The Composition and Value of Architectural Heritages in Pattani Old Town

Abstract

Pattani Old Town, with a total area of 2.35 square-kilometers, is a city having a long history that generates important value and identity in Thailand. The composition and value evaluation process of the architectural heritage sites in Pattani Old Town are examined in this paper, with the objective of characterizing a spatially- defined cultural economy in the Pattani Old Town multicultural ring. The architectural heritage value assessment was done by a committee of experts and key stakeholders based on a weighted rating approach that considered six different criteria: value of the historical and archeological narrative; age and historical character; the buildings, places, and archeological sites condition; architectural and artistic characteristics; the composition and image of city; and the importance to society and community. Results of the value assessment showed 49.3% of the sites received a high score while 50.7% received a moderate score. No sites had a low score. It was found that the old town composition and the valuable architectural heritage sites with a high rating are clustered in the Anoru Sub-district, covering Hua Talat and its neighboring communities, and especially the three architectural heritage sites along the historical roadsides of Anoru Road, Pattani Pirom Road, and Ruedee Road. On these roads, various styles of architectural heritage sites, including traditional Chinese architecture, neoclassical architecture, art deco architecture, mixed Chinese-Malay architecture, and modern architecture are observed. The identification of the old town composition and the value evaluation of the architectural heritage sites led to recommendations for urban planning measures in Pattani Old Town that included a specific plan for managing land use and obtaining permission for construction, repair, and modification of the remaining buildings.