Co-living solution for alternative housing development strategy: a case study of Pomprapsattruphai District Bangkok, Thailand

This research aims to address the risk factors in Thailand which are considered the fundamental and important determinants of human security “housing development”. The phenomenon of abandoned buildings in Bangkok has increased significantly. Despite the high demand for urban housing, buildings are speculatively held without being used. Bangkok is facing insufficient accommodation and unaffordable house prices, especially in inner-city areas. The phenomenon of empty buildings can spoil the urban environment. Simultaneously, the development of urban areas has expanded widely to accommodate an urban society. People emigrate to cities for jobs and opportunities. Human settlement in the next two decades is expected to be heavily concentrated in urban areas such as Bangkok and other primary cities (Rattanawaraha, 2020). Therefore, it is necessary to reclaim these abandoned buildings as alternative housing, which can alleviate the housing shortage and enhance a livable urban environment. Our case study is located in Nang Loeng, Pomprap Sattru Phai district. The site was a buffer zone connecting the old and new towns of Bangkok. However, research indicated that most of the communities in Nang Loeng live in buildings and land belonging to the Crown Property Bureau. The majority of community members rent their homes with a short-term lease agreement, which has consequences for investor decisions invest business in the area. Lack of investors results in a large number of abandoned buildings with more than 200 empty in the district, although the area has high market potential. The limitation of land rights and insufficient incentives for real estate development cause a lack of housing variety for those who work in the area. Employees in the area spend 30-minute to 1 hour per day traveling with a rental outlay of at least 8,000-15,000 baht per month. With the problems that occur, alternative housing solutions are needed. For this reason, Nang Loeng can be marked as a potential spot with market opportunities from untapped abandoned buildings in the area for both new public and private investments. as it has lower rental rates than other neighborhoods. Nang Loeng is occupied as a study area for co-living providing a solution for an inclusive housing development strategy. In order to address this problem, the researchers initiated an innovative program for cities and communities to promote livable urban environments by focusing on solving physical, social, and economic problems utilizing building through Co-Living solutions with community participation, social inclusion, and cooperative design. A case study was structured by reviewing the concept and theories, involved definition, market information, comparative case studies, and a review of regulation and tools. The field notes of site observation and in-depth interviews with local residents and stakeholders were conducted in the first phase of research, to reveal a perception of their living urban space. With the user persona tool comprising four different groups, data analysis shows that there are several needs for co-living. Following the iterative principle of data collection by consulting primary and secondary sources has led to analyzing the framework based on the literature review, which has been structured to examine the possibility of creating a co-living environmental concept across the elements of co-living, community, and district. This study has found that the growing phenomenon of abandoned buildings in Bangkok, particularly in the Nang Loeng area is negatively impacting the urban environment. Community members in the area mostly rent their homes with short-term lease agreements, which creates uncertainty for investors and leads to a lack of real estate development in the area. Therefore, the researchers recommend the adoption of co-living as an alternative housing solution that could be employed to repurpose these abandoned buildings and improve the livability of the urban environment. Additionally, the study advocates for policy intervention to manage inclusive housing and address the underutilized asset problem in the city, while designing co-living schemes as tools for further solutions. Designing co-living schemes can serve as a useful tool for providing further solutions to this issue.It is important to prioritize user needs and provide theoretical insights for future alternative housing developments in Thailand. This research highlights the potential of co-living as a viable and innovative approach to promote inclusive and sustainable housing development, with the potential to alleviate the housing shortage and enhance the livability of urban areas.The research is a concept of an innovative approach prioritizing users, which could provide significant theoretical insights for any future alternative housing developments in Thailand.