Urban Policy Supporting Cultural Adequacy in Nang Loeng, Bangkok

Abstract

This research examines how Bangkok’s planning policy supports cultural adequacy in Nang Loeng, an historic community in Bangkok that is trying to utilise its cultural heritage to achieve housing security in the face of planned developments, such as the building of a new urban rail (MRT) station. The research, through the analyses of the Bangkok Comprehensive Plan (B.E. 2019) and the master plan for the conservation and development of Krung Rattanakosin (Update B.E. 2020), site visits, cultural mapping, and in-depth interviews, uses the framework of cultural adequacy to examine how the current plans and policies consider the cultural heritage of the area and highlight opportunities for enhancing cultural adequacy in the neighbourhood. This research has found that improvements can be made in terms of supporting and valorizing the intangible cultural heritage of Nang Loeng; this cultural heritage was not captured in the development of current plans. Suggestions include comprehensive planning that relies on increased collaboration with area residents and cultural institutions, and the creation of a database for documenting the neighborhood’s intangible heritage.