Stormwater Planter Box A rain-absorbing planter offering a local solution to flo
Rain falls, traffic builds, streets floodâan endless loop that city dwellers often wait for the government to fix. But perhaps thereâs another way forward. Stormwater Planter Box, a rain-absorbing planter, offers a new way for people to help respond to flooding.This project is a collaboration between Monash University and a team of lecturers, staff, and students from the Faculty of Architecture, Art and Design at King Mongkutâs Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, including Dr. Chaniporn Thamapanichwat, Limpasilp Sirisakdi, Panyaphat Somngam, Pakin Anuntavachakorn, and Taksaporn Petlai.âThe initial idea came from the planter box as a water-receiving system that helps slow down rainwater before it flows into drains or public infrastructure. This is a recurring issue in many parts of Thailand. When we were invited to design this project, the key challenge was to connect it with the context of Bangkok Design Week and Thai identity.âTo create a rainwater planter that fits Thai everyday life, the team began by surveying neighborhoods, observing, documenting, and photographing common elements found along Bangkokâs sidewalks, such as stone benches, advertising boards, and decorative metal fences.âIf we look at everyday objects in Thai life, a simple example is the marble bench in front of a house. Whatâs interesting is that itâs not only used by people in the householdâpassersby can also sit and rest. We adapted this idea into our design.Another important aspect is aesthetics. We drew from forms that Thai people instantly recognize, such as metal gate patterns. These elements were incorporated into the design, especially in the Phra Nakhon area, where colors and motifs are very distinctive.âBeyond function and appearance, the project required close collaboration with the local community to gather feedback and refine the design.âThe first thing people wanted was for it to be truly usable, not just cool or beautiful. It had to function in real life, as a place to sit, talk, and gather, without drifting too far from the communityâs urban practices. Thatâs why we included a tabletop that can be used for familiar games like chess or checkers.âVisitors passing by Pachimalikhit during Bangkok Design Week 2026 could sit, chat, or play checkers, and also explore the display explaining how the Stormwater Planter Box system works.âThere was already a drainage system beneath the sidewalk. Normally, rainwater would flow directly from buildings into canals or drains. This planter box acts as an intermediate layer between buildings and the canal, helping us test how we can reduce the impact of runoff.âThe good news is that after the festival, the Stormwater Planter Box will remain in place for around one year. This allows the team to test its performance and collect long-term data in preparation for future development.âThis is a shared expectation between our team and Monash University. We want this piece to serve as a prototype that can evolve further. If multiple units are connected, it could work at a larger community scale or even at the district level.For Bangkok residents, this solution opens a new path. Traditionally, flood prevention hasnât been something individuals could address. This project creates an opportunity for one person, one household, or one community to adopt the solution themselves. Even if it helps only a little, it could be the start, and over time, many small points like this could come together to create real impact.âLearn more about Stormwater Planter Box:https://www.bangkokdesignweek.com/bkkdw2026/program/150495
Projecting Future Heritage: A Hong Kong Archive Past buildings of Hong Kong, ree
Under many constraints, from high population density and a constantly hot and humid climate to post-war social and political conditions, Hong Kongâs everyday buildings are filled with local wisdom and architectural value.Projecting Future Heritage: A Hong Kong Archive presents a roving exhibition of Hong Kong architectural drawings from the post-war period to the 1990s, highlighting their value and calling for recognition of them as âfuture heritage.â The exhibition was first initiated for the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025, before traveling to Bangkok for Bangkok Design Week 2026 in the coming weeks.âWe wanted to bring showcase these seemingly ordinary everyday buildings unique to Hong Kong in an international platform such as Venice, because today many are disappearing. Yet we think they are valuable for because they show the intelligence of building in the incredible density of Hong Kong,â said Ying Zhou, one of the projectâs curators and initiators.