The Halal Festival In Kamala

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Remembering Princess Mahsuri

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Streetscape & Five Footway

The historic streets in Phuket town are similar to those found in the former British Straits Settlements. The front verandahs of the row of shophouses join up to form a sheltered walkway, called a ‘five- footway. The Chinese gable roofs, originally of terracotta tiles, are set against the undulating green hills yonder.

The five-footway is made up of a series of front verandahs, offering a convivial, multi-functional social space.

The five-footway also functions as a pedestrian thoroughfare, charmingly framed by a series of arcades.

However, these passages are increasingly blocked by goods and motorbike parking.

Urban renovations in recent years have covered up local drains. Though the sidewalk is attractively made, it circumvents the problem of blocked five-footways. Another challenge is to deal with the messy overhead electrical wiring.

The challenge is to make Thalang Road a ‘Walking Street’, recovering social space and safety for pedestrian and non-motorised street users.