What Comes After Design Week 

The festival sought to present actual challenges facing the city of Bangkok (HACKBKK), serving as an open call for creators to think, experiment, and discover new possible solutions to making the city more livable in various ways. There were a variety of interesting showcases, covering issues of transportation, public safety, green spaces, public areas, waste, pollution, and vulnerable groups as well as presenting vibrant communities and highlighting neighborhoods.

Bangkok Design Week has forwarded this creative output to Bangkok City Lab to be further developed into real-world applications, where everyone can provide feedback. 

1. Travel

Go Go Bus 

a 20-seat light rail transit system that explores new routes to connect old town areas in Charoen Krung-Yaowarat-Phra Nakhon-Nang Loeng-Pak Khlong Talat, reducing the reliance on personal vehicles in areas with limited parking and promoting the use of clean energy. This has been a collaboration of Mayday designers, the BusSing network from Khon Kaen, and Arunplus Company Limited.

Rest Stops and Motorcycle Queue Signs Motorcycles

are the life blood of transportation in Bangkok, with service providers scattered throughout and serving a large number of travelers. Therefore, this concept aims to improve rest stops for both drivers and users, offering convenience and beautifying the surroundings. This project took place in Soi Sukhumvit 26, led by the architects and designers from A49 & Friends. Queue signs were developed and implemented at the Bang Bua Canal motorcycle taxi station by Bangkok City Lab.

Cycling Routes

The road conditions in Bangkok vary greatly, leading to different designs for cycling routes in each area. Some areas may require avoiding cycling on major roads and relying instead on smaller streets, while others may involve riding on footpaths. This necessitates experimenting with route data and proposing suitable sign designs for each type of area. Both private and bike-sharing users (which Bangkok is in the process of implementing) were invited to share feedback on the route information and signage provided during the festival for further development.

2. Experimenting with Public Space Improvements 

Experimenting with Bangkok City Hall and Chong Charoen Park as Public Spaces

After relocating the Bangkok City Hall from Chong Charoen Park to Din Daeng, Urban Ally experimented with transforming the space into a multifunctional public area. Apart from renovating the main area into a museum, they installed the People Pavilion – the elevated ground, designed by SP/N x Nerd studio, in the central area of City Hall. This serves as a space for relaxation, recreation, and other activities.

Modular Playground

This involved designing structures for recreation using materials that can be assembled and adjusted according to the space. A49 & Friends aimed to provide Bangkok with options for experimenting with the use of these structures in other areas where flexible and reusable structures are needed to fit the available space.

Folding Tables with Parasols

This collaboration between parasol manufacturers, urban artists, and ease studio designers under the “Made in Hualampong” project provides seating that supports the weight of parasols, eliminating the need for concrete pole anchors. Once the street stalls pack up and leave, they don’t leave behind any concrete anchors on the sidewalks, providing a design alternative for developing street stalls.

Pocket oasis garden

This concept aims to add green spaces using small ‘pocket gardens’ with street furniture. The design incorporates structures to support climbing plants, which allow trees to grow and cover the structure. This green shading helps to block sunlight and create a comfortable environment for the space below, suitable for Thailand’s hot urban climate.

Puppup Space: The Live Parklet (Intervention)

This program experimented with small public spaces in 2-3 parking lots under the concept of “Reclaiming Space for Pedestrians,” transforming these areas into temporary public spaces for community recreation. This project builds upon previous experiments to enhance walkability and cycling by adding pedestrian walkways and clearly defining traffic lanes to reduce traffic speed for public safety in the Phra Nakhon District.

3. The Coexistence of Humans and Animals

“CATSANOVA 2024″ by Stand for Strays

aims to address the issue of stray cats. Besides raising awareness about the necessity of spaying and neutering to control stray populations, the group also raises funds and helps find foster homes for the city’s many cats. Bangkok can help promote this type of activity in various areas to address similar issues.

Bird and Squirrel Houses 

The streets of Bangkok, where trees line both sides, often serve as habitats for birds, squirrels, and other small animals, forming part of the city’s ecosystem. A49 & Friends has designed small houses that hang on trees to provide shelter for these small creatures and create a pleasant atmosphere for pedestrians.

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Livable Scape คนยิ่งทำ เมืองยิ่งดี

hard matters . heart matters . design matters

27 Jan – 4 Feb 2024

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