Field surveys, participant observation and resident interviews in Chumphon found buildings from multiple periods, religious spaces, piers, shops and river walks forming a living cultural landscape.
Key findings
- Wooden, Art Deco, Modernist and contemporary buildings narrate change; shrines, temples, piers, shops and plazas remain social hubs. Circulation and mixed use sustain vitality, while overlapping users negotiate power.
Why this matters globally
The study supports conserving relationships and uses, not just façades, and warns creative-economy development against displacement.
Thai researcher contribution
A Chulalongkorn University researcher interpreted Tha Taphao's landscape through resident perspectives.
Limitations to consider
Informant numbers, selection and power diversity are unspecified. Mental maps reflect one period, and development recommendations were not impact-tested.