Abstract:
In the past Bangkok had a number of waterways such as river, klong, ku, lam kradong, rongsuan, etc. Waterways were used for agriculture, drainage, defense, transportation and land development. Nevertheless, waterways had continuously changed. Settlements along the Chao Phraya river initially occurred on klong, ku, lam kradong and kanad suan. As time went by, moats had been excavated during the early Rattanakosin period. During modernization period in the reigns of kings Rama 4 and 5, many modern waterways had been excavated; yet, many old waterways were filled up as water transportation grew less popular. The transformation of waterways in each period more or less had an impact on the urban pattern of Bangkok. The objective of this dissertation is to study the transformation of waterways and its impact on the urban pattern of Bangkok. Using three layers of historical maps, waterways, roads, and buildings are analyzed. In the macro scale, the research focuses on two adjacent areas : Pathumwan and Bangrak districts. Originated from the orchard system, both districts contain plentifully and variety of waterways, and have continuously changed through history. In the micro scale, the research focuses on ten areas with different patterns of waterway transformation in Pathumwan and Bangrak districts: Trok Chalong Krung, Wat hua lampong, Lumpini, Praisani klang, Wat Suan Phlu, Chong nonsi BTS station, Wat Baromniwat, Charoenphon, Wat Duang Khae, and Siam square. The study reveals that firstly, there are changes of waterways in the study area. Secondly, urban pattern in the study area had been based on two periods of waterways : the Old Waterways, and the New Waterways. Old waterways include waterways that had been excavated before the signing of the Bowring Treaty in 1855 : Klong Chong Nonsi, Klong Saensab, Klong Phadung Krung Kasem, Klong Nang Hong, Klong Som Poy, and the miscellaneous Lam kradong and Rongsuan. New waterways include waterways that had been excavated after the Bowring Treaty : Klong Thanon Trong, Klong Sathorn, Klong Si Lom, Klong Orachorn and Klong Suan Laung. Thirdly, the study reveals that waterways in the study area have become almost extinct. Finally, most of the new waterways had been transformed into major roads, while the old waterways and Rong suan ridges had turned into minor roads. These major roads and minor roads controlled the shapes of land parcel, which in turn defined building forms. Accordingly, waterways and their transformation had a great impact on the urban pattern of Bangkok.