Journal of Landscape Architecture and Planning

Preface

2024-12-30T08:41:44+07:00

Local Wisdom in Landscape Conservation and Development of Ban Na Ton Chan Community, Ban Tuek Subdistrict, Si Satchanalai District, Sukhothai

2024-11-17T13:20:17+07:00

This research article aims to study the concepts and methods of local wisdom in the conservation and development of the Ban Na Ton Chan community landscape, to analyze the impacts of using local wisdom on the community and the environment in Ban Na Ton Chan, and to propose sustainable landscape conservation and development guidelines using local wisdom in Ban Na Ton Chan. This qualitative research uses community landscape surveys and unstructured interviews as data collection tools. The sample consists of 30 community members of Ban Na Ton Chan. The researcher analyzes physical and interview data, presenting the information through descriptions, maps, and illustrations. The concepts and theories utilized in this study include the concept of local wisdom, which encompasses the accumulated knowledge, skills, and experiences of local communities passed down through generations. This wisdom is crucial for livelihood, natural resource management, agriculture, culture, and local traditions. The study also employs the theory of sustainable development, which emphasizes meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Furthermore, the integrated natural resource management theory, which considers the interrelationships and impacts between natural resources and the community, and the community development theory, which focuses on enhancing the capabilities and potential of community members, are also applied. The findings indicate that the Ban Na Ton Chan community's use of local wisdom in agricultural land management, water management, sustainable agriculture, cultural heritage conservation, seasonal adaptation, cultural symbolism in design, and the creation of public spaces has led to positive outcomes. These practices help effectively maintain the balance between natural resource use and local cultural conservation, thereby enhancing the community's sustainability and resilience in the long term. Recommendations for applying the research findings include promoting sustainable agriculture, efficient water management, forest conservation and restoration, cultural heritage conservation, eco-tourism development, and strengthening community collaboration, all of which can further amplify these positive impacts.

Everyday Restorative Landscapes and Preferences of Students in a University in Southern China

2024-10-09T06:46:22+07:00

According to the “China National Mental Health Report”, in recent years, the stress level of Chinese university students has been increasing. Regarding students’ routines, since the campus is the place in which university students spend most of their times, it is necessary to optimize the potential of the campus landscape to provide students an everyday restorative environment where they can gain their psychological recovery while doing daily activities. Working with students in a southern Chinese university through landscape preference survey, this paper explored the nexus between landscape preferences, possible restorative effects and students' daily activities. To allow each respondent to reflect his/her landscape preferences in the university context, photos of different landscapes chosen from six Chinese universities located in the southern part of China were provided as choices. Then, the preferable photos regarded as responded well for the designated activities were chosen. The results show that the students tend to prefer to do activities in landscapes with different characters depending on the types of the activities. Moreover, students with high stress levels tend to spend time in landscapes with nature-liked characters; while student with lower level of stress tend to prefer spaces with social and cultural elements.

Visual Impact Assessment for Regulating Building Developments in the Scenery of a Large Historical Monument: the Case Study of Pra Pathom Chedi

2024-11-30T10:09:02+07:00

Inappropriate developments in the cultural heritage environment affect the perceived value of cultural heritage sites, especially large monuments. Despite the government’s attempt to establish visual management zones regulating the building height and setback, there is a lack of empirical evidence supporting appropriate restriction levels. Little is known about the public perception of visual impact on cultural heritages at different levels, particularly when disturbances (e.g. buildings) appear in the foreground and the middle ground of the scenes.
This study aims to assess the effectiveness of controlling building height and vista width to reduce the perceived impact of new developments on Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakhon Prathom Province. The public assessment was conducted to evaluate the appreciation and acceptance levels towards current and simulated scenery with varying restriction levels on building height and setback. Five control viewpoints of Pra Pathom Chedi were selected, and the representative images were created for the evaluation. Each viewpoint included four simulated scenarios modified from the reference images of the current development levels.
The results indicate that controlling building height and setback enhances the perceived value of cultural heritage, especially the buildings in the foreground. For the viewpoints with the monument as background, controlling the building heights to be no more than two-thirds of the perceived height of the cultural heritage seems to be a minimal restriction which does not create a conflict between appreciation and acceptance. Notably, expanding street width in the vista landscape demonstrated an effect on visual quality improvement comparable to or greater than stricter height control measures without any setback restriction.
These findings contribute valuable insights to urban planning and policy-making for managing developments in visual management zones of cultural heritage sites. The study proposes an approach that aims to balance preserving cultural and historical values with supporting appropriate urban growth, potentially reducing conflicts between conservation and development.

