FOR OVER 8 YEARS, COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CHANTHABOON RIVERFRONT COMMUNITY AND ARSOM SILP INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS HAS SET AN EXAMPLE OF WELL-BALANCED COMMUNITY PRESERVATION, REGENERATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
The Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts and Chanthaboon riverfront community’s “culture-led commerce” vision and sustainable preservation is ultimately enabled through social enterprise, a concept that later led to the foundation of Chanthaboon Rak Dee, an organization that is currently overseeing two historical residences: Baan Khun Anusornsombat House, a refurbished community learning center and Baan Luang Rajamaitri, a renovated local Historical Inn. These efforts have brought about ample learning resources for organizations, agencies and other historical communities while facilitating architectural preservation and cultural regeneration through encouragement and inclusion of the locals’ participation. Locally made products are also improved and redesigned to encapsulate local identity and uniqueness, following the intention of community members. Aside from such collaborative preservation the undeniable benefits brought about both by and for the community, Arsom Silp Institute also earned Baan Luang Rajamaitri an Outstanding Preservation Award in the Institution and Public Building category from the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage.
Baan Luang Rajamaitri, Image courtesy of Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts
Baan Luang Rajamaitri, Image courtesy of Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts
