Benjakitti

Forest Park for The Treasury Department (Ministry of Finance)

Benjakitti Park is located on the site of a disused tobacco factory in central Bangkok. The park's design incorporates wetland and forest ecosystems that deliver services including urban flood management, purification of polluted canal waters, and habitat for native plants and wildlife. The boardwalks and skywalks that crisscross the park are designed to immerse visitors in nature and to encourage them to reflect upon how humans and nature might live in harmony. The designers’ ambition is for the park to demonstrate the potential for nature-based approaches to urban sustainability.

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Benjakitti by Arsomsilp

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Forest Park by Arsomsilp

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Arsomsilp Benjakitti

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Arsomsilp Forest Park

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Arsomsilp Design Team Photo

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The Treasury Department Ministry of Finance Brand Logo

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Unique Properties

Benjakitti Park is a Bangkok urban park located in the former Tobacco factory area after the factory was relocated to the outskirts. The design concepts are, firstly, to improve public understanding and knowledge about sustainability, hydrology, and forest ecology in the urban setting. Secondly, to become an initiative of the ecological park development model. Lastly, to serve the urban communities and preserve the city’s ecosystem by creating a biodiverse sanctuary that brings back lives.

Tags

Urban Park, Urban Rejuvenation, Adaptive Reuse, Sustainable Design, Biodiversity, Ecological Restoration, Climate Resilience, Accessible Design, Stormwater Management, Biophilia

Production Technology

The crushed concrete from site demolition is used as island bases and water filtration layers instead of imported pebbles. Existing concrete paving blocks are reused as bicycle parking and seating area bases. The former tobacco factory buildings themselves are renovated into various facilities with sustainability in mind. Some parts of the roofs are replaced with translucent material to draw in natural light, and also parts of the solid walls are removed for better natural ventilation.

Design Challenge

A challenge for this project was introducing a new type of park that is designed to be nature-based instead of the existing activity-based parks in Bangkok in order to help locals understand how man and nature can live in harmony. Another challenge was solving the issues of floods, droughts, and polluted water. Also, we wanted to exhibit these issues as they were resolved to help visitors see the park’s role in urban ecosystems, which required evidence-based research and expert consultations.

Project Duration

The project was designed in December 2019, finished in August 2020, started construction in November 2020, and finished in August 2022 in Bangkok.

Operation Flow

The land that was once occupied by industrial usage was transformed into a park that welcomes people of all ages, genders, races, and physical capabilities. Various spaces are provided such as bicycle lanes, nature walks, healing gardens, lawns, pavilions, and an urban amphitheater, all of which allow people to immerse themselves in nature. Operation parts require less maintenance since the park was designed to be self-sustained, which is overseen by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

Research

Water purification is one of the project’s cores. The park helps with cleaning water from 70 mg per L BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) to 5 mg per L BOD, producing 1,600 cu m of clean water a day. Constructed wetland is applied, along the 2-km-long water channel with a 1 per 1000 slope ratio, due to the evidence-based information that certain kinds of plants can absorb pollutants from water. Besides, there is a waterfall for the aeration process and an oxidation pond for the oxidation process.

Inspiration

With Thailand’s monsoon climate, floods and droughts are significant issues. The design comes up with a sponge concept that retains rainwater in the rainy season and discharges water in the dry season. The urban-sewage-polluted water from the adjacent canal is purified by native aquatic plants. The site is flat with a 0.5-meter-above-MSL elevation average and a high groundwater level case. Thai agricultural wisdom, furrow irrigation, is used to elevate tree roots, avoid floods, and drain water.

Image Credits

Image #1: Photographer Royal Thai Army - 1st Development Division, 2022. Image #2: Photographer Royal Thai Army - 1st Development Division, 2022. Image #3: Photographer Royal Thai Army - 1st Development Division, 2022. Image #4: Photographer Sarakadee Magazine, 2022. Image #5: Photographer Mr.Srirath Somsawat, 2022.

Project Overview

Benjakitti Forest Park has been a Golden winner in the Landscape Planning and Garden Design award category in the year 2023 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Gold A' Design Award is granted to designs that demonstrate a high level of innovation and a significant impact on their intended audience. Recognized as a major achievement by the A' Design Awards, these designs are characterized by their visionary approach and the exceptional skill of their creators. Winners of the Gold A' Design Award are noted for their ability to push the envelope in art, science, design, and technology, delivering solutions that not only meet but exceed expectations. These designs serve as benchmarks for excellence, encouraging further innovation and inspiring future generations of designers.

Golden Recognition

Arsomsilp was recognized with the coveted Golden A' Design Award in 2024, a testament to excellence of their work Benjakitti Forest Park.

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