Role and transformation of the Saphan Lhek district, Bangkok

Abstract

The study of roles and changes in the Saphan Lek district of Bangkok is qualitative research with objectives to study the development of the activity system, ways of life, and land use in Saphan Lek district, to summarize the roles and changes in each period by collecting information and photographs, surveying the area, interviewing inhabitants and its important figures, and to compare the changes occurred within the area. The research results were found that the Saphan Lek district has a different role in each period from the past to present. At the beginning of the Saphan Lek district, there were a few activities. Most of the activities that occurred during this period were congregated near the water route such as banks of the Ong Ang canal which made its major role as a residential area and minor role as a commercial area. Once the city was rapidly expanded and land routes were developed, this resulted in changes in terms of the land use and emergence of buildings from residential areas to be commercial and semi-commercial residential areas that marked the heyday of Saphan Lek district with its major role as a commercial area for both trade and service covering the whole area where is easily accessible to the main road, and its minor role as a semi-commercial residential area with its characteristics of a commercial building with residential and commercial activities. Nowadays, a massive amount of trade causes encroachment near the area along the canal causing changes in terms of government policies and projects. The major role of the Saphan Lek district in the present-day context is still a commercial area which is also noted as its sluggish period due to the dismantling of the Saphan Lek market that was encroached near the area along Ong Ang canal area to be used as a public area instead while its minor role is a semi-commercial residential area. Most of its inhabitants are traditional people who continue their businesses in the district with its additional role as a public space where people come in to spend their leisure activities, do exercises, and organize festivals by changing relationships among its people, events, and land use. This affects the changes in terms of roles of the Saphan Lek district in each period, resultantly.