“Holy Crab”! It is very rewarding to see St Xavier’s Church being featured in a twelve pages article by the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (‘ASA’, Thailand’s RIBA equivalent) written by Nathanich Chaidee. The article, illustrated by the photographs Panoramic Studio, highlights the project’s blend of Karen carpentry skills and contemporary design as it was built by the Catholic community in the attributed border between Myanmar and Thailand. The Crab gimmick, an initial concept for the project, also refers to St Xavier’s miracle when, on the verge of death in a shipwreck in Molucas, the saint was guided to safety by a crab holding a crucifix.
However, wood is king here. If you want to look at the very well-edited journal published by ASA with remarkable timber architectural works in Thailand:
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/68499899/asa-journal-14-2023