The Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Thammasat University, recognize the importance of how the quality, safety, and affordable housing are essential to having the healthy and sustainable communities.  The University has established Universal Design Center (Thamamsat UDC – หน่วยวิจัยและออกแบบเพื่อคนทั้งมวล มหาวิทยาลัยธรรมศาสตร์) as a research and design center, working to address the needs for quality, safety, accessible, affordable and more efficient facilities, environment and housing for people in local community, especially for the elderly groups.
Universal Design – What is it?
Universal Design Center – Housing for Elderly and People with Disabilities

Thammasat UDC, under the supervision of the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Thammasat University started the projects to focus in the planning and development issues with local authorities and communities in 2013 and continued since then until the present.
UDTham – Universal Design – Research and Design Unit for All, Thammasat University (Facebook)

The center comprises of the working group from the Civil State Social Work Group on Housing and Ecosystem for Living.  The main tasks are to build, repair, rebuild and improve housing facilities and public places for elderly population under the concept “One Province One Built”. The center also provide counseling and training on the design and improvement of housing to have a better quality, safer, more accessible, and more affordable for the elderly people and people with disabilities.

The Environmental Design Unit, a part of the Universal Design Center, Thammasat University (Thammast UDC) worked with local authorities and carried out the design, planning, and development of these projects to ensure that local residents are able to have the quality, accessible, affordable housing and healthy surrounding such as:

• The renovation of housing and surrounding area for the elderly and people with disabilities in Lad-Sawai Municipality, Pathum Thani Province
  Design and Improve the Surrounding for Elderly People – ปรับบ้านผู้สูงอายุคนพิการรายได้น้อย
  Collaboration with Lad-Sawai Municipality (27 Oct 2022)
  Lad-Sawai Municipality – Housing Renovation (Oct,2022-Jan,2023)

• The renovation of housing and surrounding areas for elderly and people with disabilities in Roi-et Municipality, Roi-et Province
  Roi-et Municipality – Community Health Project for Elderly (Nov,2022)
  Roi-et Municipality – Community Health Project for Elderly (Dec,2022)
  
• Housing improvements and area development – road surface and lighting system – for Tha Khlong Municipality, Pathum Thani Province
  Tha Khlong Municipality – Home and Surrounding Renovation for the Elderly (Jul,2022)

• The renovation of buildings and housing for the elderly community in the Phakdi Racha community (Rangsi-Nakorn Nayok 45).
  ออกแบบสภาพแวดล้อมชุมชนผู้สูงอายุ พี้นที่เทศบาลนครรังสิต – Rangsit Municipality
  Using the study done under the research project “Healthier and More Suitable Environment for Thai Elderly”, the UDTham’s team worked with the Rangsit Municipality to make those housings more suitable for them, both physically and mentally.  Together with the supporting budget from the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), a more affordable option is provided for the elderly in that area to have a more happy and healthy life.
  
• Workshop on home improvement for low-income senior citizens
• Online seminar on “Enhance housing and environment for immobilized home patient or bedridden elderly and equip with dangers prevention.

Previous project done in 2021 was with Bang Pho Subdistrict. The Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Thammasat University together with Rajamangala University of Technology Suvarnabhumi conducted a survey around the corporative housing area and community service buildings in Bang Pho Subdistrict to explore the ways to improve the quality, accessibility and safety in living and working around those areas.
ปรับปรุงอาคาร ที่อยู่อาศัยผู้สูงอายุ ตำบลบางพูด

Related articles and websites:
1. Innovation Towards Sustainable Community Health (Rangsit Model) –  สานพลัง สร้างนวัตกรรม สู่สุขภาวะชุมชนที่ยั่งยืน
2. Thammasat University’s smart city develops tech to serve the community – THE Research Hub
3. Thammasat Won the World Championship Universal Design Competition with the Development of the “Rangsit Model”
4. Thammasat Rangsit Model – Winner of Universal Design Competition
5. การเสวนา “การพัฒนาสภาพแวดล้อมเพื่อรองรับสังคมผู้สูงอายุในประเทศไทย
6. Right to Live in the City
7. ชุมชนริมทางรถไฟกับสิทธิที่จะมีอยู่อาศัยในเมือง