Bangkok, often depicted through its dazzling skyline, bustling markets, and vibrant nightlife, is a city of contrasts. Beneath its globalized facade lie communities that have redefined urban life, creating innovative and thriving models of occupation and belonging. This article unveils their stories, examining how they adapt, innovate, and challenge traditional notions of community in a rapidly evolving cityscape.
Beyond the Surface
Bangkok’s image as a global metropolis often overshadows the intricate layers of life thriving beneath the surface. While home to approximately 10 million inhabitants, the city’s unique occupation model spans far beyond its official boundaries, creating one of the most spatially extended metropolitan areas in Southeast Asia. Unlike more compact global cities, Bangkok has grown horizontally rather than vertically, spreading across the Chao Phraya River delta in a sprawling pattern that encompasses numerous satellite towns and informal settlements. These unseen communities, far from being passive bystanders to urbanization, actively reshape and redefine their environments. Their stories are a testament to human resilience and creativity, painting a fuller picture of Bangkok as a city of innovation and diversity.
Mapping the Margins: Who Are the Unseen Communities?
Unseen communities in Bangkok exist in various forms, including:
Informal Settlements
- Bon Kai: Nestled near central Bangkok, Bon Kai represents a community adapting creatively to urban pressures. Residents have developed local enterprises, fostering economic sustainability and tight-knit social bonds despite their challenges. In any case, the wood houses and the urbanistic pressure over these lands in central Bangkok create numerous problems, like big incendies and insecurity.
- Klong Toey, Bangkok’s largest informal settlement near the port, where communities have created multi-level informal housing and local markets. The most famous slum easy to be visited even by organized tours. There are numerous organisations working on site and a great hip hop scene growing up every year.
- The Rom Klao community in Lat Krabang, where residents have developed innovative housing solutions near industrial areas. These model is very common and appears in many places around the city.
- On Nut Soi 14, where communities have created shared spaces and microeconomics in settlements along the alley.
Migrant Worker Clusters: Located on the city’s outskirts, these communities are built around industries like construction and domestic work, serving as the backbone of Bangkok’s economy.
These models creates infrastructures like fresh markets as in the following gallery located in Chom Thong district in a street with 2 factories (Spices / Packaging) where the population generates this model of clusters, and a local diversity (workers come from all regions of Thiland, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia…) that generates an awesome atmosphere. (Pics by the Author)
Indigenous Enclaves Like the Mon ethnic group: Retaining their unique cultural identity, the Mon communities enrich Bangkok’s tapestry with their crafts, festivals, and distinct way of life as in Ban Koh San Chao area. Here’s the content transformed into flowing paragraphs:
The Mon communities in Bangkok, particularly concentrated in the Phra Pradaeng district, represent one of the city’s most vibrant indigenous enclaves. In the Ban Koh San Chao area, traditional Mon culture thrives through distinctive practices and celebrations, most notably their unique version of the Songkran festival, which differs significantly from its Thai counterpart. The community’s cultural heritage is visible in their Mon-style temples like Wat Song Thum, their traditional stilt houses, and their renowned culinary traditions, especially their famous “Khanom Jeen” (fermented rice noodles) and pottery making.
Along the Chao Phraya River, the Bang Kra Sop and Bang Kradi communities further exemplify Mon cultural preservation. These settlements, strategically located near waterways in keeping with traditional Mon patterns, maintain strong Buddhist practices while actively preserving their linguistic and artistic heritage. The Bang Kra Sop community is particularly known for its traditional weaving, cultural performances, and local dessert making, while Bang Kradi houses several cultural museums and the historic Wat Bang Kradi, where Mon architectural styles and religious ceremonies continue to flourish. These communities share a deep commitment to cultural preservation, with members actively involved in traditional crafts and regular cultural events that help maintain their distinct identity within Bangkok’s diverse cultural landscape.
These groups share common challenges such as housing insecurity, limited access to formal systems, and economic precarity. Yet, their ability to forge strong communal bonds and adapt to their environments is nothing short of extraordinary.
Everyday Resilience: Surviving and Thriving in Urban Margins
Adaptation Strategies
Unseen communities employ ingenious strategies to sustain themselves:
- Informal Economies: Street vending, recycling, and handicrafts are vital economic activities.
- Utilizing Bangkok’s Waterways: Many communities use the city’s canals for transportation, trade, and even housing. Transportation by boat is cheaper than any other way in Bangkok.
Cultural Practices
Preservation of culture is at the heart of these communities:
- Traditional crafts like pottery and weaving continue to thrive.
- Unique festivals and rituals provide a sense of identity and continuity, and collaborates in the cultural richness and diversity of the city.
Case Study: Pom Mahakan
Once slated for demolition, the Pom Mahakan community mobilized to showcase their cultural significance, eventually becoming a model for community-driven redevelopment.
Unseen Art Communities: Creativity as a Model of Occupation
Art communities in Bangkok challenge the notion of marginalization by transforming underutilized spaces into hubs of innovation. These groups exemplify how creativity fosters sustainable living and strengthens community identity.
Transforming Spaces
- Street Art Initiatives: Artists reclaim neglected spaces, turning them into public art galleries.
- Independent Art Hubs: Spaces like Cho Why in Chinatown serve as platforms for exhibitions, workshops, and cultural exchange. Matdot (https://www.matdotart.com/) and the recent brutalist space Bangkok Kunsthalle (https://www.bangkok-kunsthalle.org/) are just demos of the materialization of the silent work of multiple communities along the last 30 years.
