The Urban Image Conservation and Development of Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Old Town Community in Thailand

Nakhon Si Thammarat Old Town Community dated a thousand years old from four eras of settlement development. The community is located on an ancient beach ridge that stands until the present day. It also has an image of a community that is unique to any city. Today the community is rapidly expanding, so the importance of the old town’s various elements has been diminished. The research objectives are to analyze Nakhon Si Thammarat Old Town Community’s image and landscape and provide suggestions to preserve and develop the community’s image. The methodology is theoretical concepts of the image of the city, urban landscape, historic urban landscape, and urban conservation, including field surveys to identify problems and the community’s awareness. Visual assessments and mapping were also undertaken. Based on the study, the urban conceptual framework emphasizes the five elements of physical perception, whereas the cultural landscape concept focuses on the physical perception of the community’s core components and sub-elements that express specificity of the district, including traditional custom, which is intangible culture and a landscape element as well. The analysis of urban image reveals that Nakhon Si Thammarat Old Town Community consists of the path in the area with Ratchadamnoen Road, Karom Road and Pattanakarn Khukwang Road as the main routes, the edge of the community divided by natural boundaries, which are various rivers and by man-made boundaries, which are canals and the old city’s embankments, and the unique district, such as Tha Wang Community, Khaek Market Community, and Nakhon Si Thammarat Old Town. The node or activity center is, for example, business activities in Tha Wang Community, Khaek Market Community and Hua It Market Community, and the tourism activities in the old community area around Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan Temple. The prominent landmark from the past to the present is Phra Borommathat Stupda. In addition, the unique physical elements in the old town are groups of large trees. Suggestions on conservation and development are to create awareness of secondary routes to reduce congestion of the main roads and connect to other attractions; to develop the old town’s border from four eras for clearer perception; to promote the main activities within each district; and to have measures to control the height, billboards, old buildings’ styles, and new buildings representing each district’s uniqueness that will not obscure the perception of the community’s landmarks.

Green Infrastructure Development in Urban Areas: Case Studies of Samutsakhon, Krathumbaen and Banphaeo Municipalities in Samut Sakhon Province

Though the development of green infrastructure in parks in Samut Sakhon province has been continuously implemented, there are still no research studies that have explicitly demonstrated the parks’ potential, nor any public opinions toward the development of urban green infrastructure in the parks that would be productive for the planning to efficiently improve and provide urban green infrastructure. As a result, this study had the following objectives: 1) To analyze the potential and networks of urban green infrastructure in parks in Samut Sakhon province, 2) To analyze the satisfaction of using the services and requirements of the urban green infrastructure development in the parks in Samut Sakhon province, and 3) To propose development guidelines in urban green infrastructure for the parks of Samut Sakhon province. The research instruments comprised a questionnaire, and the data were analyzed by using a scalogram. The results found that high-potential parks were not large in size, but they had all the complete components, as well as green infrastructure featured in the attributes of patch, matrix, and mosaic. Nevertheless, the green infrastructure development featured in the attribute of the corridor had disappeared in several sites of the green infrastructure in the parks. Likewise, the green networks of the parks, specifically those in the high-potential category, were not successive by walking. For this reason, the people were mostly satisfied with the convenient accessibility of the parks, but there were the requirements of paving the footpath, improving the landscape, and adding a variety of activities in the parks. Therefore, the development guidelines of urban green infrastructure in the parks should formulate more areas in the attribute of the corridor at the riverside and on the streets, conserve and increase the park areas by allowing public participation in the management, as well as apply urban planning measures to obtain the park area. In addition, a footpath and bike lane should be safely constructed in the high-potential parks. Simultaneously, the landscape should be adjusted in the low- and moderate-potential parks by launching pilot projects in the parks of the governmental agencies.

Current Status of the Management of Plant Protection Product Containers in Cho Moi District, An Giang Province, Vietnam

Every year, thousands of tons of plant protection product (PPP) containers are indiscriminately discharged into the environment as toxic waste that has a negative impact on the land, water, and air environment as well as public health. This study surveyed the use of PPPs in rice cultivation, and the generation of hazardous waste (HW) when using pesticides, specifically pesticide packaging and containers in Long Kien and Long Dien B communes, Cho Moi district, An Giang province, Vietnam. Data collection was conducted through direct interviews, mainly collecting personal information of farmers in the surveyed area, the current situation with regard to pesticide use, container management, environmental awareness, and proposals for hazardous waste management from the farmers’ perspectives. The results show that local farmers are aware of the harmful effects of pesticide containers, but they are not able to make use of effective methods of collecting and treating the waste containers properly. Based on the survey results, several solutions are proposed for managing HW in order to reduce environmental pollution from the use of pesticides, minimize the impacts of HW on people's health, and contribute to local sustainable development.