âWe also show them in an archive format in Venice because their selection for documentation and archiving underlines these overlooked values. Their recognition as valuable is the first step to their conservation. We are bringing them to Bangkok to share both the archive, as media for communication and exhibition, and also the contents of the archive, which has resonance with the modern-era buildings in Bangkok as well,â Zhou continued. Curator Sunnie S.Y. Lau explained additionally that the idea of the âarchival lensâ has been applied not only to this exhibition but also extended to other overlooked community areas across Hong Kong. âThese informal spatial structures have sustained society, the local economy, and even the climate, yet they rarely appear in official urban planning. Many of them are now threatened by redevelopment and enclosure, such as Cha Kwo Ling, an urban village with a history of at least 400 years. This is why we urgently need to document and share these stories internationally, to build recognition of them as âfuture heritage.âââThis exhibition exists to preserve the stories of these villages, through drawings, films, oral histories, and spatial studies. These materials reveal the role of villages as reservoirs of everyday wisdom, reflecting care for both the past and the diverse futures of the city.ââA final publication is planned to document the full trajectory of the projectâfrom its conception and research in Hong Kong, to the Venice installation, to the roving adaptations in Bangkok and other cities,â Curator Sunnie S.Y. Lau concluded.More information:https://www.bangkokdesignweek.com/en/bkkdw2026/program/150457
BKKDW2026 Open Call
Open Call for ApplicationNow â 30 September 2025âBKKDW is a platform where creators can showcase their potential through design and creative works in a variety of programs that blend harmoniously with the urban context.âBangkok Design Week 2026 (BKKDW2026) launches its 9th edition from 29 January to 8 February 2026, under the theme Design S/O/S. Creative battlefields are activating across Bangkok, empowering professional and emerging talents from every discipline, armed with diverse weapons of ideas spreading citywide. The festival will forge new alliances, expand into global markets, and create proving grounds where bold ideas come to life. Together, we will build a city resilient and ready to face any challenge through the power of design.The festival invites everybody from all walks of life who believes in the power of action to come together to use creativity as a power against the crises and find new, intangible solutions.BKKDW2026 will be held across the areas of various districts in Bangkok. It is open for participation in various forms, including showcase & exhibitions, talks, workshops, events, music and performing arts, tours, markets, promotions, and projects.Those who are interested in participating can refer to the details and apply here: https://www.bangkokdesignweek.com/en/bkkdw2026/get-involved/program-partner Download PDF: Participation handbookhttps://bit.ly/BKKDW2026-OpenCall-EN For more information on the participation in the festival, please contact: program.bkkdw@cea.or.thFollow us www.bangkokdesignweek.comFB/IG: bangkokdesignweek X: @BKKDesignWeekLine: @bangkokdesignweek#BKKDW2026#BangkokDesignWeek#DesignSOS
LongiPark LongiPark: 4 Green Space Experiments for Urban Longevity
What if the city had places where we could sit, walk, and talk without rushingâand green spaces were not just parks, but places that care for the body, mind, and long-term quality of life? This is the idea that Shma invites everyone to experience through four new green-space models at Bangkok Design Week 2026âexperimental spaces that explore how much more livable a city can be when it is designed from real urban life.The project began with UNESCOâs Creative Cities Network, which recognized and supported Bangkok as a City of Design (UCCN). Following this, Creative Economy Agency (CEA) opened a call for proposals focused on designing green spaces to improve quality of life and urban ecosystemsâan approach that aligns closely with the long-standing mission of Shma.âToday, people talk a lot about longevity. With environmental challenges and concerns about living longer, healthier lives with good quality of life, this has become an important issue of our time. We chose to combine the idea of longevity with the need for a third place in the city, and developed LongiParkâa park that supports longevity.âYossapon Boonsom, Founding Director at Shma Company Limited, explains the original idea behind LongiPark, which later evolved into four sub-concepts developed through working with different urban areas.âThe areas we focus on are Phra Nakhon and Charoenkrung. These zones already have very limited green space, but they also carry strong cultural and artistic dimensions. Beyond responding to community and urban needs, the spaces must last over time, be truly used, be cared for, and create real impact.