Sustaining Livelihoods Through Art
Art-based communities not only contribute to cultural richness but also sustain livelihoods by engaging in creative industries. Events, workshops, and collaborations provide economic opportunities and redefine communal spaces as centers of activity and learning.
Challenges and Triumphs
Balancing artistic independence with commercial demands remains a challenge. However, success stories abound where art has fostered sustainable, thriving communities.
And success is pretty common these days in Bangkok Art Scene. Let´s meet Alex Face, an example of international Thai street art success…
New Models of Communities: Rethinking Urban Belonging
Unseen communities are at the forefront of pioneering alternative models of living:
Grassroots Movements and Social Enterprises
- Urban farming initiatives repurpose abandoned spaces, addressing food insecurity and promoting self-sufficiency. Bangkok and cities in Southeast Asia are among the most vulnerable to climate impacts in the world. Victims of their own rapid development, unchecked industrialization urbanization on rice-producing societies. Unpredictable extremely wet and dry weather is now the new normal, causing flooding, damaging agriculture, destroying livelihoods, and threatening millions of people.
As the largest urban rooftop farm in Asia, the 22,000 sq. m. (236,806 sq. ft.) Thammasat University Green Roof tackles climate impacts by incorporating modern landscape architecture with traditional agricultural ingenuity, the green roof, urban farming, solar roof and green public space.
Government and NGO Collaborations
Efforts like the Baan Mankong program work toward improving housing security and community development, offering a blueprint for future initiatives. The Baan Mankong program promotes a housing upgrading process that lets communities use their group power to deal not only with physical aspects of shelter like housing and infrastructure, but with human and social aspects like health, welfare, social support systems and well-being. So apart from basic infrastructure like walkways, electricity, water supply, drainage and waste management, the housing projects are often designed to include playgrounds, community centers, community gardens and welfare houses which allow the community to look after their own elderly and disabled neighbors.
The program is also interesting in that it provides a legal government policy umbrella for all the informal communities, so the projects they undertake to improve their housing, tenure and environment are legitimized. This merging of public policy, government funding, local partnerships and the creative energy of large numbers of poor communities creates not only a lot of good housing projects, but an inclusive, citywide platform for collaboration and for addressing many other urban development issues.
Challenges and Barriers
Despite their innovation, these communities face significant hurdles:
- Evictions: Urban redevelopment often displaces these groups without adequate compensation or relocation plans.
- Exclusion: Limited access to formal education, healthcare, and legal systems exacerbates inequality.
- Representation: A lack of political advocacy leaves these communities vulnerable to systemic neglect.
The Way Forward: Inclusion and Recognition
Recognizing the value of unseen communities is essential for a sustainable and inclusive Bangkok. Policy recommendations include:
- Integrating Communities into Urban Planning: Collaborative models that prioritize local input.
- Promoting Cultural Diversity: Viewing diversity as a strength rather than a challenge.
- Equitable Development Models: Ensuring access to resources and opportunities for all.
A City of Many Stories
Bangkok’s unseen communities are not peripheral; they are integral to its identity. Their innovative approaches to urban living provide lessons in resilience, creativity, and adaptability. As travelers and locals alike engage with these vibrant groups, they uncover a richer, more nuanced narrative of a city defined by its diversity and dynamism. A richness that most of the time is not visible for the tourist, that just stay in its “ghettos”.
Top 5 FAQ
- What are the main challenges faced by unseen communities in Bangkok?
- Housing insecurity, limited access to formal education and healthcare, and economic precarity are significant challenges. These are exacerbated by rapid urbanization and redevelopment projects.
- How do unseen communities contribute to Bangkok’s cultural landscape?
- Through traditional crafts, unique festivals, and grassroots innovations, these communities add depth and richness to Bangkok’s cultural mosaic.
- Are there any initiatives supporting these communities?
- Programs like the Baan Mankong housing initiative and various NGO projects focus on improving living conditions and empowering these communities.
- How can travelers or locals engage with these communities respectfully?
- Supporting ethical tours, purchasing local crafts, and participating in community-driven events are ways to engage. It’s essential to approach with sensitivity and avoid exploitative practices.
- What role does technology play in supporting unseen communities?
- Technology facilitates access to broader markets, enables advocacy through digital platforms, and provides educational and economic opportunities.
By shining a light on Bangkok’s unseen communities, this article not only highlights their resilience and ingenuity but also presents them as pioneers of innovative occupation models. Together, these stories form a crucial part of the city’s ever-evolving narrative.
Epilogue: Communities for Further Research
Bangkok is a living mosaic of unique and evolving communities that challenge conventional notions of urban living. Beyond those already mentioned, several others deserve exploration to expand the understanding of alternative occupation models in the city. These include:
- The Karen Weavers in Thungyai Naresuan Sanctuary: This indigenous group blends traditional weaving techniques with sustainable practices, creating textiles that support their community economically and preserve their cultural heritage.
- The Urban Nomads of Ratchada Night Market: Vendors and artisans who navigate the city’s evolving market trends, showcasing adaptability in a competitive environment.
- Floating Communities along Lat Phrao Canal: These communities utilize waterways for housing and trade, showcasing an intricate relationship between urban development and natural ecosystems.
- Co-Working Collectives in Ekkamai and Ari: Spaces where freelancers, digital nomads, and creative professionals foster a sense of shared purpose, redefining what it means to be a “community” in the digital age.
- Bang Sue’s Urban Gardeners: A group transforming vacant lots into green spaces, addressing food insecurity and promoting environmental sustainability.
Click here to read the chapter 1 of the Bangkok Series
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