This papers aims to illustrate the working and community participatory process as well as the role of architects and urban designers in urban poor housing design through some upgraded low-income housing projects in Bangkok. Two cases is comparatively similar and different context which finally directs to each particular housing development guideline. The paper argues that other dimensions apart from physical significantly influence substantive outcomes. The learning experience among different involved parties can become one of the effective tools to conduct strong sense of belonging as well as community building. There are several concerns in practice, which architects and urban planners/designers have not to neglect and for low-income community those are always economic, political and sociological considerations.