Issue #2
Genius Loci. Journey about dialectic process between Man with His tools ___________________________ 02
Chiang Mai Series
Tha Phae Gate | Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Genius Loci
Genius Loci.
Genius Loci in classical Roman religion, means the protective spirit of a place. Christian Norberg-Schuluz on “Genius Loci - Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture” has splited spirit of a place into 2 parts, Landscape and Settlement. Including Space and Character as the forms of it. Space refers to every 3 dimensional forms that created the tangible things. And Character refers to the atmosphere of the place, the spatial feelings, or everything that consist of intangible things. To be more simple, Genius Loci is a feeling that reminds you about the place, whether it comes from the memories, culture, human interaction, society, or even the physical of the architecture itself.
When I was visiting Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand for an event, I was amazed by how the Panta Rhei circumstance was emerged solidly. The dialectic process between the so-called modern life and cultural traces or evidences has proved can live together in their harmony. There was some kind of odd ambient that took me away from the chaotic situation that I usually faced on a daily basis. Even maybe I think that Chiang Mai’s city form is kind of a little bit similar to my hometown that consisted with historical and ancient buildings, surrounded by the mountains, and sort of freezing temperature that was really hitting my body trembling. But the people, markets, temples, city’s pattern and even tuk-tuk somehow has really got me lost for awhile. It was really a fascinating journey and experience to be done. Met a lot of new friends, ate khau soy, stopped by law-officer for driving-license checking when I was going to Doi Suthep with motorbike, I would never forget this episode of my journey. Really looking forward to have another chance to visit Chiang Mai again someday, I wish..... And here are some pictures that I think it could represent the value of what it means about Genius Loci. I wish you will get your own pleasure by opening every page of this zine. Kapunkhaap!
Chiang Mai
The dialectic process between Man with his tools are constantly inevitable. Taking architecture as the tool and people as the Man always strict in a condition as philosopher Heraclitus says, Panta Rhei; everything flows, and nothing stays.
Genius Loci Pha Ngoeb
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
About Chiang Mai
01
Chiang Mai
In the late 13th century the Lanna Kingdom covered most of Northern Thailand, as we know it today, as well as neighbouring parts of Myanmar (Burma), China and Laos. Back then it was bordered by Burma (now Myanmar) to the West, China to the North, the Khmer Empire of Angkor (now Cambodia) to the East and Siam (now Thailand) in the South. The 700 year old city of Chiang Mai was built in 1296 to be the capital city of the Lanna Kingdom (the kingdom of a million rice fields) by its ruler King Mengrai. Earlier capitals of the Lanna Kingdom had been at Chiang Saen, Fang, Chiang Rai, Lamphun and WiangKum Kam. The last capital before Chiang Mai was Wiang Kum Kam which was established in 1281 and situated some 5kms southeast of present day Chiang Mai. Wiang Kum Kam was destroyed by flooding from the Ping River around 1294. It then lands hidden for nearly 700 years and was only rediscovered in 1984. Today the excavated ruins of the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam are preserved and on the show as a national treasure and are well worth a visit.
Genius Loci
02 The Lanna Kingdom was ringed by high mountains, teak tree forests and well stocked rivers and its fertile valleys and plains were a rich source of agriculture. Chiang Mai was the main trading town between southern China and the seaports of Burma. As such, it was frequently attacked by its neighbours who tried to claim this prized gem as their own. After centuries of defending itself Chiang Mai was successfully invaded and incorporated into Burma as a vassal state in 1557. Over the next 200 years Chiang Mai fell at various times under the rule of the strongest invader, be it Burma or Siam. In 1774 the then Lanna King with assistance from Siam finally drove the Burmese out of the Lanna Kingdom. The Lanna Kingdom eventually became part of Siam in 1892. The Lanna Kingdom was gradually dissolved and condensed into a 20,000 km² area centered around Chiang Mai. In 1932 the whole Chiang Mai area officially became a province of Siam. In 1949, Siam officially became known as Thailand.
Today’s well-known as Lanna’s Architecture Style
Chiang Mai Mai Chiang
Wat Phra Singh
Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200
Genius Loci
Wat Chiang Man
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Chiang Mai
Doi Suthep Temple
Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200
Genius Genius Loci Loci
Silver Temple
Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200
Chiang Mai Mai Chiang
Wat Chiang Man
Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200
Three Kings Monument
Genius Loci
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Wat Pha Lat
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Wat Phra Singh
Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200
Chiang Mai
Doi Suthep Temple
Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200
Genius Genius Loci Loci Wat Phra Singh
Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200
Chiang Mai
Genius Loci
Wat Phra Singh
Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200
Chiang Mai
Moslem Street
Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200
Genius Loci Tha Phae Gate
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Chiang Mai
Genius Loci
Chiang Mai Street withing Chiang Mai
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Genius Loci
Street within Chiang Mai
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Alley within Chiang Mai
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Chiang Mai Mai Chiang
Alley within Chiang Mai
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Genius Loci
Chiang Mai Alley within Chiang Mai
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Graph Cafe
Genius Loci
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Chiang Mai
Graph Cafe
Genius Loci
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Chiang Mai
Genius Loci
Chiang Mai Warorot Market
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Genius Loci
Boulevard within Chiang Mai
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200
Chiang Mai
Lanna Architecture Center
Genius Loci
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200
Chiang Mai Three Kings Monument
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200
Faculty of Architecture Chiang Mai University
Genius Loci
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200
Chiang Mai
Genius Loci MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200
Chiang Mai
Genius Loci MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200
Chiang Mai
Genius Loci MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200
Chiang Mai
Genius Loci
Wat Pha Lat
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Chiang Mai
Wat in Chiang Mai
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Genius Loci
Chiang Mai Warorot Market
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200
Warorot Market
Genius Loci
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200
Chiang Mai
Warorot Market
Genius Loci
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200
Chiang Mai
Genius Loci Food Supply Market in Chiang Mai Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Chiang Mai
Genius Loci Street within Chiang Mai
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200
Chiang Mai
Genius Loci
Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Ultramax 400
Genius Loci
Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200
Chiang Mai
Genius Loci
Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200
Genius Loci Sunday Night Market
Konica Autoreflex T3 / Fuji Color 200
Chiang Mai
Genius Loci
Warorot Market
Canonet QL17 GIII / Kodak Gold 200
Genius Loci. See you on another series!
Chiang Mai
Sometimes, pictures can speak louder than words. imamsupratiko99@gmail.com @imamssss