A Study of the Principles of Three Major Sects for Creating Buddhist Sacred Places

This article aims to establish the principles for the creation of Buddhist sacred places based on primary sources of the three major sects, namely, Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna, and studied architecture based on promising secondary sources through case studies. The stated research question is to understand the interaction among Buddhist principles, human activities, and Buddhist architecture in order to develop the criteria for creating Buddhist sacred places in the context of the modern world. The results indicate that criteria should be considered in two aspects. First, a method is required to characterize the context and environment that promotes the practice of virtues such as concentration and wisdom, resulting in mental development. Second, and a method is needed for characterization of the context and activities performed that are appropriate for spiritual cultivation. The proposed criteria offer appropriate methods for developing sacred places in various societies, and contexts comprising any circumstances.

Understanding Thai Urban Pedestrian Culture During Noon Break: How Sidewalk Users Experience the Walking Infrastructure in Bangkok, Thailand

The noon break or lunch hour in Bangkok’s central business district (CBD) is when pedestrians wander around for various activities and purposes, in addition to having a meal, within a limited time frame. It is the only break from their daily working routines for energy recovery or socializing, which, in turn, increases readiness to continue working in the afternoon. Commercial activities preferred by pedestrians during this break contribute to increased economic activity. Since pedestrian behavior depends on the cultural context, this research aims to understand Thai urban pedestrian culture that benefits the public, both socially and economically, and to investigate pedestrians’ experience of the physical quality of their walking infrastructure, reflecting their preferences. According to the information gained from observation, a field survey of four hundred thirty observations, and descriptive statistics, the urban pedestrian culture in the CBD of Bangkok is a combination of various activities related to a way of life; 69.4% and 44.9% of observed pedestrians have secondary and tertiary purposes. These multi-purpose trips during lunch hours include having meals, shopping, recovery from work, socializing, and taking care of business or running errands. The routine of lunch outings declined only slightly after the start of the pandemic in early 2020 compared to the pre-pandemic level (81.8% compared to 94.9%). Socializing has strong presence in the culture; 90.5% of group outings occur at least once or twice a week. On the physical side, the walking infrastructure, mainly comprising sidewalks, is used for circulation and as a place for social and economic settings. Using hierarchical cluster analysis, pedestrians’ concerns about the physical environment were divided into five groups, as follows: Cluster 1, people concerned about thermal comfort, surface conditions, and sidewalk obstructions. Cluster 2, people concerned about thermal comfort and walking distance. Cluster 3, people concerned about level changes and walking distance. Cluster 4, people concerned about surface conditions and sidewalk obstructions. Lastly, cluster 5, people concerned about sidewalk obstructions, traffic safety, and level changes. In conclusion. significant problems experienced or causing concern to pedestrians include sidewalk obstructions of flow due to insufficient width of the walking space as well as blockages caused by utility infrastructure, or social or economic activities, walking distance, surface conditions of sidewalks, level changes, thermal comfort, and traffic safety, respectively. These experiences and concerns reflect pedestrians’ preference for better quality of walking infrastructure. Therefore, inducing walkability is a promising physical strategy for promoting and sustaining Thai urban pedestrian culture.

Landscape Luminaire Design for Part of the Conservation of Chudhadhuj Royal Residence, Sichang Island

Chudhadhuj Royal Residence is a historically significant place, located on Si Chang island where a vast landscape area covers both coastal and mountainous areas. Its context connects natural landscape and culture which can be termed a cultural landscape in a holistic. The researcher would like to describe the link between the design criteria and the concepts of the cultural heritage conservation and some identities of the place to meet the function of each area in designing luminaires. The objective of this article is to demonstrate the design process of landscape luminaires for walkway. The design of prototype luminaires consists of a lamppost, a bollard, and a bollard with perforated patterns. Visual design elements and principles with the design concepts were applied to these luminaires. The image of luminaires and the effect of light of each prototype were designed, developed, and tested on-site both day and night-time. The questionnaires displaying computer-simulated images in the actual context were used for an assessment by experts from various design and architectural conservation fields. The results show that these luminaires respond to architectural conservation and identities of the place both day and night-time. The prototype luminaires were improved according to the comments of the experts. Consequently, these luminaires were granted three design patents. Ultimately, the designed luminaires and the lighting master plan were applied to the landscape improvement project of the Chudhadhuj Royal Residence, operated by the Fine Arts Department. This project can be an example of architectural conservation for a cultural heritage site in the future.