âWe started with a participatory process with local people to understand what the community actually needs. For example, Lan Khon Mueang is extremely hot and mostly concrete, so we had to rethink the surface and the microclimate.âThe result is four green spaces that differ in size, concept, and the urban issues they aim to test:Long Rest & Heal, a pocket forest at Lan Khon Mueang;Long Play & Learn, a park for play and learning on Unakan Road;Long Chat, a conversation space designed to encourage interaction around House No. 1;and Long Share, a compact green space of just five square meters in the Chotik community.âWe plan to use BKKDW as a platform to invite people to try these spaces and share feedbackâwhether the design factors we chose, such as creating a microclimate or slowing down the atmosphere of Lan Khon Mueang, actually work for them, and whether their experience changes. Each site tests different questions. We also add activities to gather feedback from visitors, and then develop these into prototypes for other areas of the city.âOne challenge we learned from is that a third place is not only about physical space. It requires both hardware and software to develop together. A few days during BKKDW is not enough to confirm success. It takes time. People need to return, activities need to repeat, and familiarity needs to grow. This is something we need to learn together.âAfter BKKDW, two of the four LongiPark projects will remain for long-term public use: Long Chat at House No. 1 and Long Play & Learn on Unakan Road, both open for ongoing visits.âThis helps remove the old image of public space. A âparkâ can speak about many thingsâecosystems, health, children, almost anything. It helps people see that public space can be more than just a place to exercise or picnic. It can be a farm, a forest, or something else entirely, if we find the right design process.âLearn more about Shmaâs works at Bangkok Design Week 2026 : https://www.bangkokdesignweek.com/bkkdw2026/program
Central Park: Design for Bangkok Discover the design story behind preserving and
If youâre looking for an experience where you can watch, listen, stroll, and enjoy at your own paceâwhile gaining inspiration and insightâCentral Park: Design for Bangkok is not to be missed. The program invites everyone to explore how design weaves together Bangkokâs rhythms, from the heritage of Dusit Thani hotel to the making of a new city landmark, through exhibitions, talks, and creative activities that make learning engaging and easy to understand.The inspiration behind Central Park: Design for Bangkok comes from recognizing the many rhythms of Bangkok and the possibility of weaving them togetherâfrom the energy of Silom and the calm of Lumphini Park to the cultural heritage and memories of the Dusit Thani hotel. This vision is driven by Kunayudh Dej-Udom, Asset Director at Central Park, who believes that this new landmark should be more than a real estate project. Instead, it is envisioned as a space that reflects the values of the city, connecting past, present, and future through a design process that prioritizes quality of life, people, and the surrounding context.This led to Central Park: Design for Bangkok, which consists of three main components:Design Talk: Designing the Future of Bangkok (Saturday, January 31), sharing the full background of the project – from executive vision to real design perspectives from architects, designers, and artists.Exhibition: Exploring the City Through Design, presenting ideas, design processes, and intentions behind creating a park for Bangkok, divided into three zones: Build Your Central Park, Central Park Passport, and Breathe the Park, which explores selected plants that act as a small air purifier for the city.The Landmark: Heritage in Motion, a 7-meter-tall sculpture by Thai artist Infinite Riot, bringing together the design DNA of Central Park, with parts created through live painting.From a communication perspective, Piriya Kulganchanacheewin, Co-Founder & Story Curator at Glow Story and the person behind the storytelling of Central Park: Design for Bangkok, sees this project as more than an explanation of how it was made or how âgoodâ it is. What matters more, he says, is expanding the meaning of the space beyond that.âWe want to show that this place, in the future, will become a canvas for other artists to continue creating. Itâs a statement that this space is truly open to further creative extension.ââFrom my point of view, whatâs interesting is how this project changes the meaning of this place. People in Bangkok today can feel tired of malls, but after being involved with this project for about two or three months, we realized that itâs not about building another mall. Itâs about preserving, reinterpreting, and extending a place. For me, this feels like a living museumâwhere you can truly live: eat, drink, talk, run, or lie down in the park.