Rehabilitative Landscape in the Old Communities in Bangkok, Thailand

Transcription

1 The 2009 Inchen IFLA APR Cngress Inchen, Krea. September 1-4, 2009 Main theme : Green Culture in the Cities Hybrid & Cnvergence f City and Landscape Architecture : Strategies fr the future Sub theme 3 : Building Unique Landscape Entitled: Rehabilitative Landscape in the Old Cmmunities in Bangkk, Thailand Authr: Ariya Aruninta Institutinal affiliatins: Assciate Prfessr (Chulalngkrn University, Thailand) PhD Candidate (Asian Institute f Technlgy, Thailand) Telephne: +66(0) Office : +66(0) Fax: +66(0) aariya@chula.ac.th Hmepage:

2 Rehabilitative Landscape in the Old Cmmunities in Bangkk, Thailand Abstract Bangkk is the capital f Thailand, she will celebrate her 230 years anniversary in The lcatin is n a fld plain delta f the Cha Phraya River. It was riginally selected with the cnsideratin f being a natural defense against enemies, while prviding a water-based settlement fr the citizens. Under the demcratic gvernment fr mre than 75 years, the ld settled cmmunities in Bangkk have been in the area where the frmal planning can nt prhibit them frm grwing. This study will examine the pprtunities and threats f the ld cmmunities in the cnservatin area f Bangkk. The essence f the cmmunities has perfrmed its rles in several ways, included being life-lng learning museums, a czy hme f the intangible cultural heritage, the un-seen turist attractins, and the public nstalgia space fr peple t remind their rigin. Nt always that the green (park) is better than brwn (in this case is high-density husing). It demands talent frm a diverse grup f stakehlders that cuts acrss public, private and cmmunity sectrs which entails delicate negtiatins and pivtal cmprmises, scial capital gains and creative tensin. The rt f the prblem f re-develpment f the ld cmmunities requires cmprmise, negtiatin, trade-ff, win-winning, and all kinds f multi-actr invlvement in the decisin-making. Establishing public participatin channels f frm all ptential stakehlders (bth public and private agencies and citizens) may lag, especially thse frm the bttm f the pyramid wh have lived n the land fr decades but have a very harse vices and difficult t be heard by the decisin makers. The authr will describe the histry f an ld cmmunity in Bangkk, knwn as Pm Mahakan Frt cmmunity and review the literatures n the prjects. The charming ld cmmunities must be cnserved, rehabilitated, and revitalized instead f being flushing away by the new develpments. Gentrificatin maybe in needed but in the best way with less cntrversies. Finally, she will suggest the win-win strategy t re-habilitate the area frm the case studies. Keywrds : cultural heritage; cultural landscape; gentrificatin; histrical park; Mahakan; ld cmmunities; rehabilitatin; turism; urban redevelpment. 1. Brief histry f Bangkk ld cmmunities Bangkk was established in 1782 as the capital f Thailand by King Rama I f the Chakri Dynasty. She will celebrate her 230 years anniversary in The ld Bangkk named Rattanaksin, has three rings f mats; inner wall arund the Grand Palace, middle ring mat, and uter ring mat. Nw the mats jin the ther canals and becme water netwrk f mdern day Bangkk, the rigin f the nick-name : Venice f the East. The purpses are fr daily cnsumptin, transprtatin, an agricultural irrigatin system and a drainage channel. Therefre, the ld cmmunities f Bangkk are mstly in the Rattanaskin Island, which the area was surrunded with riginal defending mat/ditch and jin part f the Cha Phraya River. In 1978, Rattanaksin Island Cnservatin Cmmittee was established. There have been a number f plans prpsed t cnserve and develp Rattanaksin Island as a histrical park. The prpsals aim t have Rattanaksin Island becmes turists attractin by evict arund 20 the ld cmmunities with sme 10,000 residences, which are cnsidered the eyes-sre bjects, ut f the cnservatin znes. The mst utstanding case is a cmmunity situated behind the city wall f Pm Mahakan Frt. The frt with a citadel is ne f the tw remaining frts f the ttal 14 frts in Bangkk, it was riginally built in the first reign ( ). They were restred in

