Samart Suwannarat
Urban Researcher and Founder of Mae Kha City Lab

The restoration of Mae Kha Canal, an ancient drainage canal in the heart of Chiang Mai, is more than just a physical upgrade—it’s about creating a space that benefits the community sustainably.

Alongside Chiang Mai Municipality’s 2022 initiative to improve the canal’s landscape and water quality, Samart Suwannarat, an urban development researcher, partnered with PMUA to foster community participation through Mae Kha City Lab.

“A city lab is an urban development tool—an experimental space where locals collaborate to redesign their neighborhood. It also connects experts from various fields with the community,” Samart explained.

Mae Kha City Lab emerged after Samart, Jai Baan Studio, and the Community Organizations Development Institute (CODI) developed a framework for utilizing canal-side land. PMUA later supported the creation of a learning space under the Chiang Mai Learning City initiative.

In 2023, Samart and research assistant Lalita Jitmattaborisut opened the project’s office on Rakaeng Road. It serves as a creative lab, a meeting space for residents, and a hub for organizations studying canal restoration.

Since 2023, Mae Kha City Lab has collaborated with locals to host learning activities, including Mae Kha City Walk—guided tours exploring urban development, history, natural resources, and architecture.

The Festival of Light, a 2024 collaboration with Night Bazaar businesses, showcased lanterns and art exhibitions along the canal during Yi Peng Festival. In early 2025, the Wilding Garden project brought businesses and residents together to plant trees and wildflowers, enhancing green spaces and biodiversity along the canal.

“Our activities highlight that Mae Kha Canal is more than just a scenic spot. As part of Chiang Mai’s history, it holds stories intertwined with the city’s growth. We see it as a learning space that enriches tourism and urban life,” Samart said.

More importantly, Samart aims to foster participation beyond the canal-side community, engaging businesses and Chiang Mai residents at large.

“We’re excited to see hotel and business owners near Mae Kha Canal supporting our efforts—joining walks, planting trees, and funding landscape improvements beyond what the municipality started. Seeing engagement from people citywide sparks hope for broader urban development in Chiang Mai.

“If Mae Kha can change how people perceive participatory urban development, Chiang Mai may transform in the future. That’s our hope,” Samart concluded.

More info about Mae Kha City Lab
https://maekhacitylab.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ImagineMaeKha?locale=th_TH