Page 58 - Designing Ways 281

ON THE
TERRACE

community starting with seed sowing
and tree seedlings, which results in a
low maintenance vegetation that will be
continually and spontaneously enriched
by native species. A symbiotic ecological
interrelationship is expected to develop
between fauna and flora. The messiness of
the constructed wetland thus creates a new
aesthetic of dynamism and diversity in
contrast with the typical urban landscape.

3.4 Creating immersive people places
Multiple boardwalks are designed
along the shallow wetland at the edge
that provide visitors with an immersive
experience of urban nature. A sky walk
runs through the preserved canopy
trees and connects the park, previously
separated by major roads, to create a
unique immersive experience through the
tropical foliage.

4. Performance
Benjakitti Forest Park, though built in
short period of time, has demonstrated
a great success. In the last summer,
most of Bangkok city was flooded but
not this park and its vicinity. The water
remediating wetland performs well
and produces enough water to keep the
wetland surviving the dry season. A rich
variety of birds and other wildlife have
taken home in this park, in total 91 species
of birds were seen in this rewilded urban
nature. The most striking achievement
is that this green lung has truly become
the largest central park for the densely
populated central Bangkok and attracts
tens of thousands of visitors daily who use
it for all kinds recreational activates, such
as jogging and cycling, family gatherings,
commencement, picnics, dating, wedding
photography. It was celebrated as the new
icon for the capital city as one can read
through the social media.

Technical sheet
• Dimensions: approximately 102
acres in central Bangkok's Khonti
District.
• Materials: The project emphasises
the reuse and recycling of materials
to maintain a low budget. Existing
concrete materials from demolished
structures were recycled for the
earthwork foundation and paving.
Recycled concrete materials
were also used in consolidating

58 Issue 281 • dw