Signed on 21 September 2026, a PEEB ASEAN investment grant will help the Savannakhet Museum protect its collections, including the recently discovered Nong Hua Thong Treasure, from heat, humidity and floods, while using 67% less energy than a design relying on air conditioning. thanks to energy efficiency measures.
The Savannakhet Museum is preparing to welcome the Nong Hua Thong Treasure, a recently discovered collection of gold and silver objects. Keeping it safe requires a stable indoor climate that the current building cannot provide. On 21 September 2026, PEEB ASEAN signed an investment grant of €330,000 with the Government of Laos, represented by the Ministry of Finance, to support the bioclimatic renovation that will make this possible, including energy efficiency measures. The grant runs until the end of 2028 and comes with technical assistance during the construction phase, following the support provided at design stage.
The grant sits alongside AFD’s grant for a broader project on cultural heritage in Champassak and Savannakhet.
A building that needs to adapt to the climate
The museum occupies an old building that is not adapted to current climate conditions. Indoor temperatures rise sharply in the hot season, and recent floods have put both the building and its collections at risk. These conditions are insufficient for the safe conservation of the treasure.
Keeping the building cool without air conditioning
With PEEB ASEAN’s support, the renovation design combines several energy efficiency measures: natural ventilation, to improve thermal comfort for visitors and staff, with humidity management suited to the conservation of artifacts. The design also addresses flooding: a retention pond will be created on the site, and measures will prevent backflow through the drainage system.
The project is expected to deliver a stable indoor climate without air conditioning. Compared with an equivalent design that relies on air conditioning, it should use 67% less energy.
A partnership between Lao and French actors
The project is implemented by the Department of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Savannakhet Province (DICT-SVK) and the École Française d’Extrême Orient (EFEO), for the benefit of the Savannakhet Museum and the Government of Laos. The renovation design was drawn up by a team of French partners, APA Incorporate, Asma Architects and Melon Rouge Agency, who worked with PEEB ASEAN’s support on the bioclimatic solutions described above.