Articles
Sharing smiles amidst rising sea, salt intrusion, and reptiles: a landscape research-through-design study in Samut Prakarn, Thailand
Article number
1455_7
Pages
59 – 68
Language
English
Abstract
Public green spaces offer human health and ecological benefits.
However, the typical park design guidelines usually do not address areas with specific issues.
Such an example could be seen in a vacant area near the Aer-atorn Prom Mitr 1 village in Samut Prakarn, Thailand.
This 13-acre land was once neglected and prone to flooding due to its low elevation.
The site informally attracted large water monitors (Varanus salvator), which inspire fear and discomfort among the locals when roaming around the residential areas.
The area also posed risks related to crime and environmental degradation.
These issues added to the increasing challenges from sea-level rise, soil salinity, and shifting urban dynamics in Samut Prakarn.
To address the situations for this site and sites with similar contexts, a team of design-researchers conducted a research-through-design approach which used several processes including site inventory and analysis and investigations of aerial imagery, GIS data, and municipal records.
Then, they synthesized the design, which were then evaluated by experts in horticulture and landscape architecture.
This process informed the landscape design under the concept of Sharing Smiles with the Community. The design aims to foster economic opportunities, environmental resilience and biodiversity, and social well-being.
The proposed park is structured into various commercial and recreational activities; while, some buffer and riparian areas offered private habitats for the water monitors.
The plant selection highlights salt-tolerant and flood-tolerant plants, such as Hibiscus tiliaceus L., Calophyllum inophyllum L., and Sonneratia ovata. Critical challenges in applying this design remain, including the need for comprehensive budget planning, deeper geographical data, and further municipal collaboration.
Despite these limitations, the design serves as a strategic blueprint for future municipal development and offered a model for adaptive urban landscapes amidst climate and socio-ecological changes.
However, the typical park design guidelines usually do not address areas with specific issues.
Such an example could be seen in a vacant area near the Aer-atorn Prom Mitr 1 village in Samut Prakarn, Thailand.
This 13-acre land was once neglected and prone to flooding due to its low elevation.
The site informally attracted large water monitors (Varanus salvator), which inspire fear and discomfort among the locals when roaming around the residential areas.
The area also posed risks related to crime and environmental degradation.
These issues added to the increasing challenges from sea-level rise, soil salinity, and shifting urban dynamics in Samut Prakarn.
To address the situations for this site and sites with similar contexts, a team of design-researchers conducted a research-through-design approach which used several processes including site inventory and analysis and investigations of aerial imagery, GIS data, and municipal records.
Then, they synthesized the design, which were then evaluated by experts in horticulture and landscape architecture.
This process informed the landscape design under the concept of Sharing Smiles with the Community. The design aims to foster economic opportunities, environmental resilience and biodiversity, and social well-being.
The proposed park is structured into various commercial and recreational activities; while, some buffer and riparian areas offered private habitats for the water monitors.
The plant selection highlights salt-tolerant and flood-tolerant plants, such as Hibiscus tiliaceus L., Calophyllum inophyllum L., and Sonneratia ovata. Critical challenges in applying this design remain, including the need for comprehensive budget planning, deeper geographical data, and further municipal collaboration.
Despite these limitations, the design serves as a strategic blueprint for future municipal development and offered a model for adaptive urban landscapes amidst climate and socio-ecological changes.
Authors
P. Funpien, P. Suppakittpaisarn, N. Chareonlertthanakit, E. Yaipimol, C. Wanitchayapaisit, V. Surinseng
Keywords
urban green infrastructure, climate adaptation, community space, biodiversity and ecological conservation, research-through-design
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