Assessment of the Potential of Local Food and Area Development to Propose Landscape Architectural Design Guidelines for Ban Na Ton Chan Community, Ban Tuek Subdistrict, Si Satchanalai District, Sukhothai Province

Abstract

This research article aims to evaluate the potential of linking local food experiences with landscape architectural design within the context of the Ban Na Ton Chan community, Ban Tuek Subdistrict, Si Satchanalai District, Sukhothai Province. It emphasizes developing spaces that reflect the community's identity through natural resources and local culture while proposing design guidelines for areas that cater to the needs of tourists and promote sustainability. This study employs qualitative research methods, including field surveys and interviews with 35 participants. These participants consist of 5 community leaders selected through purposive sampling and 30 community members with expertise or experience in local food, agriculture, and traditional ways of life, selected through quota sampling. The research tools include semi-structured interviews, which were designed to allow for flexible and in-depth exploration of participants’ perspectives, along with spatial data surveys. The collected data were analyzed in three steps: physical data analysis, interview data analysis, and data verification and interpretation. The study revealed that local food experiences are deeply intertwined with the community's everyday spatial practices, encompassing production, preparation, and consumption processes. These everyday functional spaces serve as an essential foundation for organizing food-related activities and offer meaningful learning experiences for visitors. Furthermore, five key landscape architectural design strategies were synthesized: (1) integration of agricultural spaces, (2) creation of participatory learning spaces, (3) expression of cultural identity through design, (4) sustainable use of local materials, and (5) development of community-based economic spaces. These strategies are adaptable for application in other contexts of cultural tourism development.