Excerpt: Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory by HAS Design and Research is an architectural initiative aimed at promoting natural environments and green spaces in Bangkok. The design of the park, inspired by a tropical rainforest, resembles a floating wetland island. Its undulating form guides visitors to the upper observatory level and lower rest level, which simulates the wetland environment and offers activities like yoga and meditation.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, Bangkok has 6.99m² of green space for each person, which is less than the minimum of 9m² recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The Benchakitti Forest Park is located in the center of Bangkok, and it was opened to the public in 2022. At the same time, it will give Bangkok a wider green open space and provide a brand new well-being lifestyle.
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory is an architectural manifesto aiming at creating more natural environments and expressing the demands of Bangkokians for green spaces. The project is located in the center of Benchakitti Forest Park, surrounded by a large number of wetlands and trees. Its natural ecology, combined with the singing of flowers, birds, and insects, is as beautiful as a paradise.
HAS Design and Research founders and architects, Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee, continue the natural impression of Benchakitti Forest Park and regard the Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory as a gift to the citizens of Bangkok. Therefore, the design intention is to make the architecture part of nature.
Inspired by the site, Hung And Songkittipakdee (HAS) designed the Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory to appear as if it is covered by a large number of leaves. It is not only like a floating wetland island but also like the most precious tropical rainforest in natural ecology, providing visitors with a common habitat for animals and plants. Its slightly undulating form guides visitors to the upper observatory level, which overlooks the park; and the lower rest level, which combines the water mist system to simulate the wetland environment and provides activities for the citizens, such as daze, yoga, meditation, and family events.
During the day, the Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory is like a chameleon in the park. Nearly one hundred smart boards are combined with four different green colors of sustainable paint to achieve a perfect balance with the environment. At night, the light strips behind the smart boards provide various lighting and make the building disappear in the natural field.
HAS Design and Research believes that the Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory is not just a service facility; it is more like a tropical rainforest. It not only provides people with a shading function but also releases a space that gathers citizens, cultivates people’s hearts, and hosts educational events so as to show Bangkok will pay attention to and care for the environment in the future.
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