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