Social network and public space of Wat Muen San community, Wua Lai district, Chiang Mai

Abstract

Wat Muen San community, Wua Lai district, is one of the most significant communities in the history and development of Chiang Mai. It has been a silver craft community since the revival of Chiang Mai and is well known to have a strong social network. From the public space concept, high-quality public spaces promote optional activities and social activities, then encourage social interactions. It could be stated that public spaces can foster social interactions among people in the community. The study aimed to analyze the relationship between social networks and the use of public spaces by Wat Muen San residents. It used qualitative research methods including observations, in-depth interviews, people following and diary notes, snowball sampling technique and sociogram analysis.

The results identified three interconnected groups of people in the community such as (1) women and craftswomen, (2) traditional craftsmen, and (3) new generation craftsmen. The utilization of public spaces aligns with diverse communal areas, encompassing temple precincts, streets , residential fronts, and neighborhood shops. It was also found that Wat Muen San was the main public space and an important space for multi-purpose activities. While the streets were informal social areas for people of all groups, the house frontages were meeting areas for optional activities, and the local shops were social areas related to necessary activities.