Abstract:
Sampeng is a Chinese community outside the old city wall. It emerged at the same time with the Rattanakosin Kingdom in the area between Wat Sampluem canal and Wat Sampeng canal. Being a commercial center and an important Chinese community, Sampeng is now facing directionless development due to a lack of understanding about the value and background of the area especially at the beginning of Sampeng. This research aims to study physical changes and the relation between morphological transformation and settlement in Sampeng, in order to understand its development from past to present and make use of the lessons learned to improve the urban design in the future. From literature reviews, there are very few studies about Sampengs overall picture, especially between Rama I and Rama V period. Most studies of that time were history and specific area. Changes and developments in that time are important factors that formed the area to be Sampeng as we know today because they were an early stage of settlement and many important turning points happened at that time. Orchard plot is a previous morphology in Sampeng. Its main road is Sampeng road, developed from a line connecting Sapan-hun city gate to the temples along Chaopraya river outside the city. Sampeng is connected to the Chinese community in Talad Noi and Klong San at the other side of Chaopraya river by many piers and relocations of Chinese families on both sides. Chinese community moved from Ta Tien in Rama I to Rama III period had community center around Sampeng road. Charoenkrung road, Yaowarat road, and many new roads were constructed in Rama IV and Rama V period. They were connected into the city through old gate and fortress and connected existing routes. These new developments occurred in the north of Sampeng and connected to the former area with alleys all the way to the river. When old and new routes are joined, traffic networks and buildings in the area are also developed. Transformation in Sampeng has been influenced by various factors such as physical, social, and economic, including the royal familys ownership of many plots along the river. This also resulted in land development around Itsaranuphap alley to be the communitys market center and expanded into other orchards areas. And key developers in Sampeng were those Chinese businessmen who had social or economic relationships with former noblemen in Thailand.