Market square in Khonkaen. Architectural design for social engagement in Thailand

Traditionally, “Market” is a place where goods and services are traded, it is usually located in the center of the city or a place where people can gather to buy and sell products and services, meanwhile it is a place of socializing, where people to meet and exchange information. Nowadays, the marketplace becomes more complex and various to serve urban lifestyles and urban functions. Market has long tradition in Thailand, it plays important role for different periods of use in history. Today, Thailand is the second largest economy in Southeast Asia, the growth of population makes it is the 19th most populous country in the world. At the same time, Thai culture has been shaped by many influences, it appears more multi-cultural nowadays. The traditional living has been challenging, the young people are searching new living styles. So we questioned, today where and how Thai people meet in their cities? How did the market places change? What are the new needs of a Thai market now? Could there be a new way of thai market space happen in Thailand? Our answers will be shown by the social research and the project. The research includes complex study about Thai people’s activities nowadays from several typical Thai cities, and analysis from various targets, demography, time. The project was developed in one developing Thai city, began from study of the city’s history, density, cultural, climate, developments, followed by the study of the site and surounding communities. In the project, we are trying to find the way of a new Thai market space.