3 Pm Mahakan Frt lcates in the area f Wat Sraket and the Glden Munt, ne f the unique landmarks f Bangkk. These integratins becme the spectacular ld mnastery. The temple itself was first built befre the rise f Rattanaksin. King Rama I redevelped and imprved the cnditin f the temple. The cnstructin f the glden munt started in the third reign ( ), cntinued t the furth Reign ( ), and cmpleted in the fifth Reign ( ). At the tp f the Glden Munt situates a glden pagda, the best pint t bserve the panramic view f the entire Rattanaksin Island and expanded mdern Bangkk area. Pm Mahakan Frt cmmunity is the 287 residences frm 65 huses, 92 families n the land f 4 rai, 3 ngan 59 square wa (7836 sq.m.), abut 52 metres wide by 150 metres lng. Mst f them have lived there fr 6 generatins by pttery, making bamb bird cages, lcal breed chickens, traditinal massage, and recgnized as the rigin f traditinal Thai dance called Likay (r Yike Khmer dance) named Prayapetch Pranee Likay 1. The disputed area was described as a culturally-rich spt with a rare cmplex f vernacular architecture : a style that has already disappeared frm ther areas f Bangkk (Atthakr, 2009). Pm Mahakan Frt area als accmmdated the hme f Ungpakrn s family, father f Puey Ungpakrn : an extremely successful Thai bureaucrat and a Magsaysay Award winner in the field f public service in There have been a lng histry f Pm Mahakan Frt cmmunity, I chrnically arrange them as these fllwings in rder t make the audient t understand the situatin: Rama III (21 July April 1851) gave the land t his curtiers and mnastery land f 2 temples (Racha Nadda and Thepthidaram), cntinued t Rama V (2 Octber Octber 1910) and Rama VI (23 Octber Nvember 1925). The bat pier and a small building lcates alng the canal/mat had served as the Ryal curtiers bat trip fr lng time; later in 2005 the pier was mved t anther side f the canal and left the building declined There was a renvatin f Pm Mahakan Frt area, and half f the residences (11 plts) agreed t sell their land t gvernment there were arund 28 huses. Amng thse, 11 plts were cmpletely sld t the gvernment There was a Rattanaksin Island Cnservatin Master Plan t clear the cmmunities and stress n city beautificatin, Pm Mahakan Frt cmmunity was prpsed t be replaced with a park as part f turism facility Santichaiprakarn Park was built at the Phra Sumane Frt (anther ne f the tw frt left in Rattanaksin Island), as prpsed in the 1988 Master Plan , Michael Herzfeld, a Harvard anthrplgist, researched intensively n the cmmunity and argued that the park wuld nt wrk and that the cmmunity s design wuld nt nly wrk better fr the turists, it wuld be safer. He als mentined abut the benefit f having the cmmunity instead f a park that: the city culd lse a great pprtunity t create a slice f Bangkk culture that wuld attract turists. N western turists wuld be interested in a plain park, but a cmmunity within a park wuld make fr a real turist attractin. (Herzfeld, 200x) Nv 2002 February 2003, The Cmmunity Organizatins Develpment Institute - CODI brught 7 students frm the architecture prgram f King Mngkut s University f Technlgy Thnburi - KMUTT t the cmmunity t begin wrking with the cmmunity n an upgrading scheme and Master plan. The team submitted the prpsal t the Natinal Human Rights Cmmissin - NHRC. January 2003, the Pm Mahakan Cmmunity was served with an evictin ntice by the Bangkk Metrplitan Administratin (BMA), that wanted t turn this small strip f land int a park fr turists and the cmmunity was ffered relcatin t a lw cst husing prject 45 kilmeters away frm their hmes. Befre 2003, the numbers f huses were increased t as many as 102 units, there 1 Surapl Virulak, Evlutin f the Thai Classical Dancer in Rattanaksin B.E

