Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory

According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the city has 6.99 m² of green space for each person, which is less than the minimum of 9 m² recommended by the World Health Organization. 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 lifestyle focused on well-being.

Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory is an architectural manifesto aiming at creating more natural environments and expressing the demands of Bangkokians for green spaces. The project is located in the center of the park, surrounded by a large number of wetlands and trees. Its natural ecology, combined with the singing of flowers, birds, and insects, is heavenly.

HAS design and research founders and architects, Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee, continue the natural impression of Benchakitti Forest Park and regard the Observatory as a gift to the citizens of Bangkok. Therefore, the design intention is to make the architecture part of nature.

Inspired by the site, Hung And Songkittipakdee (HAS) designed the Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory to appear as if it is covered by a large number of leaves. It is not only like a floating wetland island but also in the most precious tropical rainforest in the ecosystem, providing visitors with a common habitat for animals and plants.

Its slightly undulating form guides visitors to the upper Observatory level, which overlooks the park; the lower level combines the water mist system to simulate the wetland environment and provides activities for the citizens, such as yoga, meditation, and events.

During the day, the Observatory is like a chameleon in the park. Nearly a hundred panels are combined with four different shades of eco-friendly green paint to achieve a perfect balance with the environment. At night, the light strips behind the panels provide, making the building disappear in the landscape.

HAS design and research believes that the Benchakitti Rain Forest Observatory is not just a service facility, but more like a tropical rainforest. It not only provides people with shading, but also creates a space that gathers citizens and hosts educational events so as to show Bangkok will pay attention to and care for the environment in the future.