REGENERATION OF CHINESE URBAN HERITAGE: A CASE STUDY OF THA TIEN SHOPHOUSES, BANGKOK

Abstract

Chinese immigrants, as one of the majority group of people in Thailand, have dominated Thai economics which shophouses also participate as important role in this part of history. By the arrival of modernization in Bangkok city, several roads were built as well as numerous shophouses built along the roads. The transportation from canal to road also stimulates development of shophouses. Chinese immigrants not only make their live as labors, they have also played the role of oversea trading and domestic trading in Thailand. Tha-tien, famous for its old markets in the city, is one of the most completed Chinese living heritage in Bangkok. Its key geographical location of Rattanakosin Island has make Tha-tien witnessing the history of Thai economic and Chinese immigrants in Bangkok. There are several factors dominant the transformation of Bangkok shophouses which are prevailing socio-economic behavior, historical events, and the waves of Chinese migrations. This study offers a deeper picture of how shophouses have been used by Chinese immigrants with their own identities by investigating from a span in the aspect of appearance, materials, technique, spatial use in Tha-tien and complementing with the knowledge of Chinese architecture and Chinese immigration development in Bangkok. However, due to the rapid transformation of the city especially in this touristic area, shophouses in Tha-tien are facing the threat of being wept away. The physical demolition will lead also to the social demolition of the best Chinese immigrant living archive in the city. Lastly, based on the awareness of significance of Tha-tien and its threat of demolition, last part of this study proposes Tha-tien’s future development. The design aims to preserve Tha-tien not only its physical but also social dimensions. The outcome contributes to show the significance of Tha-tien as Chinese living heritage where community itself is the main archive their authentic living to public. Meanwhile, visitors can not only acquire the knowledge of Tha-tien but also experience the authenticity by multiple senses from local life.