The Roles of Saranrom Park as a Historic Garden

2024-11-17T06:48:42+07:00

"Saranrom Park" is a historic park with a long-standing history, established in 1866 during the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV). Today, Saranrom Park serves as a public park for recreation, exercise, and leisure. While the site of Saranrom Palace was designated as a historical site in 2002, the area where Saranrom park, formerly part of the royal Saranrom Park, is situated has yet to be included in the historical site registry. Furthermore, the deterioration of its landscape elements, coupled with a general public lack of awareness of the park's cultural significance. This research aims to demonstrate the importance of Saranrom Park as a historic garden through the study of both tangible aspect and intangible aspect of cultural heritage. The methodology includes a review of relevant literature and studies, preliminary site analysis, field data collection, and an evaluation of each component’s cultural heritage significance, authenticity, and integrity, according to international standards. The findings reveal that while some tangible aspect of Saranrom Park remain, many have deteriorated over time, necessitating a conservation plan to preserve these physical features that contribute to the park’s historical identity. This approach should evoke historical memory without introducing new elements that conflict with the park's original design concepts. Regarding the intangible aspects, such as social activities and land use, changes have occurred, potentially leading to public forgetfulness about Saranrom Park as a historic garden. To preserve the cultural significance of the park, activities that encourage historical memory should be promoted. Additionally, conservation and interpretation efforts could be enhanced through public outreach, positioning Saranrom Park as a cultural learning resource. The findings from this research may inform the study of other historic parks in the future and raise public awareness about the importance of cultural landscapes, particularly historic gardens, in Thailand.

Community Park Usage Behavior After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Benchasiri Park

2024-12-15T13:25:52+07:00

Public parks play a vital role in promoting the physical and mental health of the population, particularly in densely populated urban areas like Bangkok. The city faces challenges such as pollution, congestion, and a fast-paced lifestyle, making parks essential spaces for stress reduction and improving the quality of life. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered people's behaviors and lifestyles. Public spaces, including parks, have had to adapt to align with the New Normal lifestyle. This study focuses on examining in community park usage behaviors after the pandemic and proposes design guidelines for parks that respond to evolving needs and behaviors, using Benjasiri Park in Bangkok as a case study. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Data collection included site surveys, behavioral observations, and interviews with a diverse group of participants varying in age, occupation, and purpose of park usage. The findings revealed park usage behaviors in post-COVID-19 pandemic. Most users shifted from group activities, such as sports or recreational events, to individual or paired activities, such as sitting, walking, jogging, and using exercise equipment. These behaviors reflect users' concerns about maintaining social distancing and minimizing exposure risks. Additionally, users showed a preference for shaded areas with natural views, such as lawns and waterfront spaces, which provide cooler and more relaxing environments, particularly during midday and late afternoon. The interviews also highlighted the demand for clear safety and hygiene measures, such as the installation of handwashing stations, sensor-operated faucets, waste separation for infectious materials, and regular maintenance of facilities and equipment. Based on these findings, the study proposes recommendations for post-pandemic park design, including increasing shaded areas with natural views, distributing activity zones to reduce crowding, expanding walking and jogging paths that connect key areas within the park, and upgrading facilities to meet the needs of users in the New Normal era. These findings offer valuable insights and serve as a crucial guideline for future park design and development to promote public health and well-being in the face of evolving challenges.