4 were 58 wners refused t accept any cmpensatin frm the city authrities and t be relcated t new lcatin. 2003, The Master Plan fr Land Develpment: Ratchadamnen Rad and Surrunding Area f the Natinal Ecnmic and Scial Develpment Bard NESDB prpsed t attract mre turism incme fr the inner city f Bangkk by beautificatin f the palace, temples, streets, and histrical areas. April 2004, Bangkk celebrated the 222 nd anniversary f the capital. Mahakan Frt wall was decrated with illuminatin and used as a big screen fr pen-air slides presentatin f the ld phtgraphs. There were the flating market at the ld canals and defending mats. December 2004, The Supreme Administrative Curt judged BMA has the right t implement the evictin. April 2005, Jean du Plessis wrte in Envirnment & Urbanizatin Vl 17 N 1 abut the cmparisns f 3 cases f frced evictins frm Jhannesburg, Bangkk and Accra in The grwing prblem f frced evictins and the crucial imprtance f cmmunity-based, lcally apprpriate alternatives., the paper argued that it is nt clear that the evictins actually serve the public gd as was invked t justify large-scale evictins. March 2005, Graeme Bristl, a lecturer and Architecture Students frm Schl f Architecture & Design, King Mngkut s University f Technlgy Thnburi wrking n a prject Pm Mahakan : Cmmunity Design and Human Rights. The reprt paper als discussed the rle the university and architecture students can play thrugh a rights-based architecture curriculum. December 2005, Gvernr Apirak Ksaythin claimed that the BMA respects the husing right f the residences and said in the letter t COHRE that: Realizing that Mahakan Frt Cmmunity preservatin shuld serve as an example fr ther ancient cmmunities, the residents are nt deemed t evictin. They will be encuraged t wrk clsely with the rganizatin cncerned in rder t prmte the area as a turist attractin under the three-party agreement between Bangkk Metrplitan Administratin, Silapakrn University and the cmmunity representative that was signed in early December December Octber 2006, Gvernr Apirak Ksaythin cnsulted Silpakrn University and sign a declaratin t develp and create treasured ld wden huses in Mahakan Frt cmmunity and discussed the new rle f Mahakan Frt Park in Research Prject f a Mdel Scheme fr the Preservatin and Develpment f Ancient, Wden Hmes f the Mahakan Frtress Cmmunity. 2005, The cmmunity named their cmmunity t shw its significance as a cultural heritage site that the city and the Fine Arts Department shuld prtect as: Chumchn Banmai Bran Tnkamnerd Likay Siam : r the cmmunity f ld wden huses, the rigin f the Siamese Likay art frm (Natin, 2005). Nvember 2005, The sft pening f the Siamese Likay Live Museum was rganized by the Culture Ministry and private sectrs alliances. BMA Public Wrks Department directr Banyat Ouiyamwng reprted that 11 f the hmewners had cllected the full amunt and that the right t their blcks had been transferred t the BMA. Anther six had received 75 per cent f the payments (Natin, 2005). April 2007, BMA decided nt t fllw the Silpakrn University s mdel by cntinuing the public park prpsal. Re-engaging Urban Canal : the Asian Calitin fr Architecture and Urbanism - ACAU Internatinal Wrkshp assigned Pm Mahakan Frt cmmunity as ne f the 4 sites f students design wrkshps by University f Seul, Natinal University f Singapre -NUS, and Assumptin University ABAC. This drew again an internatinal arena fr design prfessinals t the area. June 2009, MR Sukhumbhand Bribhat and his new BMA administratin team with endrsement frm the Cuncil f State, annunced that they have n pwer t revke the land apprpriatin decree fr Pm Mahakarn Frt area, and is therefre bliged t give dwellers the bt, as prir plan. BMA and the representative frm invlved rganizatins ; Natinal Ecnmic and Scial Advisry Cuncil-NESAC, Office f the Attrney General, Office f The Natinal Cunter Crruptin Cmmissin-NCCC, Office f the Ombudsman, Cmmunity Organizatins Develpment

5 Institute (Public Organizatin)-CODI, and Office f the Cuncil f State f Thailand; cncluded that they have t fllw the evictin ntice Ryal Decree and will negtiate t mve the cmmunity t NHA scial husing. The meeting members defined the cnservatin area accrding t Fine Art Department nly the frt and wall, mat, and utskirts land f the ld city. The wden huses and cmmunities and the intangible heritage are nt cvered as the natinal heritage by law. At the time this paper abstract was accepted at IFLA-APR cngress in Inchen, Krea (July 2009), I als participated in anther activity at Pm Mahakan Frt cmmunity by attending an event by a grup f artists bth amateurs and prfessinals t create painting arts that can reflect the spirit f place. All paintings will be exhibited at Art Gallery during August, 2009 in rder t raised fund and respect the cmmunity effrts t fight against the frced evictins fr mre than decade. 