âWith the timing of Bangkok Design Week, which takes place shortly after Dusit Central Park has opened, Piriya sees this as an important opportunity to invite people to truly listen to the design process behind the project.âProjects like this donât happen often in Thailand. If the knowledge stays only with the people who made it, that would be a waste. Bangkok Design Week is a very good momentâthe project has just opened, there arenât many people yet, and itâs the right time to âlisten to the background.â When knowledge spreads, and we see more projects that think seriously about the city and its people, I believe Bangkok can truly become a better-designed city.âLearn more about Central Park: Design for Bangkok:https://www.bangkokdesignweek.com/bkkdw2026/program/153824
Something to Stay_____On A fresh take on âThainessâ through 17 student works at
From a recreated Thai footpath on a skywalk and a giant checkers board for all ages to an oversized goby fish you can sit and play on, these are some of the works from the Academic Program under the concept âSomething to Stay_____On.â The project is developed through a collaboration between EM DISTRICT, Bangkok Design Week 2026, and The Head and The Heart Studio.âLooking back at the first year of BKKDW, we joined quite last minuteâit was really intense. But this year, after many people started talking about it, we opened an Open Call and received a large number of submissions. That already feels like a success right from the start this year,â said Suthavadee Sirithanachai, Suthavadee Sirithanachai, Managing Director of EM DISTRICT.The main goal remains the same: to support young creatives and give 17 student teams from 10 institutions a chance to prepare for their future as artists.âWe know BKKDW has an Academic Program every year, but it is often shown in more closed spaces. We believe art should be open for people to see and interpret in their own ways.âArt should encourage people to think and apply ideas to their own lives. Thatâs why we wanted to see how the younger generation responds to this brief.âThis yearâs brief combines Something to Stay_____On with ideas of Thainess and sustainable materials, aligning with the festival theme DESIGN S/O/S. This led to works such as a giant roly-poly doll inspired by traditional Thai ice cream and an oversized mother hen sculpture that can actually lay eggs.The projects will be displayed across âfrom EM Station on the skywalk near Phrom Phong BTS to EM Tower, Level M at Emsphere, where large numbers of visitors pass through every day.âThis reminds us not to overlook children and youth. Art doesnât come only from adults. If we donât plant the seed of art early, when these kids grow up and enter work or business life, will they think about integrating art into what they do? In the end, everything is about planning ahead, and nurturing creativity from a young age is extremely important.ââOnce selected, the students go through training and development with professional artists and designers from different fields, including Simon Pillard, Creative Director behind all visual art for EM District and The Mall Group; Teeranop Wangsilpakun, concept and graphic design expert and founder of TNOP DESIGN; and RongâJitsing Somboon, designer and fashion designer. âIn this project, we also create a kind of role play for the students. They must work as a team, under time limits and budget constraints, and collaborate with all three mentors. Sometimes they suggest materials, and we discuss whether another option might be cheaper or better. We always tell them this is a simulation of real life after graduation. Life is not perfectâyou have resources, limitations, and you must learn to adapt.âLearn more about Something to Stay_____On here:https://www.bangkokdesignweek.com/bkkdw2026/program/152876
Wonder of Fabric Outdoor furniture by 4 Thai designers, made to touch, sit, play, and even play table tennis
