| บทคัดย่อ(English) |
With profound faith In Buddhism, some devout Buddhists make merit by constructing new temples and religious buildings. However, the construction is carried out withoutsupervision, hence there are a number of problems in both the design and the construction processes. The objective of this study is to investigate steps involved in designing and constructingtemples at present, as well as to examine existing problems so that recommendations can be madefor designing and constructing new temples. Data were collected from theories related tomanagement and basic knowledge about temples and from the current design and construction of temples. Field observations and interviews were also conducted with four groups of individualsinvolved in the design and construction of temples as follows: 1) academics and experts in Thaiarchitecture, particularly temples, 2) theology academics, monks, and abbots, 3) governmentagencies, architects, and engineers, and 4) specialists in management. The findings indicate that at present the design and construction of temples can be classified into two types: 1) the construction of new temples and 2) the construction of religious buildings in existing temples. This can be done without supervision and control of design and construction, which has led to various problems at different stages of the projects. First, the problems at the beginning of the project include coordination with government agencies and lack of government officials to oversee the project. Secondly, the problems that occur during the design phase include unclear distinction between the areas for monks and those for lay persons, improper use of land, the density of buildings, and new buildings blocking theview of old ones. Also, there are architectural problems such as improper use of architectural elements for monks' status, design not reflecting local identity and culture, and deviation from architectural norms regarding temples. This is because the individuals who oversee the design and construction are the abbots, designers, patrons who donate the money, contractors, and local craftsmen and laborers, all of whom may lack knowledge and skills to design temple buildings properly. Finally, the problems that take place during the construction are related to the strength of the structure and safety standards as the design and construction are conducted without asking for permission from proper authorities. Based on the findings, the following recommendations can be made. First, promotional measures should be devised by the public sector which would give more significance to the design and construction of temples. Knowledge should be disseminated among those who are involved with the design and construction of temples. Secondly, legal measures should be imposed to ensure the safety and the strength of the structures. For example, the temple may have to seek permission to construct large and significant structures. Also, a panel of experts, including architects, representatives from related government agencies, and representatives from educational institutes, should be set up to consider the design and construction planningbefore granting permission, with a central committee responsible for the design and construction of temples in Bangkok and its vicinity, and local committees taking charge of their own areas. |