Sustainable Landscape and Facilities Development to Support Wildlife Tourism in Nature Conservation Areas

2024-12-10T02:52:23+07:00

This academic article aims to study and present the findings of a literature review concerning the development of landscapes and facilities for wildlife tourism. The focus is on planning, designing, and managing landscapes and facilities sustainably in nature conservation areas. The study covers information from related research, including case studies from both international and Thai contexts. The findings indicate that factors influencing the location of activity areas and the development of landscapes and facilities include: (1) the potential and value of the physical environment of the tourist sites, (2) the temporal habitat context, (3) the types and species of wildlife, (4) the motivations, needs, and experiences of tourists, and (5) tourist safety. The planning, development, and design of landscapes and facilities for wildlife tourism should emphasize the following concepts: (1) Zoning and landscape planning should focus on preserving the natural environment, minimizing wildlife disturbance, and enhancing the tourist experience. (2) The selection of native vegetation that thrives in the area should be prioritized, especially plants that serve as food and habitat for wildlife, as well as the conservation and propagation of existing local plants. (3) Landscape and facility design should harmonize with and promote the spirit and values of the original landscape, ensuring usability without affecting wildlife or the natural environment. This includes the selection of construction technologies, materials, colors, architectural styles, and the use of topography and vegetation for enhancement or concealment. (4) The design of public utility systems should blend with the environment, using natural energy sources and low-power lighting to reduce impacts on wildlife and the natural surroundings.

The Process of Developing a Land Use Plan for Agriculture in Accordance with Natural Conditions and Legal Requirements: A Case Study of Yot Sub-district, Song Khwae District, Nan Province, Thailand

2024-12-15T00:02:58+07:00

The depletion of natural resources in Thailand, a consequence of forest loss following the concession era, has prompted the government to implement policies to conserve and restore forest areas. However, the declaration of overlapping forest boundaries with community areas has adversely impacted numerous rural communities, leading to instability in their quality of life. Developing agricultural land use plans within legally designated forest areas, grounded in a deep understanding of the landscape, can serve as a crucial tool to foster collaboration between the government and communities while enhancing the quality of life for villagers. This planning process involves studying ecological data to comprehend the context and conditions of the area, examining legal frameworks to identify potential collaborative agreements, and gathering information on community lifestyles interconnected with nature to learn about traditional ecological knowledge. The resulting plans will prioritize nature and community needs, while adhering to legal frameworks. Understanding natural conditions will lead to development plans that are aligned with the local context and promote sustainable livelihoods. Simultaneously, the government can achieve its goal of restoring the abundance of natural resources, offering a sustainable solution that aligns with the concept of common resources. The result obtained from the process of developing a land use plan for agriculture is a sub-district level land use plan and agricultural development guidelines that can be used as a guideline for physical development and as a framework for community development in the future.

The Development of Basic Visual Tree Assessment Form: A case study of Thammasat University Rangsit Center

2024-11-22T14:00:19+07:00

Tree risk assessment is a relatively new concept in Thailand, where current methods and data are predominantly adapted from foreign sources. However, differences in environmental conditions and tree species between Thailand and other countries may lead to inaccuracies when applying these methods directly. Moreover, the complexity of factors and risk rating methods poses challenges for individuals without prior experience in tree risk assessment. This study aimed to develop a simplified and localized basic tree risk assessment form tailored to Thailand’s context. The development process involved reviewing 35 factors from existing literature, which were evaluated for content validity by three arboriculture experts. A total of 30 factors were identified as essential for creating the assessment form. To test its accuracy, the form was applied to 442 trees in the student dormitory area at Thammasat University Rangsit Center, with assessments conducted by professional arborists and volunteers. The results showed an overall accuracy with an average Kappa Coefficient of 0.72 (72%). However, two factors—planting distance and wind direction—exhibited low Inter-Rater Reliability (IRR) values (<0.20). Consequently, adjustments were made: the Slenderness Coefficient (SC) was adopted to represent tree stability, and the Live Crown Ratio (LCR) was introduced to reflect overall tree health. The finalized basic tree risk assessment form includes three main components: general survey information, above-ground factors, and surface/subsurface factors. This tool provides a practical framework for tree risk assessment in Thailand, improving accessibility and accuracy for both professionals and non-experts.