Get ready to sit, lie down, and relax on playful, well-made outdoor furnitureâfrom sofas with space for board games to dining tables that turn into ping-pong tables after the meal.This is the return of Wonder of Fabric, a design exhibition by DOTS Design Studio in collaboration with textile specialist Homework Fabric and 70-year furniture manufacturer RES (Kunakij). Four Thai designers were invited to create four outdoor furniture pieces, exploring new potential for fabrics we are familiar with.âWe wanted to explore new potential for Homeworkâs fabrics beyond furniture upholstery or curtains, looking for new techniques and possibilities for the material. This continues from last year, when we invited designers to collaborate at Bangkok Design Week.âKrit Phutpim, founder and designer of DOTS Design Studio, has long been involved with BKKDW. This year, his clear goal is to extend design into real business opportunities, presenting outdoor-ready fabrics developed by Homework to meet local needs during a time when imported fabrics were limited.âThis year, we wanted to take a more business-focused approach. We partnered with an outdoor furniture factory, Kunakij Furniture Industry, which mainly works with aluminum and has recently rebranded as RES, focusing on outdoor living. Since our directions align, we decided to collaborate.âThis direction also reflects the growing trend of outdoor activities.âWe design based on data, from market trends to product development. After COVID-19, we clearly saw that people were looking for outdoor activities to escape staying indoors. When this trend happens, new products and services naturally follow.âThe result is four outdoor furniture pieces by Thai designers, on display for hands-on use at the courtyard of House No. 1, Charoenkrung 30. Visitors are invited to sit, lie down, relax, and use the furniture freely.âWe want people to interact with our work because we donât design just to show. We design for real use. People can touch, sit, and use everything. Imagine House No. 1 turning into a pop-up cafÃĐ or resort where visitors can enjoy the space freely.âThe collection includes a stylish outdoor sofa set with fabric board games like tic-tac-toe and chess, a dining table redesigned from Kunakijâs iconic chair that also works as a ping-pong table, and two other pieces that change roles, serving as a sun umbrella during the day and a light pole at night.âAfter this project, we have two hopes. First, that the two factories will work together to develop these products into real businesses, whether for sale or future exhibitions. Second, if the project works well, it could spin off into a new sub-brand created by both factories together.âLearn more about Wonder of Fabric:https://www.bangkokdesignweek.com/bkkdw2026/program/143976Bangkok Design Week 2026 DESIGN S/O/SFull Program : https://www.bangkokdesignweek.com/en/bkkdw2026/programð29 January â 8 February 2026Charoenkrung – Talat Noi, Phra Nakhon, Pak Khlong Talat, Bang Lamphu – Khaosan, and others
DESIGN S/O/S - Itâs time to take action and design our way forward for today and tomorrow.
In a world facing crises from climate change and economic instability to growing inequality, we canât just wait. This year, we begin creating our own ways to survive and thrive. Because design is not only about beauty, but a force that helps us adapt and move forward with confidence.Do not wait for the crisis to arrive. Now is the time to activate your creative mode and unleash your âsurvivalâ ideas youâve been waiting to âactualizeâ. Whether youâre a creator, designer, entrepreneur, thinker, dreamer, critic, connector, or doer, this is a call for you to join us. Letâs âtake actionâ in design, and survive â together.No heroes needed. No waiting for someone else to save the day.Itâs time to act for our world and our future.S â Secure Domestic Setting new standards, awakening waves that boost the domestic market.âSecure Domesticâ is about building a strong foundation and raising the standards of Thai design, while energizing the local market. When Thai people value and choose Thai design, the creative economy becomes a powerful force driving the country forward.This idea goes beyond economics, itâs also about using design to improve our cities and society, helping us move confidently in a constantly changing world.O â Outreach Opportunities Creating new opportunities, fostering collaborations, and confidently taking a step towards the global state.If âSecure Domesticâ is the strong foundation, âOutreach Opportunitiesâ is the branch that reaches out to the world â creating new global possibilities. It means Thai designs that speak to people everywhere, collaborations with international brands and institutions, and spaces for sharing ideas and innovation across borders.Design has no boundaries. Itâs a universal language that connects us and highlights Thailandâs potential as a true design hub of Asia.S â Sustainable Future Exploring bold and innovative paths to a sustainable future, ready to take on every challenge ahead.Good design doesnât just respond to the present, it looks toward the future. âSustainable Futureâ means using design as a driving force to create new ways for life, cities, and the planet to move forward, helping us face future challenges with confidence and stability.âDesignâ is not just for a few, itâs a power that moves people, cities, businesses, and the world.Itâs time to turn creativity into action and make ideas happen, whether youâre a thinker, dreamer, designer, or doer.