Design Guidelines for the Interior Physical Environment of Wat Lam Phaya Floating Market to Support Cultural Tourism and Flood Management

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) study the cultural context and identity of Wat Lam Phaya Floating Market,    2) analyze the appropriateness of contemporary innovations that enhance cultural tourism experiences and support flood adaptation, 3) examine the characteristics of the interior physical environment related to flood management and tourism activities, and 4) propose design guidelines for the interior physical environment that align with local identity, culture, technology, and resilience to flooding. The study employed a Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods approach, collecting quantitative data from 414 questionnaires and qualitative data from four semi-structured interviews and field surveys. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Multinomial Logistic Regression (MLR), while the results were integrated using the Joint Display method.

The quantitative findings indicated that “local food and products” were identified as the most prominent feature (51.4%), while the “hybrid traditional–modern atmosphere” was the most preferred (66.4%). All five MLR models demonstrated acceptable levels of goodness-of-fit. The qualitative results revealed spatial limitations, including narrow walkways, a level difference of approximately 0.90 meters, flood-prone areas averaging 1,270 m², discontinuous surface drainage, and insufficient shaded areas. The community expressed a conditional acceptance of digital innovations when such technologies do not compromise cultural authenticity and the market’s image.

The integrated findings led to five practical design strategies: 1) Cultural Food and Craft Zone 2) Flood-Resilient Innovation 3) Cultural Resting Nodes, 4) Digital Innovation 5) Community Co-management. These strategies were synthesized into the conceptual framework of “Contemporary Cultural Space” which integrates identity, lifestyle, innovation and the interior physical environment to support cultural tourism alongside sustainable flood adaptation.