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Nationality: Thai
Year of entry: 2013
Background
Kisnaphol trained as an architect from School of Architecture and Design (SoA+D), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi and Silpakorn University, Thailand. During 2005-2013, he worked as a fulltime instructor in Architecture Program at SoA+D, KMUTT, Thailand.
His previous works and research were within the broad range of community housing, low-income community development, historic urban community revitalisation/ renewal and he also collaborated in some other architectural activism and social engagement projects.
His current interest focuses in the informal urbanism in Thai and Asian contexts, and particularly in the aspects of the everyday life and also the emerging planning theories in relation to the urban complexity.
- Research information
Title: The Practice of Mobile Market as the Making of Bangkok Everyday Urbanism
Keywords: informal practice, city-making, everyday urbanism, assemblage, rhythm
Abstract:
The research seeks to understand the emergence and multiple practices of one form of urban informality in the context of Bangkok, which is commonly known as the practice of mobile market or that of ‘rod-kub-khao’. Taking its roots from the informal street market and mobile vending, this informal practice moves and weaves through the interstices of the urban fabric, adding another layer of Bangkok’s complexity and unique character. Building upon such empirical data, the research investigates how Bangkok everyday urban spaces are being made/assembled and remade/reassembled by these ordinary people through such practice of the mobile market. In doing so, this study applies the ethnographic methodology of participant observation for the fieldwork/ data collection and adopting the theoretical framework based on Deleuzo-guattarian thinking (Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari), in analysing the multi-scalar spatio-temporal assemblages of such practice in the everyday life of Bangkok. Also, the theoretical articulation with urban geographers like Henri Lefebvre and Michel de Certeau will further provide useful lenses in the understanding of the everyday spatial practices in contemporary urban society.
In particular, this research explores how such informal practices play an influential role in the process of city making and how they have creatively collaborated in this process. The focus of the research is not only to understand the assemblage of the practice of mobile market in itself, but also to explore another way of understanding the city through the flow and mobility. Visualising these ordinary, mundane routes and the mobility patterns of the mobile market, could reveal some overlooked aspects of the urban rhythm. The ultimate goal of this research is to contribute to the conceptualisation of the city through flow and rhythm and as well as to contribute to the urban informality debate over the formal-informal dichotomy in the planning discipline. It would also reaffirm the continuum and mix of informality-formality that is vital to any city. With these objectives, it endeavours to render the complex urban networks at play at multi scalar level, and the co-existence and the intertwined relationship of formal and informal elements, and the creative transformation of the mobile practices that shape Bangkok urbanism with its unique character and lively atmosphere.
Supervisors: Dr Camillo Boano and Dr Colin Marx
Funder: Royal Thai Government