Planning interventions as a major driving force for transforming unitary habitats into multi-habitats in the ladkrabang district of Bangkok metropolitan area

Abstract

Planning interventions may lead to both intended and unintended results. A change of focus in planning interventions over time may lead to non-symbiotic relationships among different elements in an urban area. This paper examines the outcomes of three decades of planning interventions in an outer district of the Bangkok Metropolitan area. To corroborate the overall transformation, the paper analyzes the effects of each planning intervention during the successive planning periods. The transformation is analyzed in relation to three major factors; (1) land-use changes, (2) occupational changes, and (3) residential development. The analysis confirms that the change in focus of successive planning and development interventions is a main driving force responsible for the transformation of unitary habitats to multi-habitats in the studied urban area. Although this outcome of the planning interventions is unanticipated, this study argues that progressive change in focus can be an effective strategy to build symbiotic and pluralistic societies.