Page 54 - Designing Ways 281

ON THE
TERRACE

Benjakitti Forest Park: Transforming a

Brown Field into Urban Nature

Bangkok, Thailand

n the busy centre of Bangkok, 2. Site and challenges often resulted in urban runoff that
Thailand, with a low budget and Located in the Chao Phraya River overwhelmed drainage systems and caused
Ilimited period of 18 months, a former delta, Bangkok is a densely populated severe flooding affecting much of the city.
tobacco factory site has been transformed capital city with a population of over 10.5 Measuring 102 acres in size, this project
into a low maintenance green lung million. The flat, low-lying urban area is located in central Bangkok, in Khonti
that regulates stormwater, cleanses has an average elevation of 1.5 metres (4 District. The former tobacco factory
contaminated water, provides habitats ft. 11 in.), or lower than sea level. Most of is densely occupied with single floor
for wildlife, and has created the largest the area was originally swampland, which warehouse buildings, scattered in between
public space for the dense population was gradually drained and irrigated for with a number of canopy trees. The site
living downtown and beyond. The project agriculture through the construction of is surrounded by Phaisingto Canal to
has become a new cultural icon for the canals. The region falls under the influence the north, which was contaminated with
capital city and showcases a replicable of a monsoon climate, with an average urban runoffs and sewage. To the west,
modular approach to earthworks practice, precipitation of 1500 mm (59 in) of rain the Duang Phithak Urban Expressway
that transforms and recycles the lifeless per year. Subsidence has been a major cut the site from the adjacent community.
concrete ground into a resilient living problem, caused by extensive groundwater There is also an artificial lake to the east,
ecosystem that provides a full range of pumping, which together with global a rehabilitation hospital, a hotel, and the
ecosystem services. warming has resulted in increased flood Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre
risk due to its low elevation and inadequate to the south. Besides the challenging site,
drainage infrastructure. Heavy downpours the budget for this project was eventually

54 Issue 281 • dw