Research & Article

Chiang Mai city was planned in accordance with distinctive concepts and knowledge. The city was designed to be the center of Lan Na with a square shape that differentiated it from other urban areas. The city was located between Doi Suthep and the Ping River. Rainwater falling on Doi Suthep flowed eastward along rivers and streams that fed into the Ping River, providing water supply for various settlements, an ancient swamp, and irrigation canals along the way. These streams and canals were systematically managed. The planning of the city reflected three overlapping concepts: the city as a living body; the city as an astrological device (thaksa mueang); and the city as representation of the cosmos.