Preservation of Cultural and Historic Heritage as a Tool for Sustainable Development

Abstract

Cultural preservation is becoming an urgent concern of urban residents worried about the loss of their cities’ cultural identity, history, and heritage. The conservation of this urban heritage and the preservation of the social and economic activities that make use of it, are now seen as part of the community’s sustainable development effort. This chapter addresses this approach to development while exploring the conditions for the preservation of historic buildings and urban spaces in the city of Chiang Mai. The methodology used included reviews of national and local regulations, assessment of the findings of previous studies, structured interviews with residents, businesses, community leaders and local government officials, field work, and a ground survey for the Tha Phae Road case study. The study’s findings are: (a) that Chiang Mai cannot avoid the inevitable influence of cultural and economic modernization; (b) that it is unclear at this point if the efforts of citizens and government can contribute to the long-term sustainability of the city, despite their enhanced awareness of the need for preservation of the local cultural heritage; and, (c) that to become a more important component of the development process, preservation in Chiang Mai should be institutionalized as part of a strategic urban development plan, including documentation, legal and financial support, and community participation.