The collaborative design project aimed to develop a green public space in the cultural and Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem area, specifically Talat Noi – Charoenkrung, to enhance the quality of urban life under the concept of "Creating New Possibilities for the Cultural District." This project was part of Bangkok Design Week 2021, which took place from October to December 2021, under the theme "Resurgence of Possibilities."

The development project in this urban area required the involvement of the Choduk community in creating the development plan and establishing a process for meaningful community participation. Workshops were conducted, and we collaborated with the Shma Soen team to develop the design project, as well as to oversee the construction and installation procedures on-site.

Node 5: Choduk Bridge

Choduk Bridge served as a connection point among the Choduk community, Chijongsawad community, and Mahapruttaram community. The primary issue with the space was that it functioned as a public area occupied by parked cars and had inadequate lighting. These conditions left the space unused and uninviting.

After conducting workshops and engaging with the community for two weeks, we discovered that the space had great potential. The bridge itself had sufficient width to expand its use as a public space, and there were opportunities to support activities for children in the community. Moreover, the community expressed a strong desire to transform the area into a lively, multi-functional space that raises awareness, fosters collective memory, and meets the diverse needs of its people.

Consequently, we posed two key questions: "How can we create collective memory for this space?" and "How can we prevent this bridge from being used as a private parking lot?" To address these concerns, we established design criteria based on input from our collaborative workshops with the locals. These criteria included:

Creating a collective identity,

Ensuring flexible use,

Simplifying usability,

Preserving the surrounding scenery, and

Ensuring durability.

We believed that if the bridge area were thoughtfully designed as an engaging public space, it would become an active site for community events. People who had been using the space for parking would recognize that it could no longer be treated as a private car park. In the past, even with "no parking" signs, the area remained abandoned and rules were frequently ignored. A well-designed public space would discourage such behavior and breathe new life into the community.

Photo by: We! Park

"Games of CHODUK":

We created public activities to encourage participation from both locals and visitors by designing games inspired by the bridge's name, "Choduk," symbolizing wealth and the status of a millionaire in history. The game was designed on the bridge floor, divided into channels representing different levels of luck and wealth. The colorful stripes on the floor served as a playful yet thoughtful intervention to address the issue of inconsiderate parking on the bridge, encouraging people to reflect on their actions and use the space more considerately.

The recreation area was designed to support flexibility in the use of public space. To enhance this, we created leisure chairs in several modular types, allowing for easy storage, movement, and installation. These chairs, combined with the "Games of CHODUK," facilitated opportunities for common interaction and encouraged shared use of the space.

Photo by: We! Park

Despite the challenges during the COVID-19 situation, the installation of the work was completed on December 26, 2021, accompanied by various activities such as live music to activate and test the public space. From these activities, it became clear that people were engaging with both the activities and the space. The area attracted participation from both the local community and visitors from outside, who used the space energetically. This demonstrated that the area had real potential for use and further development in the future.

Additionally, the activation of the space helped prevent the bridge from being occupied by parked cars, addressing a long-standing issue. Such progress not only showcased the area’s usability but also created opportunities for the long-term development of this form of public space.