THE CREATION OF characteristics, together with document CULTURAL HERITAGE: research, were conducted with the intention of setting up information bases for further TOWARDS CREATING formation of theoretical and analytical A MODERN THAI frameworks, as well as guidelines for the ARCHITECTURAL creation and development of a Thai architectural identity for a modern society, IDENTITY through modeling investigations. Vimolsiddhi Horayangkura1 It is expected that this research will reveal that the various applications of Thai architectural characteristics are not Abstract particularly appropriate to the context of present society; neither the traditional and The Thai Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai applied Thai architectural styles nor the World Expo was basically similar to that of abstraction of aesthetic feature approach. the 1992 World Expo in Spain; both exhibited These findings will point towards the traditional elements of Thai architecture reinvention of a modern Thai architectural without any modern transformation. identity amid the trend of global architecture. Current factors––economic, social, cultural The inappropriate application of past Thai and technological––in the modern world have characteristics in contemporary architecture, to converge with past deep-rooted cultural particularly in buildings of national factors in an attempt to create a Thai significance, has been widely criticized. Yet, architectural identity. In this context, there there have been no obvious architectural have to be interrelationships between solutions to the demand for a modern Thai appearance and inherent wisdom. architectural identity. This research is undertaken with the following objectives: Concurrently, various approaches have to 1) To investigate the appropriateness of be investigated to promote the sustainable current Thai architectural identity in development of identity: for example, the modern society; 2) To seek guidelines for generation of public consciousness, the the creation of a modern Thai architectural reform of the education system, the identity, taking into consideration various establishment of an Institute for Research determining factors, especially the concept and Development of Modern Thai of green architecture and glocalization; 3) Architectural Identity, the stimulation of To suggest development approaches for concern for identity among practitioners, sustaining the creation of identity; 4) To and the support and spirit enhancement of extend the outcome of the development of a those with outstanding achievements in modern Thai architectural identity toward design and research. This research will also opportunities for supporting the creative identify opportunities for the output of the economy. Thus, in this study physical creation of a Thai architectural identity to surveys of buildings with various Thai support the growth of the creative economy. Finally, a series of research questions to be 1 Professor, Dr. Faculty of Architecture and comprehensively addressed in the future are Planning, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand formulated. Downloaded from Brill.com09/27/2021 08:05:16AM via free access The Creation of Cultural Heritage Introduction Whereas the Chinese Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo (Figure 1) exhibited dignity and progress, while reflecting the modern Chinese architecture identity, the Thai Pavilion maintained an outdated traditional character (Figure 2), which was similar to the formal expression of the Thai Pavilion at the 1992 World Expo in Spain (Figure 3). The “Thainess” that the Thai Government introduced in “Thainess: Sustainable Ways of Figure 3: Thai Pavilion, Sevilla, Spain Life” (Ministry of Social Development and (ASA 24,1992: 34) Human Security 2010) on the occasion of the 2010 World Exposition is fundamentally For a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic nation based on traditional notions of Thainess in such as Malaysia, the need to express a strong all aspects, including architecture. national identity in architecture become crucial regarding political implications. However, in Thailand a conscious effort is focused on the creation of a modern Thai architectural identity as part of the country’s cultural heritage. Practitioners and academics partly recognize the past failure to provide such a cultural identity (Horayangkura 1990, 1993, 2001 and 2009). Criticism among architects and the public in general became more severe, especially when important new building projects were under construction. Thai architectural identity for such edifices as the Suvarnabhumi Air Figure 1: Chinese Pavilion, Shanghai Terminal Building and the New Parliament Building of Thailand has become a critical issue – asking for architectural images of Thai identity which are rather obscure. Yet, proposed architectural solutions have to be investigated as to the appropriateness of applying traditional characteristics in the context of modern society. In-depth studies should involve the investigation of the underlying factors that deter the successful creation of Thai identity Figure 2: Thai Pavilion, Shanghai in modern architecture (Prakitnontakarn 2005; Horayangkura 2009, 2010). In general, architecture in Thailand expresses a mainly modern outlook, excluding Thai identity. 61 Downloaded from Brill.com09/27/2021 08:05:16AM via free access MANUSYA: Journal of Humanities Regular 13.1, 2010 The request for Thai character in most architecture as a contributing vehicle in the competitions’ terms of reference only results creative economy. in bringing in a juxtaposition of traditional elements with modern design complexes to 5. To reach a conclusion and propose reflect a related belief system. Without a recommendations and a series of research modern transformation, contextual conflicts issues to be comprehensively addressed in are inherent in such architectural solutions. the future. Otherwise, architects mainly focus on the abstraction of traditional configurations to Research hypothesis attain formal aesthetics without any other The Thai identity traditionally applied in implications regarding functional, environ- contemporary architecture is incongruent mental or economic aspects. with the context of modern Thai society. The goal of this study is to examine the Only through the integration of various appropriate Thai character of modern determining factors in the “reinvention” architectural design during the past two approach, can a modern Thai architectural decades. It should be a contributing vehicle identity be created and become an intrinsic for enhancing the creative economy as well part of the country’s cultural heritage in the as generating cultural heritage. future. Research method Research objectives This research, under the title “The Creation Based on an exploratory approach in the of Cultural Heritage: Towards Creating a creation of a modern Thai architectural Modern Thai Architectural Identity,” is a identity, the objectives of this preliminary preliminary investigation of ongoing research. research are as follows: The aim is to determine conceptual 1. To investigate the congruence of current frameworks and critical issues to be Thai architecture identity in modern society, undertaken in more in-depth studies in the especially the identity generated from future. Thus, systematic physical surveys of traditional architecture, applied Thai buildings which exhibit various Thai architecture and the aesthetic abstraction characteristics will be conducted together approach. with document surveys of previous studies. The formation of a basis of information and 2. To examine the various determining factors theoretical and analytical frameworks would and propose design guidelines for creating a lead to the comprehensive formulation of Thai architectural identity for modern Thai research problems, creation approaches and society through ‘reinvention’ with the intention sustainable measures for the development to create future cultural heritage. of Thai identity in modern architecture. 3. To study the approaches for enhancing the sustainable development of the creation In addition, the conclusion of the findings of a modern Thai architectural identity. reached in this preliminary study will be confirmed through a review of experts, 4. To study the opportunities and benefit practitioners and those involved, regarding potential that can be postulated through the issues raised in the discussion of this employing modern Thai identity in study. 62 Downloaded from Brill.com09/27/2021 08:05:16AM via free access The Creation of Cultural Heritage Research scope According to the five research objectives, this study examines architectural works that exhibit various patterns of Thai character constructed since 1947, and those that reveal attempts to express a modern Thai architectural identity. The latter cover only works of the past two decades when the lack of a Thai architectural identity had been publicly perceived and criticized Figure 5: National Library Building (Horayangkura 1986). As a whole, the goal of this research is to investigate the collective development of a Thai identity in architecture rather than present an in-depth case study of architectural works. Research results and discussions The congruence of Thai architectural identity within the context of present Figure 6: Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton society Reserve, Krabi A review of the scant criticisms of Thai a) Traditional Thai Architecture architectural identity, as subsequently cited in relevant texts, and surveys of buildings The application of traditional