Workshop Design Creative City Development - Bang Pho Bang Post 2025

Abstract

This article presents the strategic development of the "BANGPHO BANGPOST 1-Day Trip: Creative Bang Pho Legacy’s Tourism 2025", a project designed to investigate frameworks for organizing creative district activities based on the assessment of costs, cultural assets, and district identity. The study aims to synthesize data to formulate a conceptual framework, positioning strategy, and developmental roles for the creative district. Furthermore, it explores business opportunities and economic feasibility to attract tourists and stimulate local spending. The methodology involves on-site data collection, field surveys, and stakeholder engagement—including local entrepreneurs and community members—to develop the Bang Pho district map, tourism programs, and woodworking workshops. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Pracha Naruemit Community, the Bang Sue District Office, and the Faculty of Architecture and Design, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB).

The project aligns with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) "Creative Districts" policy, which seeks to leverage local charm, community lifestyle, and cultural capital. Drawing parallels with global models, specifically the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), this study utilizes Asahikawa, Japan, as a primary case study. As the second-largest city in Hokkaido and a UCCN member, Asahikawa is renowned as a hub for timber furniture and interior design, exemplified by the annual "Asahikawa Design Week" and the "Asahikawa Design Center." despite geographical and cultural differences, both Bangpho and Asahikawa share a core identity as specialized industrial clusters for woodworking. This comparison provides valuable insights into transforming a manufacturing hub into a creative destination.

Now in its second year, the project focuses on expanding its target demographic to include the younger generation and niche tourists interested in woodworking. The strategy emphasizes lifestyle integration and experiential learning to encourage spending within the district. The core activity features a woodworking workshop designed around the psychological concept of the "IKEA Effect," which posits that individuals place a higher value on products they partially create themselves. To ensure the activity is feasible within a limited three-hour timeframe, the workshop utilizes "Pre-fabricated Kits." This approach mitigates the risk of error, guarantees a successful outcome, and fosters a sense of achievement among participants. Ultimately, this initiative serves as a catalyst for public relations, attracting professional designers and enthusiasts to collaborate with the community, thereby driving the Creative Economy and generating sustainable revenue for local entrepreneurs.