Values assessment to propose guidelines for promoting perception of the cultural landscape: the Ratchadamnoen Road route to access Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawiharn heritage site, Nakhon Si Thammarat

In the old city of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawiharn is a cultural heritage site that serves as a landmark from the past to the present. The main route to access is Ratchadamnoen Road, part of the centre of religion of the ancient beach ridge settlement. This research aims to evaluate the value of the cultural landscape along Ratchadamnoen Road in accessing Wat Phra Mahathat and proposes guidelines for preserving it, using field surveys to determine the viewpoints regarding Wat Phra Mahathat. The criteria consist of four aspects: aesthetics, history, knowledge, and social, considering the perception of Phra Borommathat Chedi. It was found that Ratchadamnoen Road has significant cultural landscape value, because its continuous use is bound to the community. However, new infrastructures undermine the sense of unity and diminish perceptions. The guidelines are to maintain good conditions and control new buildings to be consistent with architectural styles.