Header: Royal Thai Army – 1st Development Division, Sarakadee Magazine, Mr.Srirath Somsawat
Benjakitti Forest Park is a large-scale urban park developed on the grounds of a former tobacco factory in Bangkok, covering an astounding 720,000 square meters. The project was designed by Arsomsilp Community and Environmental Architect, alongside Turenscape, who provided their expertise as design consultants to ensure the park integrates ecological, hydrological, and environmental elements throughout its layout.
Bangkok is known for its flooding and drought problems, so the park selected its landscape and water management systems to serve as a sort of natural “sponge.” With these systems, the park retains approximately 128,000 cubic meters of rainwater, purifies it on-site through bioremediation, and processes around 1,600 cubic meters of clean water daily.
A network of elevated pathways and winding boardwalks covers the wetlands and ponds, allowing visitors to explore the park’s various ecological zones without disturbing the landscape. These walkways connect areas of native vegetation, open water, and reforested land, a must since maintaining the park’s biodiversity alive and well is one of the project’s pillars. The park includes over 360 species of trees and attracts a wide range of wildlife, including more than 169 bird species and various insects, collectively contributing to a balanced urban ecosystem.
Reused materials were prominently used in the park’s construction, and several former factory structures were repurposed to house museums and sports facilities. Since most of these buildings were designed as open spaces, trees can grow around and within them, merging the urban with the green in a healthy and sustainable fashion.
The project was recently recognized by the prestigious BLT Built Design Awards, a platform that strives to share design with the world. It won the coveted Landscape Architecture of the Year prize.
- Company/Firm: Arsomsilp Community and Environmental Architect
- Design Consultant: TURENSCAPE