Influence of Building Characteristics and Building Lifespan on Condominium Operating Expenses

This paper is an exploration of building lifespan, building characteristics, and operating expenses. The main objectives are to identify the building component lifespan, including architectural components and engineering components, to determine the pattern of building component replacement life cycle and to examine the relationship between building characteristics and facility operating expenses. The investigation was undertaken through a study of thirty-nine residential condominiums located in Bangkok. The expense data were collected through document searches and surveys with key juristic persons of each condominium. The building service life document was collected from international references and standards. The data were examined using cross-case analysis to identify the lifespan of the buildings and to identify the relationships between the condominium operating expenses and the characteristics of the buildings. It was found that the typical building replacements occur on a broad 60-year cycle that can be subdivided into several phases. Further findings indicate that a significant pattern of building component replacement shifts every two decades through the building lifespan. It was also found that the condominium operating expenses vary according to the building age and building characteristics. Direct variation, inverse variation, and joint variation from the characteristics of the condominium building can be identified. The findings add to the understanding of condominium operating expenses based on building characteristics. The study can provide a reference for consideration of building selection criteria and replacement plans, and for building budget planning based on age and building characteristics.

Nationalism and the Modernisation of Thai Architectural Education at Chulalongkorn University in the 1920s and 1930s

This paper examines the modernization of Thai architecture through the establishment of Thailand’s first architecture school, its curriculum, its architecture, and the pivotal role of the first generation of Thai architecture professors, who had been educated in England and France. It demonstrates how the establishment of the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, stemmed from the Siamese government’s growing nationalism that aimed to end foreign domination in both Siam’s construction industry and international diplomacy. The process, however, involved the adoption of a western curriculum — which was considered modern — and adapting it to be more Thai for nationalist purposes. This also required support by employing a foreign professor in architecture: Lucien Coppé, a Belgian architect who was responsible for both upgrading the school’s curriculum and the design of its first permanent building in 1938. Furthermore, some aspects of the western curriculum were not intended to be adapted but were hybridized due to the constraints of the modernizing nation. The establishment and construction of the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University, are examples of how art, science, and education were intertwined in both national and global politics in the 1930s.

Sustainable Engagement with Indigenous Settlements in Prohibited Areas: Case Study of Karen Tribe Villagers in the Kaengkrachan Forest Complex, Thailand

Cultural Housing Network Project under collaboration by The Department of National Park, Pidthong Foundation and Chulalongkorn University has been initiated as a social engagement to solve conflicts between the Department of National Park and Primitive Karen tribe villagers in this prohibited area. Treatment bamboo for multi-utilizing and pre-establishing of village working group for cultural promotion has been raised as the key success factors, in parallel with trial and error activity for natural and cultural tourism. These were engaged to reconstruct the village pride of their local wisdom and widen up the job opportunity for their next generation, under restricted regulation by the Department of National Park and long-term distrustful conflicts between both sides. Chulalongkorn University and Pidthong Foundation, as the academic and NPO sectors, have to retain their neutral stances by following up a consensus roadmap of sustainable engagement plan, to counter measurement with any unexpected emerging pressures from both sides.

Attachment and Associational Dimensions in the Architecture of Historical Building Conversion in Thailand Between 1997 and 2012

The research on The Initial Survey of Evolution of Adaptive Reuse of Historic Buildings in Thailand is aimed at constructing knowledge for the module named Reuse and Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings. This module is part of the curriculum of Bachelor of Architecture, which studies the role of architecture fabricated within historical buildings. In the era between 1997 and 2012 in Thailand, there was a notable transformation from conservation to contemporary conversion. A review of conservation perspectives indicates a combined multi-disciplinary cooperation between architectural design and conservation. To establish issues regarding the knowledge of conversion, a research question is raised: how do architectural elements play its role through changing of use? Aimed at understanding the complexity among conversion ideologies, issues surrounding architectural elements of historical buildings are rationally explored. Based on significant conversion projects from 1996 to 2012, architectural elements were referenced as to how concepts and objectives were associated. Qualitative research was conducted through a study of primary sources; survey and classification of representative samples, and secondary documents, records and architectural drawings. The controlling significance of the buildings led to a discussion and an analysis of the architectural designs through new additions and amendments made on the historical fabric. Included in this discussion are the principles of conversion as they relate to the architecture of historic buildings and the ideology of the modification. It is found that understanding a change to architectural elements through an ontological perspective, that of attachment and associational approaches, could clearly reveal the construction programme that felicitates the historical building for which conservation or adaptation is determined. A dialogue on relevant contexts surrounding amendments of architectural elements demonstrated that a strong emphasis towards particular objectives of use could coincidentally harm the historical building’s architectural dimension framework. This leads to the notion that architecture for adaptive reuse should include knowledge of the original construction, a balance among conditions of the existing building, its programming and further habitation.