Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory

Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat

BENCHAKITTI RAIN FOREST OBSERVATORY

HAS design and research

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Jenchieh Hung, Kulthida Songkittipakdee

LIGHTING DESIGN
Light Is

EXISTING ARCHITECTURE
Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts

STRUCTURE CONSULTANT
Goldstar Metal

CONSTRUCTOR
Alufence

FAÇADE CONSULTANT
AB&W Innovation

LANDSCAPE DESIGN
Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts

DESIGN TEAM
Jenchieh Hung, Kulthida Songkittipakdee, Tapanee Laddahom, Chiwen Chang

CLIENT
The Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (ASA)

PROGRAM
Public Building, Park, Observatory

PHOTOGRAPHS
Rungkit Charoenwat

AREA
130 m²

YEAR
2022

LOCATION
Bangkok, Thailand

CATEGORY
Park, Watching Tower

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).

Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat

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.

Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat

The project is 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.

Hung And Songkittipakdee (HAS) 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.

Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat

Inspired by the site, the Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory seems to be covered by many leaves.

It is not only like a floating wetland island but also like the most precious tropical rainforest in the natural ecology, providing visitors with a common habitat for animals and plants.

Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat

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.

Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat

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 to show Bangkok will pay attention to and care for the environment in the future.

Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat


Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat


Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
© Rungkit Charoenwat


Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
Plan - Master
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
Plan - Site


Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
East Elevation
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
West Elevation


Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
Section
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
Detail


Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
Exploded Axonometric
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
Isometric Diagram


Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
Detail Diagram 01
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
Detail Diagram 02


Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
Illustration
Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory
Concept Sketch