A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY IN GENIUS LOCI AS AN IMPLICATION FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN: A CASE STUDY OF ZHOU ZHU KONG SHRINE, TALAD NOI, BANGKOK

Abstract

Talad Noi, one of the heritages district in Bangkok, Thailand, is an interesting urban space due to its long history, development and characteristic of a living community. It was a former shipyard and port area of maritime trade in early Rattanakosin period. It became a place where Chinese merchants and crews drop off and settled. The ways of living were strongly embedded their lives and it developed a unique character of Thai-Chinese community in this area. The uniqueness from both tangible and intangible heritage shows the true identity of the old town that influenced by Chinese culture, religion and history.

However, the Genius Loci of Talad Noi is decreasing due to the modern way of living. The local residences’ lifestyle has encourages the physical transformation of streetscape and the community in Talad Noi , which conduces the disappearance of the community and identity, enlightened Genius Loci. The study is aimed to understand Talad Noi community term of phenomenological aspect. The result of the study suggests 3 architectural elements which contribute the genius loci of Talad Noi; 1.The use of light and darkness in the community, 2.Overlapping of public and private area and 3.User-oriented Experience. To renovate Zhou Zhu Kong Shrine, the centre of Talad Noi community, these three concepts of genius loci are applied. In order to restore the lost genus loci and emphasis on the existing spirit of place, while able to maintain its function and people’s collective memory of this old community through Zhou Zhu Kong shrine.