GPBL2026: Ecomuseum Workshop in Chiang Mai, Thailand

An international GPBL (Global Project-Based Learning) workshop titled “ECOMUSEUM in Chiang Mai” was conducted in Chiang Mai, Thailand, as part of GPBL2026 activities.

The workshop brought together students and researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Chiang Mai University, and Maejo University, and consisted of two main phases combining practical conservation activities and urban survey-based design proposals.

During the first phase, participants spent four days working on the renovation of a community museum together with local residents. The renovation workshop focused on the repair and improvement of a traditional wooden structure, including roof restoration and interior maintenance work. Through direct engagement with the building process, students learned about local construction methods, vernacular architecture, and community-based heritage preservation practices.

The second phase focused on field surveys and design proposals in Chiang Mai’s historic old city area. Participants investigated traditional urban spaces, community environments, local businesses, religious sites, and tourism-related transformations within the old city. Based on these surveys, students developed design proposals addressing the relationship between cultural heritage, tourism, and sustainable urban environments.

The workshop provided opportunities for interdisciplinary exchange among architecture, anthropology, cultural heritage studies, and community planning. Through fieldwork, collaborative activities, and discussions with local communities, participants explored how ecomuseum concepts and community-based approaches can contribute to the sustainable future of historic urban and rural environments in Southeast Asia.