The heart of a community encapsulates its cherished history and aspirations. And in the dynamic community of Samchuk Market in Suphan Buri, that beating heart is surely Baan Khun Jamnong Jeenarak.
Built over a century ago in 1916, this three-storey timber and concrete house, originally owned by a tax collector and landlord who governed the district, was restored and converted into a community museum in 2004. It was part of the broader Samchuk Revitalisation Project (1999–2006) initiated by the Chumchonthai Foundation in close consultation with members of the community. Three years after completion, its resounding success as a "holistic" revitalisation of a "historic commercial hub" was recognised by Unesco with an Award of Merit as part of its 2009 Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