2. Chices f urban renewal While the case f Chenggye River Restratin Prject in Seul gave us a smart chice f innvatin in urban redevelpment fr a mre prsperus future t make a mre beautiful and sustainable city by remving the 5.8 km eye-sre elevated expressway dwn. Amng urban planners and landscape architects prfessinals, there have been diverse cncepts f urban renewal schemes. In ppsite, city beautificatin may cause a frce evictin. It results the cleaner and tidier city but the cnsequences f frced evictin fr cmmunities, is ften damaged cmmunity heritage. It reminds me the demlitin f Hutng in Beijing at the beginning f refrmera effrts f urban renewal and the winning f Summer Olympic 2008 bidding. With the reasn that demlitin is really a celebratin f mdernity and mdernizatin. and the municipality s mtt t build a new Beijing t welcme Olympic games, the 5 millins square meters f 300,000 husehlds were cleaned (Chau, 2008, cited Tatlw 2004). Thus, cnservatin and develpment plan shuld be integrated. This might nt be easy t implemented, and requires intensive evaluatin f the existing land-use and site ptentials. The lessn learned frm the decisin-making prcess f public agencies in land management plicy shuld include the public as much as pssible and never shut any stakehlders ut f the decisin-making prcess. It is a fact that everyne has their wn expectatins, depending n their rles and past experiences. Cntrversies culd, and shuld, lead t plicy cnsideratins. (Aruninta, 2009), therefre the participatin shuld be encuraged in all stages t minimize the cntrversies. The case study als shwed a Cnflict between green and brwn issues - parks r husing as Bristl (2007) explained. The win-win decisin depends n the matter n the degree f cnservatin and develpment during the transparent decisin making. Graeme Bristl (2007) als stated that it is a the fight fr tenure and husing security which cncern several issues include participatin, self-determinatin, envirnment, histry, culture, ecnmic inclusin alng with their mre justiciable civil and plitical rights. Bristl als stressed that Pm Mahakan Frt cmmunity is the first victims f the gentrificatin and beautificatin plan fr Rattanaksin. There have been at least ther 3 mre schlars wh pr the cnservatin scheme by keeping the cmmunity there. Michael Herzfeld pinted ut the varius patterns f spatial cleansing and histric cnservatin case f Pm Mahakan Frt cmmunity that it is ntewrthy that the middle class has nt yet succumbed t the glbal fashin fr antique dmestic spaces, it is the pr wh seem mre interested in calibrating their lives t fficial master narratives in the hpe f being rewarded with cntinued rights t inhabit their existing lived envirnment (Herzfeld, 2006). Jean du Plessis, COHRE Crdinatr, at the UNESCO Rund Table f experts n Scial Sustainability in Histric Districts, Wrld Urban Frum - September 2004 gave the example f a human right respectful scheme called Histric District fr All : a scial and human apprach fr sustainable revitalizatin - The plan included the renvatin f the lder buildings and the integratin f the huses int a histrical park. Plessis raised this case study as a manual fr city

6 prfessinals, by helping frm an alliance f academics, NGOs and human rights activists t put frward a highly innvative land-sharing plan as an alternative t evictin and relcatin. Plessis als jined Langfrd and stressed n the key legal challenge f Centre n Husing Rights and Evictins - COHRE that lies ahead is t ensure that internatinal guarantees are reflected in natinal legislatin and practice and whenever the frced evictins ccur mean It is peple being demlished, nt buildings (Resident f Kibera settlement, Kenya, 2004). The mst imprtant mvement f Pm Mahakan Frt Cmmunity is the supprting f nngvernmental rganizatins NGOs ppsing frced evictins at internatinal, natinal and lcal level 2, especially COHRE is an internatinal NGO which fcuses n the right t adequate husing and prtectin against frced evictin has played