Conservation and Restoration Guidelines for Historical Heritage Buildings: A Case Study of Talad Lang Community, Lop Buri Province

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the physical characteristics, historical value, and significance of buildings
in the Talat Lang community, Lopburi Province, in order to formulate appropriate conservation and rehabilitation guidelines for heritage buildings. A mixed-methods research approach was employed, including a review of relevant literature, field surveys, questionnaire surveys of 284 households, and interviews with relevant agencies.
The findings indicate that the Talat Lang community constitutes a historic urban area with continuous development since the Ayutthaya period and retains three principal building types: wooden row houses, local shophouses,
and early modern shophouses. Most residents perceive the community as having a high level of historical significance and associate its identity primarily with its historic architectural fabric.

The evaluation of building values based on the concepts of authenticity and integrity reveals that, although some buildings retain their original form and elements, repairs, extensions, and the impacts of past fire disasters have reduced the overall integrity of the area. The proposed conservation and rehabilitation guidelines emphasize the preservation of original architectural forms and materials, landscape and environmental management,
the promotion of appropriate building use, and community participation. These measures aim to ensure that
the management of the historic urban area can sustain its identity while accommodating development within a contemporary social context in a sustainable manner.