Development Plan for Ratchadamnoen Klang Road
“Symbol of progress and lynch pin of the Rattanakosin conservation and restoration initiative"
Ratchadamnoen Road has a rich and long history as a symbol of the progress of Thai society. It is also an area that has been the flash point for rapidly changing context and conditions of economy, society, and politics, both globally and within the country. However, in recent years, the symbol of Ratchadamnoen Road as a bridge toward the future has been greatly diluted. Thus, sprang the idea for the revitalization Ratchadamnoen Klang Road.
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UddC readily saw the potential and opportunity to regenerate the role of Ratchadamnoen Klang Road given its outstanding physical components, location advantage, and future development trends. The Crown Property Bureau is the owner of the land on Ratchadamnoen Klang Road and is a leader of development in that area as a symbol of progress of Thai society, which will serve as an important landmark of conservation and restoration of the Rattanakosin district.
UddC has developed a master plan for the development of Ratchadamnoen Klang Road and surrounding areas. The plan divides the development area into four zones as follows: Zone 1: Gateway to Learning; Zone 2: Intellectual Square; Zone 3: Innovative progress; and Zone 4: Thai-Thai thinking.
Each zone has development potential given the application of regeneration concepts of physical space improvement. There are five important design criteria that support the above vision, namely:
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Create space and opportunities for learning through various dimensions, physical, virtual, and intellectual, which are new concepts of learning;
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Promote pride in Thai popular style by developing a system of activities in/around buildings and public areas that promote both the expression of art and culture and important science of the country which are considered to be levels of innovation which can generate significant positive change to Thailand's physical, economic, and social attributes;
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Create a multi-purpose area that is appropriate and does not conflict with the Thai context and society by supporting the use of various buildings and public areas in ways that can attract different groups of people to use the project area, day and night;
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Develop and restore Ratchadamnoen Klang Road without addressing parts in isolation. Instead, create relationships with the urban areas and the activity dynamics of the surrounding areas;
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Support the development of areas in line with the national Creative Economy Policy including economic processes and activities that are based on cultural assets together with creativity, innovation or technology that can create products and services with added value commercially or socially.
The conservation of the buildings alongside Ratchadamnoen Klang Road remains an important element of the restoration in and of itself. That said, there need to be standards for making improvements by focusing on preserving traditional architectural elements, enhancing the pedestrian experience, and supporting a new activity dynamic by considering the balance of conservation and development through an architectural style that does not conflict with the inherent, elegant landscape of Ratchadamnoen Klang Road.
PROJECT FACT
Project Name : Development Plan for Ratchadamnoen Klang Road
Location : Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue, Bangkok
Area : 936,588 sq.m.
Client : Crown Property Bureau
Year : 2014
Status : Research and Study, Urban Design
Program / Role : Conservative area development
Partners : -