Profile

Bung Ree (บังสาหรี๋) is one of Thai Spirit Life’s most valued instructors and a respected bamboo craftsman from Southern Thailand. His story reflects resilience, traditional wisdom, and a lifelong commitment to sustainable living.

Born into a modest family, Bang Ree began working with bamboo more than 20 years ago, weaving bamboo panels used in traditional house structures. At the time, it was simple work that provided only a modest income—but it laid the foundation for a remarkable journey.

A turning point came in 2004, following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. While delivering his bamboo products, Bang Ree was stopped on the road and informed that the tsunami had devastated nearby coastal areas. Someone noticed the bamboo panels on his truck and immediately recognized their potential for emergency shelter construction. That unexpected encounter led to an order of 400 bamboo panels to help rebuild homes for families who had lost everything.

From that moment, Bung Ree’s work expanded far beyond weaving. He began designing and constructing complete bamboo structures—homes, community spaces, and handcrafted furniture—using locally sourced, renewable materials. His work embodies an ecological approach to building: practical, beautiful, and deeply respectful of the environment.

Today, Bung Ree is widely respected throughout the local community for his craftsmanship, environmental vision, and dedication to sharing knowledge. His work supports sustainable living by promoting bamboo as a renewable, low-impact alternative to conventional construction materials. Through his projects, he helps preserve local building traditions while creating practical solutions that work in harmony with nature.

His expertise led to the creation of Bamboo Kingdom, a unique bamboo accommodation space in Ao Luek that showcases the beauty and potential of ecological design. He now leads a skilled team and serves as one of Thai Spirit Life’s most valued instructors, guiding our eco-construction internship programs with patience, creativity, and hands-on expertise.

Beyond internships, Bung Ree also offers daily and weekly bamboo workshops for learners of all levels—from complete beginners discovering foundational weaving techniques to experienced builders seeking to deepen their practical knowledge of advanced bamboo construction.

For Bung Ree, bamboo is more than a material—it is a way to build responsibly, create sustainably, and pass on knowledge that strengthens both communities and the environment.