สภาพการอยู่อาศัยในหมู่บ้านจัดสรร อำเภอเมือง จังหวัดสมุทรสงคราม : กรณีศึกษา โครงการหมู่บ้านแสนสุข / ปรีดาพร จักรคำ = Living conditions in housing project in Muang Samut Songkhram municipality : a case study of Sansuk Housing Project / Preedaporn Jukkam
Samut Songkhram municipality is considered a healthy and pleasant area because of its natural resources, culture, art, and history, as well as its location and unique architecture. Housing in Samut Songkhram is currently changing due to the construction of 16 new housing projects by private estate companies. Among them, the Sansuk Village project is currently the sole authorized project for land development. This research examines the overall project and the physical appearance of each housing unit. In addition, the economy, living conditions and problems of the residents were examined. The information was gathered from the present occupants of 27 houses by means of survey, observation and interviews. According to the research findings, only 52% were native Samut Songkhram residents. About half of the residents (55%) were factory employees while around one-fourth (26%) are small business owners. The factors in deciding where to buy were: 1) location (near their workplace) 2) price 3) environment, and 4) property ownership (33% wanted to own their residence). Existing problems were as follows: 1) Their houses did not correspond to their lifestyle, which resulted in 70% of owners requiring renovation or construction extension. For example, the modern kitchen did not serve their cooking purposes, so they had to build their own Thai-style kitchen in the outer area. Next, the parking space was poorly designed. They had to build a roof for the open area, which could serve as either their garage or a multi-purpose area. Parking their car in the public area in the front of their house was a common solution when extra space was needed for a special occasion. Furthermore, enlarging the residential area led to a reduction in the setback area. Also, low quality renovation did not comply with the Building Control Act and affected the safety of the owners themselves. 2) It is found that though the housing planning conformed to housing estate regulations, it did not fulfill the residents’ needs or suit their lifestyle. To clarify, the park in the village was not frequently used, while the street was utilized as a playground or sports area. Moreover, improper parking and obstacles (construction materials left in the village common area, for example) impacted street safety. 3) The location of the Sansuk project itself caused transportation and water utility problems for the residents. From the research findings, there are three main suggestions: 1) For the private housing estate agents, more in-depth studies about the residents’ behavior and space utilization should be done to account for cultural preferences and housing architecture. In particular, concerns for both common area and extension area planning as well as local building regulations would contribute to standard and legal construction and renovation, which would create a pleasant environment and friendlier neighborhood. 2) Housing planning should reflect the cultural patterns and public space utilization of native Samut Songkhram residents, for example, the importance of community functions, multi-purpose use of public areas and convenience of walkways. 3) The housing location should be near factories, equipped with high quality infrastructure, and operated accounting for environmental concerns.
