Geographia Technica, Vol 14, Special Issue 2019, pp. 22-31
INTEGRATION OF HISTORIC PLACES IN NEW URBAN DEVELOPMENT: A CASE STUDY OF PHITSANULOK, THAILAND
Nattika NAVAPAN, Kornticha OONPRAI (Phitsanulok, Thailand)
ABSTRACT: Historic area contributes to the memory of a city, creates urban identity, and forms the modern townscape. However, the historic areas worldwide are affected by the development processes led by globalized trend in architecture and planning. In urban development, particularly in Thailand, historical context is from time to time neglected or perceived as secondary. This study investigates the urban historic quarter in Phitsanulok, one of the main cities in the Northern part of Thailand, in order to make a clearer understanding about the roles of the places with historic value in new urban development. Following the concepts of cultural heritage and place-making, the study attempts to point out how the places with historic value should be taken into account to facilitate urban development, to build urban identity, and to promote better quality of city living. Its discussion is with reference to the questions that need to be considered before any development proposal—what is special in the community, how many quality places are located in the vicinity and how they are connected, and places that should be more meaningful.
Keywords: Cultural heritage, Place-making, Urban identity, Integration, Thailand.
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