Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 42 ( 2012 ) 153 – 158
Junjira Nunta and Nopadon Sahachaisaeree
Resumed by Pindo Tutuko
Investigation about factors affecting the formational pattern of cultural landscape and the formation of urban settlement. Indication that urbanization affected the formation of urban settlement and the changes in dwellers’ perceptions. Perception of the local dwellers should be the prime factor to be considered in the planning and management of urban settings.
Introduction
The spatial pattern of human settlement was determined and readjusted not only by the daily human needs, but also by their social norms and cultural settings.
The research is yearning for the utilization of resultant to identify the process by which the pattern of vernacular settlement explaining the significant of social identity and livelihood in the past could be beneficial to explain the current social dynamic in the modern urban community.
Methodology
There are 2 objectives in this study that includes: to study the dynamic of vernacular house influencing on the transformation process of urban settlement and cultural landscape; and finally, to explain the perceived process and response of local people towards meaning and changes of cultural landscape.
An integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches was applied to reveal the behavior of relevant users in the built environment. Empirical data were complied by means of questionnaire survey and in depth interview with sample subjects responding to cultural landscape.
Literature Review
The urban form and landscape of a settlement
The interaction of physical structures and their built environment should not be treated separately from human behavior. The built environment is a function of architecture, an integral part of the design problem to be solved, even though the planning and urban design processes are intangible activities.
The conceptualization of cultural landscape
Cultural landscape as the trace and evidence of the changing of land, topography and environment made by men from activities in their community lifestyle or ethnography that appear both in concrete and abstract characteristics.
The taxonomy of cultural landscape
First, the landscape that is intentionally designed and created by men such as garden, park, etc. Second, the landscape that has evolved as a result from changes in society, economy, administration, religion, and belief. Finally, the landscape is involved in religion, art and culture or natural elements.
Results and Discussions
- The research result found that the ways of life and local culture are still maintained.
- Characteristics of the building space and formal pattern had been transformed in accordance with the modern life style, but some traditional style still remains without any improvement.
- Different types of architecture are found in the study areas. The original buildings are entirely made from wood.
Building pattern is usually a one-story house with high basement which area was used for storing agricultural equipments or for leisure activities.
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The basement is so transformed and rebuilt by new material and subdivision to accommodate activities such as storing unused material and garage.
Results from the housing survey found four types of building pattern in accordance with building material and housing structure;
1) Typical one-story houses;
2) Transformed houses which interior space was adjusted and adapted basement as functional area.
3) Contemporary houses;
4) Modern houses which used new material such as concrete and tiles. There are one storey and two-storey.
Units of houses were divided to two types; a) more than 30 years and b) less than 30 years.
Recent road construction further brought about linear extension and a typical physical development.
Houses were built along the road ruined the typical pattern of settlement. Spatial settings and urban pattern were gradually changed.
The results from questionnaires found that both cultural landscape and physical area had affected on the perception and response of dwellers towards cultural landscape changes.
Coinclusion
- Urbanization had affected formation of urban fabrics as well as changed the dweller’s perception.
- Recent road construction further brought about linear extension and a typical physical development.
- Houses that were built along the road ruined the typical pattern of settlement. Cultural identities were proved to determine the origin of cultural landscape.
- Perception of the local dwellers was found affected the response process in both changes in cultural landscape and physical appearance of the settlement.
- Perception of dwellers concerning cultural landscape should be the prime factor to consider in the planning and management of urban settlement in any particular area where physical landscape is bound to be transformed.
- Moreover, the community management should include the education of local people about culture conservation to achieve consciousness and awareness as based on surveys and opinion in the summary.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.04.176
