Get to Know the Creative Districts Ahead of BKKDW2024: Wongwian Yai-Talat Phlu

Advancing the Thonburi side’s culture by connecting generations in two rail-linked neighborhoods.

Wongwian Yai, a historic neighborhood long inhabited by native and Chinese-descent Thai communities in the Thonburi area, and Talat Phlu, an ancient culinary district centered around a bustling market and train station operating 24 hours, are notable for their cultural assets and strong community bonds. These areas are among the design showcases at this year’s Bangkok Design Week.

What challenges are the venerable creative neighborhoods of Wongwian Yai and Talat Phlu currently facing, and what are their design plans for this year’s festival? To elaborate, we have Dr. Nattha Savavibool from the School of Design and Architecture, Sripatum University, Co-Host of Bangkok Design Week in Wongwian Yai-Talat Phlu.

The Land of Unity, Rich in Food Culture

“Actually, the Wongwian Yai and Talat Phlu areas have prominent backstories. Talat Phlu, specifically, is about food culture, the lifestyles of the local community, beliefs related to shrines & temples, architecture, and various local wisdoms. Last year in Wongwian Yai, we talked about leather making, which was well-received. This year, we thought to continue expanding on leather to further its impact.”

The Wongwian Yai-Talat Phlu District is a prominent food culture hub on the Thonburi side, notable for its long history of settlement and famous array of eateries, as well as the accessibility of their gastronomical excursions. Originating from Wongwian Yai, where four major roads converge — Prajadhipok Road, Lat Ya Road, Somdet Phra Chao Tak Sin Road, and Intharaphithak Road — the area is also well-served by the BTS, MRT, and railways by the State Railway of Thailand.

With the self-sufficiency and the strong collaboration of its community, including groups like “Talat Phlu Du Dee,” “Ask Me, I am from Talat Phlu,” “Young Thon,” etc., the Wongwian Yai-Talat Phlu District has been recognized as another creative district that consistently develops at all levels.

A Bit of Love that Lasts

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Wongwian Yai-Talat Phlu District is sought-after, as it continuously attracts many people interested in offering help and working consistently. This includes networks of citizens, organizations, and various universities. However, Dr. Nattha explained that from another point of view, this aspect of the area does not benefit it as much as one would think. The challenge is how to make the community able to sustainably run various projects independently, given the influx of people wanting to work in the area.

“The community really wants to work continuously, but sometimes different groups come in only for specific projects. Once the project period is over, the community members have to find ways to continue on their own. But when there are more projects than the community can handle, it might lack the manpower to run these projects continuously. This also involves budget issues, often waiting for state funding, which disrupts continuity. However, having an event once a year or conducting workshops periodically can stimulate them occasionally.”

Integrating the Community into Coursework to Sustainably Enhance Student Knowledge

For Sripatum University, an educational institution that has long worked with the Talat Phlu area, Dr. Nattha explained that the team strives to design collaborations with the district systematically and inclusively. It begins with accepting challenges from the community and designing them into coursework so that students can learn through hands-on experience in real-world settings. It concludes with evaluating feedback after the coursework is completed to improve it for future iterations, repeating this cycle continuously.

“From the student’s perspective, the primary approach is to first accept a challenge. We already have a course on exhibition design and furniture creation. We believe we should utilize our knowledge and teach it to the students, providing opportunities to work on real projects. Nowadays, students prefer learning outside the classroom, enjoying hands-on experience.

“The local community also benefits. Sometimes they want to do something but don’t know how. For example, tours in the area have existed but weren’t sustained. Once we accept a challenge, we consider which student groups to involve or how to integrate it with other subjects, managing the students’ time to help. Thanks to our continuous work in this area over several years, we enjoy good cooperation, a familiarity with the locals, and the community sees the benefits of organizing activities, leading to excellent collaboration. The district administration is supportive too, making the process quite smooth.”

Invitation to ‘Tour Long’ in Wongwian Yai – Talat Phlu

Dr. Nattha concluded by revealing the concept of Bangkok Design Week in the Wongwian Yai-Talat Phlu area for this year: “Tour Long,” which is Thai slang for getting torn apart or heavily criticized online.

“This year, we come with the concept ‘Tour Long,’ but in a positive sense. We want to encourage people to journey into the area for cultural exchange. This includes the older existing residents and the incoming younger generation. Fundamentally, we aim to build upon the existing cultural capital of the community and open spaces for people to learn through creative design work. Moreover, the workshops will aid in generating income and revitalizing the area, making it more vibrant.”

The activities are divided into three main groups:

“First is the Exhibition/Installation group, including street furniture that’ll remain in the area for public use after the event. The exhibitions will narrate stories, particularly in Talat Phlu, focusing on food culture. The exhibitions will be situated near the train station, embodying the concept of ‘Tour Long: Train’ to connect Talat Phlu with Wongwian Yai. From the train station, visitors arrive at Talat Phlu, which features exhibition/installation art and street furniture. Just beyond Talat Phlu, there will be installation art at the shrine, discussing beliefs and superstitions and providing photo-ops for visitors to check in. On the Wongwian Yai side, installation art will tell stories about leather, located in the tunnel near King Taksin Monument, a popular spot for taking photos, leading to Charoen Rat Road, known for leather businesses. This will be coupled with a walking tour led by local residents from the group, ‘Ask Me, I am from Talat Phlu.’

“Second is the academic symposium related to design held in collaboration with King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), using the KX Innovation event space at the university.

“Finally, the workshop group mostly continues from last year, such as wooden toy workshops, ‘Chula’ kite-making, and lion head crafting, which received positive feedback. These workshops will be led by members of the community, who are eager to participate. New additions include handcrafted notebook workshops and craft beer workshops using local ingredients. In Wongwian Yai, there will still be leather workshops and dried flower making.”

Experience diverse food culture and craftsmanship by taking a train to the Wongwian Yai-Talat Phlu District at Bangkok Design Week 2024.

Get to know Wongwian Yai-Talat Phlu better through the neighborhood’s recommended programs:

Tour Long Talat Phlu

www.bangkokdesignweek.com/bkkdw2024/program/73705 

Shrine Tour: 7 8 9 Fire to Fire

www.bangkokdesignweek.com/bkkdw2024/program/73672 

DIY: Handmade Leather Products

www.bangkokdesignweek.com/bkkdw2024/program/74031 

DIY: Uncle Buerk’s Kite Workshop

www.bangkokdesignweek.com/bkkdw2024/program/73880 

Click to see all the programs of Wongwian Yai-Talat Phlu District here:

www.bangkokdesignweek.com/bkkdw2024/program?nbh=49829 

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Bangkok Design Week 2024

Livable Scape

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27 Jan – 4 Feb 2024

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