IN-PERSON: Livable Cities – New York

Abstract

According to what Brad King wrote in Manual of Museum Exhibitions (2022), museums are civic society institutions supporting both informal learning and also a kind of “school for living” and citizenship. It has long been understood that museum is a building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic, or cultural interest are stored and exhibited. However, museum has currently developed beyond its collections. The role of a museum has shifted from an institutional-like space to perform as a civic space. Museum becomes a place where human interaction and social discourse established. Designing museum supporting facility is a design quality for museum to achieve the role of a civic space, as it involves spatial design both interiors and architecture to provide museum visitors with facilities to support before/in-between/after exhibition, civic engagement, education and learning supports and public activities. This paper aims to elucidate selected examples of how national museum in Thailand, museum which is maintained and funded by a national government, can be one of the places that contribute to the idea of livable cities. National museum that can create bond in neighborhood, support both formal schooling and family learning, inspire individuals and be a place for leisure and oasis for city dwellers. With challenging development of museum supporting facilities, learning activities and public programs, national museum located in different regions of Thailand has redefined its position and has attempted to create connection to social contexts by expanding the boundaries of museum spaces to be a part of people’s everyday life.