Mahakan: Neighbourhood Heritage Curation Attempts

The Mahakan neighbourhood is situated in Bangkok s old town, Rattanakosin. As the site of the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, the government has enacted legislation to make Rattanakosin into a civic and cultural district. Mahakan residents have an extended engagement with the city government over the right to stay, helped by local NGOs. Drawing on the advice of experts, Mahakan residents have made a case for making their village a heritage site in line with the Rattanakosin district cultural plans. This project is significant for its attempts to preserve community heritage. Experts argue that the Mahakan site may be the only traditional Thai neighbourhood (old teak houses, without fences, along the canal) left in Bangkok and is therefore worthy of preservation. Interviews with various government officials revealed a different perspective. Mahakan residents have demonstrated their resolve and their responsibility by building a community centre in their village to document the neighbourhood heritage. However, their fight has lost ground as the government has demolished the houses.