STUDY OF THE WORK OF RENOWNED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

- Kotchakorn Voraakhom

ASSINGMENT-2

ABHISHEK R TATVAWIT (121070051) |

MLA 2021-23 | SEM 02

THEORY OF LANDSCAPE-2
Introduction:
Kotchakorn Voraakhom (Thai: กชกร วรอาคม, born 1981) is a Thai landscape
architect and chief executive officer of Porous City Network, a social enterprise that
looks to increase urban resilience in Southeast Asia. She is also the founder of the
Koungkuey Design Initiative, which works with communities to rebuild public spaces. She
campaigns for more green space in cities and is a 2018 TED fellow.

TED Conferences, LLC (Technology, Entertainment, Design)

is an American media organization that posts talks online for free distribution under the
slogan "ideas worth spreading".

Education Kotchakorn Voraakhom is a landscape architect

who works on building green public space that
Voraakhom loved the flooding in Thailand as a child. She studied at Chulalongkorn tackle climate change.
University. She earned her bachelor's degree in landscape architecture in 2001, when she KOTCHAKORN VORAAKHOM
was awarded a medal for exceptional academic performance. She completed her graduate
studies at Harvard University During graduate school she co-founded the Koungkuey Born : 1981 (Age 40)
Design Initiative (KDI), a nonprofit design organization that helps communities develop their Nationality: Thai
neighborhoods. She returned to Thailand in 2006
Occupation: Landscape Architect
Career
Education: -Harvard Graduate
Kotchakorn has taught landscape design at Chulalongkorn University since 2010. She is School of Design
-Faculty of
founder and chief executive at Land process, a landscape architecture firm in
Architecture,
Bangkok. She has been named one of Thailand's best architects, one who is fostering Chulalongkorn University
social change.
Awards: TED Fellow
 2019 2018
"Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park" "Chulalongkorn University Centenary
Park"
ASLA Professional Award 2019 TALA Professional Award 2018
Honor Award (General Design) Award of Excellence (Public Space)
​ ​
ICONIC Architecture Award 2019 2016
Best of Best (Public/Culture/Education) "Siam Green Sky: Urban Agriculture
​ Learning Center"
Architecture Master prize 2019 Excellent Award
Winner (Public Space) Community/ Workshop Category
LIST OF FAMOUS PROJECTS TALA Professional Award 2016

PROJECT LOCATION & NAME TYPE OF PROJECT

Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park Park & Public Realm

Sookwana Healing Garden Innovative District

Siriraj Hospice Center Campus Master Planning/Landscape Design

Bangkok Hospital Chiang Rai Healthcare

Siam Green Sky Urban Agriculture Learning Center Green Roof &Urban farming

Suan Luang Square Commercial &Mixed Use Building

World Expo 2015 Thailand Exhibition & Identity Design

Chonlaprathan Rangsrit Temple Cultural Landscape

Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park-Bangkok
 Old Bangkok during 90’s Water shed map of Bangkok

Flooding time 2011 flooding map of Bangkok

With today’s constantly fluctuating climates cause rising sea levels, storm surges, and
unexpected heavy rainfall,-low-lying cities across the globe are bracing for similar disasters:
urban flooding. As sea levels rise and concrete infrastructure multiplies, Bangkok is sinking 2
centimeters every year.
 Opened in 2017, Chulalongkorn
Centenary Park is the first critical
piece of green infrastructure in
Bangkok to mitigate detrimental
ecological issues and disaster risk
reduction. Unlike other public
parks around the city, this one is
the first in Thailand to
demonstrate how a park can help
reduce urban flood risks and help
city confronts climate change, all
while offering city dwellers a place
to reconnect with nature.
Designed with various ecological
design components, the park
reminds the city of ways to live
with water, rather than fear it.

Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park-Bangkok

Description

The design concept

inclines the entire park
to create a container
for water: the raised
green roof directs
runoff water through
sloped rain gardens,
filtered in the
constructed wetland,
and then to the
retention pond. The
park’s mid-lawn is a
detention area,
allowing space for
flooding and retention
pond overflow. The
park treats water from
neighboring areas by
sending it through the
wetland filtration
system.

Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park-Bangkok

 Zoning

A flood-proof park for a flood-

prone city
Bangkok is a flat city. By
harnessing the power of gravity,
the park is able to sustainably
collect, treat and hold water to
reduce urban flood risks in its
surrounding areas. Sitting on a 3-
degree gradual incline, the park
equipped with several ecological
components–consisting of the
green roof, wetlands, detention
lawns, and retention pond–leaving
not a single drop of rain wasted.
The rain and runoff are pulled
down through the park‘s
topography to generate a
complete water circulation
system. Taking into account a 50-
year return period precipitation
intensity, during heavy rainfall–
oftentimes when the public
sewage system is overwhelmed–
the park is able to hold up to a
million gallons of water.
On the park’s highest
point, anyone can see
Bangkok’s skyline, atop the
biggest green roof in
Thailand covering 5,200
sq.m., where a rare sight
open skies and green grass
is free to all. Laid with low-
maintenance native grass
and weeds which attract
local birds and insects.
Underneath the green roof
lies a museum and parking
space. Additionally, three
underground tanks store
rainwater absorbed from
the green roof. The amount
of water it holds can
irrigate the park for up to a
month.
Excessive runoff from the
green roof then flows through
to four constructed wetlands,
two on each side of the park.
A series of cascading weirs
and ponds slow down the
runoff and increase water
aeration, aided by native
water plants which help filter
and clean the water.
At lowest point, the retention
pond, during severe flooding,
can store excessive water and
double in size by expanding into
the park’s main lawn. Visitors,
too, can become an active part
of the park’s water treatment
system by hopping onto any
stationary water bikes along the
pond, using their exercise to
keep water aerated.
When it is flooded
In 2017, six hours of rainfall
flooded the entire city of
Bangkok. In such situations,
this highly-adaptive flood-
proof park will serve as a
detention area, reducing the
urban flood impact on its
surrounding neighborhood.
Adjacent to the main lawn
is eight “landscape
outdoor classrooms”,
each with different biomes
and layouts, lining both
sides of the park to serve
as diverse multi-purpose
areas, including an herb
garden, meditation area,
reading room, bamboo
garden, playgrounds, and
earth amphitheater.
Whether in the choice of
porous components or
locally-sourced materials,
these outdoor classrooms
pay great attention to
detail to best complement
the park’s main ecological
features.
 References

-Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park | 2019 ASLA Professional Awards

-www.landprocess.co.th
-Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park « Landezine International Landscape Award LILA

Thank you.