IMPACT OF A LINEAR CITY SPATIAL CONFIGURATION ON OLD TOWN AREA: THE CASE OF THA WANG OLD TOWN, NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, SOUTHERN THAILAND

Nakhon Si Thammarat, a city in southern Thailand, has changed over time following a linear pattern expanding along a north-south axis, characterized by the expansion of urban areas spreading out from its old center, and how these changes have affected Tha Wang Old Town area, once a vibrant trade center, it now struggles to maintain its functionality and spatial centrality have faced challenges amidst the Nakhon Si Thammarat city's growth. As Nakhon Si Thammarat city expanded, the Tha Wang Old Town area's importance changed. This research aims to find the changing pattern of Nakhon Si Thammarat city’s Street layout and public space. the Impact on accessibility, connectivity, and liveability which affects the role of Tha Wang old town as a spatial center in the present day. By using analytical methodologies, Space Syntax, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), to analyse the street layout and public space systems, as a spatial configuration change, based on periods of time. The results found that the urban area expanded to the east along the continuous road development has changed the potential of the spatial centrality of Tha Wang Old Town area over time. In conclusion, the study is not only about history but also about planning for the future. By understanding how a city's spatial patterns change over time to make better decisions about how to preserve their heritage while adapting to modern needs through spatial centrality cognition. The findings offer valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers, showing how to create cities that are both dynamic and maintain the vibrancy of urban life in the Old Town area with a set of knowledge about urban morphology.