2024 ASLA Professional Awards, Honor Award- Benjakitti Forest Park

on

'Transforming a Brown Field into Urban Nature'

Designed by Arsomslip Community and Environmental Architect, Turenscape, Benjakitti Park is an 720,000 sq.m. urban park located in the former Tobacco Factory area.















The first concept for the design is to improve public understanding and knowledge about the ecology, forest, hydrology, and environment of the urban community, and the second, to become an 'initiative' of Ecological Park Development, and the third to serve urban communities and preserve the ecological environment of the city retaining rainwater in the rainy season and discharging clean water in the dry season. 














'Bangkok is a densely populated city which experiences monsoon climates, the effects of global warming have resulted in the increased flood risk due to Bangkok's low elevation', this design acts as a large sponge during monsoons. The water from the nearby canal, Phai Sing, is contaminated with urban runoff and sewage which is purified with bioremediation through the wetland plants, producing 1600 cu.m. clean water per day.


The design incorporates cut-and-fill earthwork techniques (easily executed with a single excavator) to shape the landform, the wetland is expected to retain up to 200000m3 of stormwater in local area in monsoon season. The once hard clay surface has been transformed into a wet, spongy habitat, allowing a rich native plant community to establish itself with minimal irrigation or maintenance needed during the dry season, fostering a 'messy nature' strategy. The plant list of the design follows:

  • Red Sandalwood
  • Afzelia
  • Yellow Cedar
  • Jackfruit
  • Neem
  • Mangrove
  • Kapok Tree
  • Chittagong Wood
  • Gurjan
  • Banyan Tree
  • Leather fern
  • Ardisia polycephala
  • Sunn hemp
  • Golden leather fern
  • Buddha's palm
  • Sweet flag
  • Umbrella sedge
  • Papyrus
  • Sacred lotus
  • Common reed
  • Golden bladderwort
  • Thai onion plant
  • Water lily
  • Water chestnut

Materials from Tobacco Factory including stone and concrete from demolition have been repurposed to form the foundation of the berm island and water filtration layers. Additionally, the former tobacco factories have been renovated and transformed into various facility buildings to house museum and sports centre. All existing trees on site have been preserved and integrated into the park design.



Multiple boardwalks and skywalks have been designed to create a unquie immersive experience amidst the tropical foliage. 














The success of Benjakitti Forest Park in a short-period is incredible, this 'green lung' has become the largest central park for densely populated Bangkok, and is now celebrated as the new icon for the capital city.

Comments

Post a Comment