Bangkok's Rattanakosin Island wins 2011 Asian Townscape Awards

BANGKOK, March 5 - The Thai capital won Japan's '2011 Asian Townscape Awards' for its old town Rattanakosin Island.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Deputy Governor Wallop Suwandee received the award at Japan's United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) Fukuoka Office.

Such prizes are organised by the Fukuoka Office together with related Japanese agencies under the theme "Living Environment and Urban Revival", awarding a town/city or a pilot project that lifts the quality of life of its people along with an environmental development.

The criteria for winning the award includes promotion of life safety, the importance to art and culture, correlation between the town's landscape and its people's way of life, the town's creative projects, and being a pilot scheme for other cities in the future.

Bangkok presented itself with the project of 'The Living Bangkok Heritage'. It was a development project with tangible conservation outcomes on four selected areas of old town Rattanakosin Island--Plabpla Maha Jetsadabodin Ground, Santichaiprakarn Park, Nakarapirom Park, and Sanam Luang Ceremonial Ground.

The consideration for the prize winner consists of three processes: the primary selection of towns/projects, onsite inspection by judging committee's representatives from various countries, and the award judgement itself.

In addition to Bangkok, South Korea's Jeju and Pohang and Japan's Kumamoto also won '2011 Asian Townscape Awards'. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-03-05

Seriously? I have seen a number of towns and cities in Asia that have these qualities in far greater quantities. The other day I was riding through this area and I was looking at the large number of 1800s shop-houses now derelict with choking traffic running inches from their closed doors and thought how nice it could be. Imagine a pedestrianised area in this part of town with these buildings renovated and used as hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants. Add in night markets and free entertainment and then I believe this could be a gem in Asia, until then.....

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Removal of unfair criticism

Really? I can't imagine a dirtier and more polluted place in the world. Every time I head down to Worrachak to buy something I think to myself: how can anyone live here? I guess they overlooked all the areas the 'regulars' go to and maybe just took in the tourist attractions?

I just come back from Luang Prabang in Laos.

They are miles ahead of Rattanakosin in terms of preservation of their city, environment and history.

But the thing is: this award is given to projects that are presented to a panel, not through an actual assessment of the current situation. And in my experience, Thai institutions are the best at this. Actually, that's pretty much the only thing government officials seem to do here: PR presentations, shows, seminars and other self congratulation promotional operations.

I was always amazed how the staff of the school I was working with managed to transform the whole appearance of their institution for the few hours of a visit from some VIP/TV Station/Inspectors. Too bad it was done over the previous weeks at the expense of actual teaching.