why purchasing land at Paa Namsai is not treated as an ordinary property transaction alone.
Conversation before making a decision is part of the process, allowing both the prospective buyer and Paa Namsai to consider whether the values and way of life of the place are a good fit for one another.
Over the long term, the purpose is not to make every member the same, but to allow differences to coexist without damaging the things everyone values together.
The Heart of Paa Namsai
When Baanlaesuan asked what the “heart” of Paa Namsai is, the founder spoke about the intention to create a well-being community with both a good environment and people who are able to live together appropriately.
Another important idea expressed through the design of the entrance gate at Paa Namsai is:
Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity
The meaning is not that everyone must live the same way, but that individual differences can be respected within a framework of equality, personal rights, and responsibility toward others.
This idea continues to be reflected in the culture and community framework of Paa Namsai today.
From a Residential Community to a Place for Well-being and Learning
Toward the end of the article, Baanlaesuan also discusses the founder’s vision for Paa Namsai to continue developing toward well-being-related activities and businesses, as well as becoming a place for learning that can connect with surrounding communities.
That idea remains relevant to Paa Namsai today.
Paa Namsai therefore does not see the site only as a place to live. It also opens opportunities for activities, learning, and businesses that align with quality of life, nature, and community.
Explore Business, Learning, and Wellness Opportunities at Paa Namsai
When External Media Helps Tell the Story of Paa Namsai
The Baanlaesuan article is valuable because it offers an outside perspective on how Paa Namsai came into being.
It shows that Paa Namsai was not shaped by physical design alone.
It also grew from memory, experience, belief, and decades of real-life experimentation by its founder.
For Paa Namsai, the article is therefore more than publicity.
It is another record that helps people see that behind the forest, water, homes, and landscape lies a foundation built around people, nature, and living together.
Read the Full Story from Baanlaesuan
If you would like to read the full interview, including the founder’s childhood memories, the origins of Paa Namsai, the thinking behind planting the forest, the member-selection process, and the vision for a well-being community, you can read the original article from Baanlaesuan here:
Explore the Concept & Philosophy of Paa Namsai
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