The objective of this research is to demonstrate the function of the city space based on how it has affected the transformation of social structure in Bangkok, Thailand, by examining modernisation projects conducted during the reign of Rama VI (1910–1925) from the viewpoint of nationalism and by spotlighting domestic and international affairs.
Offering a definition of the spaces that were used for experimenting with the introduction of modernisation as ‘experimental spaces for modernisation’, two such projects are highlighted in the research. One is a modern miniature city ‘Dusit Thani’, hereinafter referred to as ‘DT’, where experimentation was conducted to introduce modern systems. Another is ‘The Plan for the Siamese Kingdom Exhibition’, hereinafter referred to as ‘SKE’, which planned on presenting the space from the perspective of the Siam Kingdom.
By analysing these projects, the following three points were clarified.
First, it was revealed that DT worked as a bridge that helped people to connect the current state of the Siam Kingdom with the ideal picture of modernised politics and society, while SKE worked to make people believe that the current state of the Kingdom represented the ideal picture of a modernised country.
These real-world projects made it possible to provide affinity and homogeneity in Thai society and contributed to creating fictitious concepts as reality. These spaces came about because the Siam Kingdom at the time was a non-colonized modernising country. As a result, these experimental spaces for modernisation demonstrated the modern national statue, which was the ideal of the Siam kingdom.
Second, one of the intentions of DT and SKE was to prevent a coup d’état internally, and one of the intentions of SKE was to externally prevent colonisation by presenting a picture of a modernised country. These experimental spaces for modernisation attempted to show that the Siam Kingdom was modernised nationwide as it was an absolute monarchy and a non-colony. In other words, the experimental spaces for modernisation were expected to prevent movement against the ideal modern state image.
Lastly, DT and SKE indicated that the experimental space for modernisation and the adaptation of the concept of ‘population survey · map · museum’ related to the ideal modern national statue emerged. In other words, Rama VI, the ruler of DT, SKE and the existing society, attempted to make it clear to domestic and foreign parties that he could govern the ideal modern state. Therefore, in the process of forming nationalism, the experimental spaces for modernisation were attempting to demonstrate the legitimacy of the political situation, and the rulers of the existing society of an unmodernised country were appropriate for governing even after modernisation was achieved.
