Factors of Thai Art Influencing Building Design and Construction in Thailand
Keywords:
Thai art, Thai architecture, building construction, structural equation modeling, influencing factorsAbstract
This study investigates the factors of Thai art that influence building design and construction behavior among architecture and construction professionals in Thailand. Employing a quantitative research design, the study utilized Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to examine causal relationships among the proposed variables. The sample consisted of 400 participants, architects, civil engineers, and contractors—selected through multi-stage sampling from all regions of Thailand. Data were collected using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire. Four independent variables were examined: (1) knowledge and understanding of Thai art, (2) attitudes toward Thai art conservation, (3) social and cultural normative pressure, and (4) professional constraints and practical limitations. The dependent variable was the behavior of incorporating Thai art elements into building design and construction practice. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) confirmed satisfactory measurement model fit (CMIN/df = 2.31, RMSEA = 0.058, CFI = 0.947), and the full structural model demonstrated good fit to empirical data (CMIN/df = 2.48, RMSEA = 0.061, CFI = 0.942). All four hypotheses were supported. Attitudes toward Thai art conservation exerted the strongest positive influence on incorporation behavior (β = 0.42, p < .001), followed by social normative pressure (β = 0.31, p < .001), knowledge of Thai art (β = 0.28, p < .001), and professional constraints, which showed a significant negative effect (β = −0.24, p < .001). Collectively, the four factors explained 68% of the variance in Thai art incorporation behavior (R² = 0.68). The findings highlight the centrality of professional attitudes and social norms in shaping Thai architectural practice. Policy implications include promoting Thai art literacy in professional development programs, developing incentive mechanisms to reduce cost-related barriers, and integrating Thai art curricula into architecture and engineering education.
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