The Wat Pa Maha Chedio Kaew temple has found a way to bottle-up Nirvana, literally. The temple, which sits in Thailand’s Sisaket province, roughly 370 miles northeast of Bangkok is made of more than a million recycled glass bottles. True to its nickname, “Wat Lan Kuad” or “Temple of Million Bottles” features glass bottles throughout the premises of the temple, including the crematorium, surrounding shelters, and yes – even the toilets. There’s an estimated 1.5 million recycled bottles built into the temple, and as you might have guessed, they are committed to recycling more. After all, the more bottles they get, the more buildings they are able to construct.
The bottle-collection-turned-building started in 1984, when the monks used them to decorate their shelters. The shiny building material attracted more people to donate more bottles, until eventually they had enough to build the temple standing today. Bottle caps are also integrated as decorative mosaic murals. Going beyond use of glass as a sustainable building material, the bottle bricks don’t fade, let natural light into the space and are surprisingly easy to maintain. So if you’re looking to find Nirvana in a bottle, you might want to consider making a stop at the Wat Pa Maha Kaew Temple.
Via NotCot
17 Responses to “Thai Temple Built From One Million Recycled Bottles”
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Nice to know of this. I live in Thailand myself, and I never even heard of this temple.
Wow, that is truly amazing. These idiot corporations try to cut the bottom line, but at the customers expense! What a joke!
Jiff
http://www.anonymity.cz.tc
[...] In Thailand, there stands a Wat Lan Kuad, a temple constructed from 1.5 million bottles. Even the toilets are formed from the recycled glass. Check out more detailed flicks over at Inhabitat. [...]
Wow, That is cool. I can see a whole new revolution in building, Instead of a staw bales house I am totally building a glass bottle bale house. What happens if one breaks?
I have actually been to this temple in and it is amazing how many bottles are used. The designer came up with a great concept that I am sure is bringing in plenty of donations!
Awesome.
i have also been to this temple…its amazing!
Wonderful designing – the word \’recycling\’ may not apply for this since bottles are used \’as it is\’.
Very nice.
Juliebootie – what province is it in? I’d like to visit it .
[...] is an image of a Thai temple built from recycled bottles. With a bit of lateral thinking, many things laid to waste could be [...]
Wow, that is absolutely amazing!
I hope to visit it one day.
How can I obtain copies of these glorious pictures? I will be glad to pay. Thanks. Joe
good site . i like it.
don’t do this near forest !!!
[...] Thai Temple Built From One Million Recycled Bottles [...]
visiting bangkok in oct will be at Kohchang …can we visit this temple enroute Bkk to kohchang . Please advise Thanx .
Deepa nebb
I *hiccup* would like 2 dedikate dis temple *hiccup* to the peeple of Tie-land. *BURRRRRRRRRRRRRPP***