Sustainable Management Strategy for Conserving the Centuries-Old Architecture Arts of Vernacular Markets

Abstract

This research aimed to study and develop sustainable management strategies for conserving the centuries-old architectural arts of vernacular markets. Designed as a participatory action research focusing on the collaboration of the local community in identifying problems, needs, solutions, action plans and evaluation plans, this study selected the Bangluang Ror Sor 122 vernacular market located in Banglane district, Nakhon Prathom province. The participants from the market were the market’s executive committee, local administration officers, local shop owners, tourists and specialists in the fields of architectural art, local markets, architectural art conservation and sustainable management strategies. Data collection included observation, voice recording, in-depth interviews, group discussions and seminars. Data analysis was done to determine core components and architectural building relationships required to conserved as well as selection of the conservation methods.

The results indicated that four buildings in the areas needed to conserve are 1) the two-story wooden building in the Bangluang Ror Sor 122 market, 2) the Tuptim Goddess Shrine and Buan Hock Tung Vegetarian Almshouse, 3) Bangluang Temple and 4) Jian Hua Chinese School. In order to conserve the buildings, six methods are proposed sush as to investigate and analyze the history of the building structures, to survey the buildings and classify their original materials, to create a plan that follows conservation rules, to hire appropriate experts and constructors to renovate, maintain and reconstruct the buildings, to record all the renovation and construction processes, and to establish a maintenance unit that follows the defined conservation procedures. It is important that the building renovation must be carried out according to these procedures and standards for buildings with architectural art in a conservation area. Furthermore, academic documentation of the renovation is essential to enable the buildings to be registered by the Fine Arts Department as landmarked or heritage-listed buildings.

In addition, the outcomes of this study include five strategies for operation of the Bangluang Ror Sor 122 market to conserve its century old architectural art, using strategies of Relationship strategy (2) Operation, Human resource Public relations and Financial.

There are suggestions for the improvement of the community Bangluang Ror Sor 122 that both governmental and private sectors should collaborate. With the suggestions, both groups should seriously promote the conservation of the vernacular architecture of these old structures. This could be performed by applying the standard of Art and Architecture protocols based on the use of environmentally-friendly energy and environmental sustainability strategies, Also this solution must follow the guidelines from Conservation of historic buildings and cultural heritage of UNESCO. In addition, both groups should utilize the management strategy for developing the market effectively and they should consider the factors that contribute to the success of the operation of Bangluang Ror Sor 122 market and study how to identify its uniqueness in the environment. The research also suggest the bothgroups should conduct an attempt to establish the criteria for evaluating strategies in four factors including the economy, society, environment,and awareness of the 100 years vernacular architecture.