Landscape Improvement to Promote Cultural Landscape Values Toward Sustainability: A Case Study of Wat Khongkhaliab, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand

Wat Khongkhaliab is where King Taksin the Great first set foot in Nakhon Si Thammarat, a province in the south of Thailand, during the Thonburi period. Due to the devotion of the local populace and the temple, there is a project to construct a monument to King Taksin the Great and improve the temple's landscape. This study investigates the issues and the impacts of the construction of the King Taksin monument within the Wat Khongkhaliab area. Additionally, the study proposes a sustainable landscaping model to enhance the cultural heritage values at Wat Khongkhaliab. The study employed concepts of cultural heritage value, cultural landscape, sustainable conservation and development of historical sites, and field surveys to analyze land use, transportation systems, open spaces, viewpoints, architecture, cultural landscape elements, and various traditional activities in the area. It proposed ways to make the monument prominent and to create awareness of the cultural landscape elements related to historical events associated with King Taksin's stay at Wat Khongkhaliab, including other cultural heritage sites within the temple. The implementation considered sustainable development principles, including environmental, social, and economic factors, resulting in efficient time and budget management of the first phase of construction.