Baan Krua Community, one of the oldest large Muslim communities in Bangkok, is a community that has a distinctive identity with beautiful architectural value and a way of Muslim culture of Cham origin being passed down for a long time since the reign of King Rama I. With a long history and a shared religious core Baan Krua community remains a strong community as there has been a success history of them protesting the expressway construction projects which planned to cut through the community in the past.

The coming of the urban development project over the past has resulted in the physical and community being which was once unite being divided into three communities. The changes in society, economy and urban development has been changing the role of this city center historic community.

The three community leaders of Baan Krua community are aware of the said challenge and are in collaboration with the Community Organization Development Institute (Public Organization) and Arsomsilp Institute to carry out Baan Munkong project in order to revitalize and develop the Baan Krua community, both in terms of quality of life and socio-economy based on preserving its cultural roots. So the communities can still be historical communities that co-exist together with the city sustainably with dignity and creativity.

---From community’s dark space, to be community art space---

From the participatory process in designing the area for community development of the area under Charoen Phon bridge, Banthat Thong road which is one of the area that the community would like to improve. From the community areas that were once connected but when there is a road cut, the community is cut apart. However, the area under this bridge is still an important route for communities from both sides of the road to commute to each other. Due to the condition of the area under the bridge with low ceiling and dim causing it to be an abandoned area. The community foresees an opportunity to change this area to an art space that exhibits the life and culture of the people of Baan Krua community to both its and general public. That is the origin of the concept of 'Community Art Gallery'.

---The Participation---

To change the desolate area under the bridge into the Community Art Gallery that exhibits the way of community life, the space between the 6 bridge support structures is therefore designated as a canvas for 6 pieces of art that tell the stories from the participatory process during the research and determination of the content between architects and the communities. Total 6 stories reflecting the identity of the community have been concluded from the event of the settlement of the community from Cham volunteer fighters during the Nine-Army War in the reign of King Rama I, the way of Muslim community which centered around the mosque since the beginning of Rattanakosin era, the story about the famous Baan Krua silk which was related to Jim Thompson silk, the unique local foods, the identity of a community along the Saen Saeb canal, including the ancient Nasep play, the famous folk play of the community.

Later, after the architects have collaborated with the community to design all mentioned 6 pieces of art, more than 100 of the community members came together to improve the area from clearing and cleaning the area, painting on the wall, being volunteers to cook for the community members who came to work on the project together and the volunteers who played Nasep music for entertaining and smiles of everyone who joins the area improvement. All communities completed the changing of the area within just one week.

---A public space that enables community revitalization---

            Baan Krua Community Art Gallery represents the power and potential of the community which is divided and hidden behind the change of Bangkok into a large city. After the community has completed the development of this area causing the community to be proud and hopeful, currently, this area is used as for various community activities i.e. religious activities, cultural activities, as well as the initiative of community market activity and the community walking tour that opens community areas to connect with the city and is one of the beginning process of reviving Baan Krua community to come back to life again and become an important cultural and tourist attraction of the city.