an imprtant rle n this case. The experience f this cmmunity exemplifies hw develpment can be achieved in a prcess incrprating bth human rights and cmmunity design/develpment cncerns (UN HABITAT, 2007). This case is als an example f Human Right educatin int practice and is what an individual and prfessinal as a member f a sciety can help preventing scial cnflict vilence in the prcess f develpment (Natinal Human Rights Cmmissin f Thailand, 2003). The land-sharing scheme was intrduced by Pm Mahakan Frt Cmmunity s prpsal, which is anther innvative and effective slutin t the evictin prblem in Bangkk, but it is nt easy t implement. It requires an apprpriate regulatry framewrk, a high degree f cmmunity rganizatin, interventin f intermediaries (such as NGOs), invlvement f lcal authrities, financial resurces, administrative efficiency, effective negtiatin prcedures, and transparency (UN-HABITAT, 2006). I agree with Chatri Prakitnntrakan (2006), frm Silpakrn University Research team categrized the 4 distinct cncepts t deal with Pm Mahakan Frt area as fllwings: - Preserving and mdifying Rattanaksin Island, turning it int what it was during the reign f Rama V. 2 At the same time, stress is als placed n adding as much greenery (public parks) as pssible. - Emphasizing the rights f the cmmunity places imprtance n the way f life f the peple wh reside in that area. - Fllwing a histrian/preservatinist backgrund calls attentin t the value f histry and fcusing n the significance f all the different aspects f arts and culture in a nn-discriminatry way, nt merely prmting the arts f nbility. - A cncept with an urban designer/planner backgrund usually emphasizes the mdificatins made twards the actual physical structure f an area in rder t bst its ptential in functinality and public assistance. In additin t having a planning backgrund cncept, I als wuld like t call fr the essence f the intangible cultural landscape. Cnservatin a heritage site may nt nly keep the structure but als is the art f understanding the way f life and intangible values f peple and their culture. 3. Rehabilitative landscape : Why nt a park? Amng the Landscape Architecture prfessinals, parks and green spaces are recgnized as the ultimate slutin, but are there any ther mvement(s) we shuld cnsider?. The case f Pm mahakan Frt cmmunity can give a gd representatin f that mvement. It invlves an intangible landscape f peple and cultural landscape. A cultural landscape is a gegraphic area that includes cultural and natural resurces assciated with an histric event, activity, persn, r grup f peple (The Cultural Landscape Fundatin, ) 3. Accrding t UNESCO ( ) 4, Cultural heritage is nt limited t material 2 The internatinal NGOs like Asian Calitin fr Husing Rights -ACHR, the Centre n Husing Rights and Evictins COHRE and the Habitat Internatinal Calitin HIC 3 The Cultural Landscape Fundatin

7 manifestatins, that have been preserved ver time. This als includes living expressins and the traditins that cuntless grups and cmmunities wrldwide have inherited frm their ancestrs and transmit t their descendants. This living heritage, knwn as intangible, prvides each bearer f such expressins a sense f identity and cntinuity. Intangible cultural landscape is als the issue discussed as the significant reasn t keep the cmmunity instead f building a park n this small disputed piece f land. Bristl (2009) als argued with the pint that the city needs the living histry and the vibrant cmmunity f Pm Mahakan Frt. In additin, as described earlier that in 2005, the cmmunity was named the cmmunity f ld teak huses, the rigin f the Siamese Likay art frm t shw its significance as a cultural heritage site that the city and the Fine Arts Department shuld prtect. They launched a Likay museum prject t save bth the dying likay traditin f perfrming arts as well as the land they have lived n fr generatins. The prject prpsal was apprved by the Culture Ministry which has set aside a budget fr the residents t kick start the prject. Annually, there have been 2 imprtant cultural events at Pm Mahakan Frt Cmmunity. On the full mn day f the 12 th mnth in the lunar calendar (Nvember in western calendar), there