Shopping malls now hive of social activity

Anchalee Kongrut

Civic groups and town planning experts want more space for arts and cultural activities in the city.

They are worried that Bangkok, once a city of cultural diversity, appears to have lost its old charm to shopping malls and modernity that serves only tourism and commercial development.

Bangkok has become a city with an insipid lifestyle, unsightly architecture and confusing cultural identity, said Chaiwat Thirapan, director of Bangkok Forum, a civic group advocating public participation.

``Sadly, department stores have become the only place for social activity. Teenagers drift into shopping malls and computer-game stores, as the government and businessmen reserve land for building condominiums and shopping malls,'' said Mr Chaiwat.

Kwansuang Atibodhi, former town planning lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, said Bangkok was once an elegant city with a majestic architectural style, and people had a rich cultural lifestyle.

``At one time Bangkok dwellers were literature buffs. Book fans even waited in front of publishing houses for sequels of the book they cherished,'' said Mr Kwansuang.

The city, unlike the old days, was short of space where people could share community life, and take part in social activities.

Meanwhile, Preecha Songwattana, owner of Fly Now local fashion, said many cultural sites in Bangkok such as Bang Lamphu were spoiled by decadent developers who tried to transform every tourism magnet into a Pattaya or Phuket by building beer bars and night-clubs.

Mr Preecha, also adviser to the National Economic and Social Development Council, is concerned areas along the Chao Phraya river banks will eventually become sites for upscale condominiums while places of symbolic values such as Pak Khlong Talat (flower market) would have to be moved.

Chuvit Sucha-Xaya, associate professor at Silpakorn University's urban design & planning department, said state policy destroyed the city's urban landscape. Old town districts gave way to commercial buildings. The city's business districts, such as Silom, were chaotic with traffic jams.

Mr Chuvit said land zoning in Singapore preserved vintage colonial shophouse districts, environmental-friendly residential areas and an orderly business district. Bangkok should do the same.

Nikom Wairatchapanit, chief of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's policy and planning department, said the town planning law had failed to control the business sector.

The law had failed to curb the expansion of large retail stores and high buildings in the inner city, which destroyed small-scaled local retail stores.

Jirapha Worasiangsuk, lecturer at Thammasat's faculty of social science, said the town planning law, while emphasising public participation, gave priority to real estate developers and landlords at the expense of small stakeholders, such as tenants and labourers.

Ms Jirapha also criticised the city conservation plan issued by the Committee for Conservation and Development of Rattanakosin and Old Towns. The plan seeks to improve the old town landscape with larger visual space and parks by removing at least 20 local communities.

Pakamkrong Pongpaiboon, of Art Connection, a civil group promoting art and culture, said Bangkok, while being overfed with buildings, shopping malls, was malnourished in terms of ``food for thought'' _ museums, public libraries and public space for youngsters and artists.

She said the state should allocate land so civic groups and artists could display their work and join social activities. The state rarely created projects for its own people, she said.

``We hear so often of construction projects which will boost tourism and turn the city into a financial hub. I wish candidates for city governor would propose projects that serve city people,'' said Ms Pakamkrong.