Representation of Lanna Characteristics in small-scale hotel architectural Design, Chiang Mai

Abstract

         This article aims to explore how the “Lanna representation” is presented in hotel architectural design. It examines the context of Chiang Mai Province between 2012-2022, during which there was a trend of incorporating distinctive local characteristics to create memorable images and competitive advantages in the hotel industry. The research utilized selected representations for hotel design analysis, considering the changing identities within the context of time and place. It employed the criteria of Thai architectural development theory to assess how hotel designs have deviated from traditional Lanna architecture. Furthermore, it employed the concept of “Critical Regionalism” by Kenneth Frampton to analyze meaning and the reimagining of Lanna characteristics, in order to discuss whether the case study hotels is connected to the current local context.

         The study’s findings reveal that the case study hotels have developed two distinct patterns from traditional Lanna architecture. The first pattern is “transformation”, which involves considering the benefits of modern usage while preserving local identity and cultural heritage. The second pattern is “invention”, which diverges from the symbols of traditional architecture but interprets abstract concepts to maintain a sense of locality and Lanna identity. Among the various representations of Lanna characteristics adopted by the hotels, there are six commonly repeated physical representations: the pitched roof, wooden shingle, fretwork, handicrafts, Kalasha pot or flower red pottery, and Lanna zodiac. All these representations utilize a “reimagined” approach, incorporating local architectural elements and embedding  them with new identity-building processes within the existing context.