Façades as Defensive Interfaces: Bottom-Up Architectural Adaptations Against Urban Monkeys in Lopburi Old Town

Abstract

Human–monkey conflict in Lopburi’s old town has long shaped residents’ lives and the form of its historic urban fabric. This study investigates bottom-up architectural adaptations developed by local residents to protect their properties from urban monkeys, focusing on both the typology of deterrent elements and their spatial distribution.

Fieldwork documented the façades of buildings surrounding Phra Prang Sam Yot, analyzing each vertical bay from the second floor upward to record how deterrent elements were applied as single or combined strategies. Six principal types of monkey-deterrent elements were identified: ironwork, wire-mesh grilles, solid and slatted façade cladding, barbed wire, and electric fencing. Many of these remain despite the recent reduction in monkey populations, reflecting a long-standing resident-driven response to the pressures of human–monkey coexistence.

Findings show that deterrent measures often appeared as layered protective strategies in areas of intense conflict or higher commercial value, while other sections remained unprotected due to building abandonment or the relocation of residents. The study highlights the façade as a negotiated interface between humans and monkeys, shaping both the appearance and identity of the historic streetscape. Yet these measures remain fragmented, implemented individually by property owners with no communication or coordination, leading to discontinuous protection across the street-façade network and reducing overall effectiveness.

The research underscores the need for integrated urban strategies that recognize the dynamics of human–wildlife coexistence and draw on adaptive architectural mechanisms to inform urban-space design that supports multi-species coexistence, grounded in species behavior, environmental context, and local resources.