Old market community - Min Buri, Bangkok, Thailand
''What can a over 100-year old market building can be transform ? ''
This amazing community building is located at Min Buri, Bangkok, Thailand , which was a over 100-year old market building . Below are some information for this building .
Location : Min Buri, Bangkok, Thailand Client : Old Market Community Project : Community Centre / Library Cost : 27,000 NOK / 4.500 USD Building period : March 2009 – May 2009 Collaborator : CASE Studio Architects Built by : TYIN tegnestue/Local Community
''We aim to build strategic projects that can improve the lives for people in difficult situations. ''
So , who are TYIN ?
TYIN tegnestue is a non-profit organization working humanitarian through architecture. TYIN is run by five architect students from NTNU and the projects are financed by more than 60 Norwegian companies, as well as private contributions.
The commercial centre of the Min Buri Market had already moved across the canal due to a fire in the late nineties. As the years have past by the community has diminished from a lively origo into an almost slum-like area. The land rights are uncertain and partly because of this the inhabitants are reluctant to invest in their homes.The people of The Old Market Community belong to a large group called Urban Poor.
Urban Poor is a term used to describe those who do not enjoy security of tenure and have limited access to services like health, water, sanitation, housing, education, and/or employment. Even though many of the people in Min Buri have an income, they are suffering from the high cost of living in urban areas as the demands of an accommodationis higher as the density grows.
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Therefore , the aim of the library project is to strengthen the passion in the neighborhood that eventually can contribute to a positive development in the area. At the same time it also provide the knowledge to the people who are living in this community area , and turn it into a nice environment to the people to gather which is free to them.
In my opinion ,
Throughout this project , the architects are working with the local people together to turn this place into a very nice environment . This strengthen the bond between the neighbourhood itself and the people who are living in that area. The refurbishment was a demonstration of what can be achieved by the inhabitants themselves, through own initiative, using local inexpensive materials and their own knowledge. This helps the people there changing their life style , although strating from a little step , but as long as this mind goes on , it will make them become more happier .