is the Glden Munt carnival fair fr a week, tgether with Ly Krathng festival alng the canal. In Bangkk, Glden Munt carnival is the nly traditinal Thai temple fair in Turism authrity (TAT) calendar. And n the first weekend, after Sngkran Day (Traditinal Thai New Year Day called the Water-Splashing Festival, in April 13 th -15 th ) the cmmunity will make merit by hnring the spirits f the ancestrs residing in the Frtress area with varius rites and ceremnies, the event called Grand pa Pm Mahakan Ceremny (Whai Pr P Pm Mahakan). These tw main cultural events shw the intangible cultural landscape essence f Pm Mahakan Frt cmmunity, which has inherited fr many generatins. Prakitnnthakan (2006) and Herzfeld (2009) warned in several ccasins that if the area is develped as a cnventinal park, aside frm the dehumanizing effect f such a mve we will face a space just asking t be taken ver by criminals. Therefre, behind the thick ld wall with the canal in back, there are chances that the walled-ff area will end up becming a crime spt. Accrding t the lng fighting histry f Pm Mahakan Frt cmmunity, there shuld NOT be dubted that the charming ld cmmunities must be cnserved, rehabilitated, and revitalized instead f being replaced with a green lawn. 4. Cnclusin The further negtiatin game : an intersectin f decisin making The unique landscape f the ld cmmunities is the cmbinatin f life and culture, which pertains the cntexts f tangible and intangible heritage. We need n mre alien generic structure and the sign f mdern city if parts f ur histry are ging t be demlished. The lessns learned frm Pm Mahakan Frt cmmunity, Bangkk, Thailand and ther spts in ther cuntries have given us a new rle f landscape architects t rehabilitate the cmmunity in bth physical and sensible elements. The cntrversies are eventually ccurred, which are the clrful nature f the demcracy. 4 UNESCO

8 References: Aruninta, A., WiMBY: A cmparative interests analysis f the hetergeneity f redevelpment f publicly wned vacant land., Landsc. Urban Plann. 92 (2009), Article in press. Atthakr, P A win-win windw fr the Gvernr. Cmmentary. Bangkkpst Newspaper. 12/06/2009. Bangkkpst Newspaper, BMA demlishes first Mahakan Frt dwelling. Published n Nvember 30, Bristl, G., Strategies fr survival: security f tenure in Bangkk. Case study prepared fr Enhancing Urban Safety and Security: Glbal Reprt n Human Settlements Available frm Chau, A.Y., 'An awful mark: symblic vilence and urban renewal in refrm-era China',Visual Studies,23:3,: Prakitnntrakan, C., Mdel Scheme fr the Preservatin f the Ancient, Wden Hmes f Mahakan Frtress Cmmunity. ASA Magazine. 02:50-03:50. : Plessis, J.D., The grwing prblem f frced evictins and the crucial imprtance f cmmunity-based, lcally apprpriate alternatives. Envirnment & Urbanizatin Vl 17 N 1 April : Plessis, J.D., Case Study: A Few Key Events in the Frced Evictin f the Pm Mahakan Cmmunity, Bangkk (Thailand). frm Gentrificatin t Frced Evictin: Hw Shuld Ecnmic Cmpetitin be Recnciled with Scial Sustainability in Histriacal District? Discussin Paper. Herzfeld, M Spatial Cleansing : Mnumental Vacuity and the Idea f the West. Jurnal f Material Culture, Vl. 11, N. 1-2, : Langfrd, M., and Plessis, J.D Dignity in the Rubble? Frced Evictins and Human Rights Law. Natinal Ecnmic and Scial Develpment Bard, The Master Plan fr Land Develpment: Ratchadamnen Rad and Surrunding Area. Final Reprt. Natinal Human Rights Cmmissin f Thailand, A Crucial Step t Cultivate a Culture f Human Rights within Thai Sciety: Human Right Educatin int Practices. Right Angle - NHRC Newsletter. Tatlw, D.K., Claims f Olympic Evictins Denied. Suth China Mrning Pst. 11 March UNESCO, Histric Districts fr All : A Scial and Human Apprach fr Sustainable Revitalizatin. Wrking dcument.1st versin UN-HABITAT, Enabling shelter strategies : Review f experience frm tw decades f implementatin. UN-HABITAT, Enhancing Urban Safety and Security. Glbal Reprt n Human Settlements United Natin Human Settlement Prgramme. UN-HABITAT, Frced Evictins Twards Slutins? Secnd Reprt f the Advisry Grup n Frced Evictins t the Executive Directr f UN-HABITAT. Website: The Cultural Landscape Fundatin Website: UNESCO