Between Dichotomies : Form, Formless & Space of Social Leisure by Beautbureau

BTWD

Between Dichotomies : Form, Formless & Space of Social Leisure Architectural Design Option Studio â&#x20AC;˘ Fall 2014 International Program in Design + Architecture [INDA] Chulalongkorn University â&#x20AC;˘ Bangkok Thailand

BETWEEN DICHOTOMIES : FORM, FORMLESS & SPACE OF SOCIAL LEISURE 4 Introduction 7 Leisure Toolkits 25 Bangkok in 2x2 km2 49 Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative 67 Tokyo 77 The Form(less) of PSLI

INTRODUCTION Architecture relies significantly on the binary logic. Binarism is arguably the most fundamental, dominant, and most persistent mode of architectural thinking and analysis. Architectural theory and practice operate and perpetuate within the elastic, overarching framework of binary oppositions. Bracketing options abound: figure-ground, positive-negative, solid-void, interior-exterior, verticalhorizontal, transparent-(translucent)-opaque, structure-skin. [Formless] is not so much a stable motif to which we can refer, a symbolizable theme, a given quality, as it is a term allowing one to operate a declassification...Nothing in and of itself, the formless has only an operational existence: it is a performative...The formless is an operation. Yve-Alain Bois, The Use Value of Formless, in Formless : A User’s Guide (1997)

This studio conducts an open-ended, exploratory design-research in the dichotomy between form and formless—between architecture’s long-established operational mechanism + manifestation norm and its opposing anomaly. The latter is conceivably the strategy more befitting denselypopulated contemporary urban settings, where tabula rasa opportunities for constructing iconic, archetypal, heroic objects imbued with symbolic meanings are ever-dwindling. For the lack of rigorous theory in the architectural construct, formless in the context of this study is a pluralistic concept which counteracts form’s spatially deterministic approach—one that focuses on the production and configurations of isolated concrete artefacts and their capacity to create order, regulate society and shape human behaviors—with the contextualized approach that challanges the normative boundaries within which the profession operates, shifts its focus toward interactions with people, things, events, socio-cultural, economic, political, environmental forces, and prioritizes spatial experiences over heroic formal expressions. Formless herein is represented by the anti-form, anti-heroic, anti-monumental, anonymous architecture that embraces, responds to, and exploits existing conditions. Sample manifestations are in the form of adaptive reuse, urban infill, bottom-up urbanism, ephemeral/pop-up spaces/events, as well as hands-on/DIY structures. Between the form/object and formless/context dichotomy, we ponder the following disciplinary questions : • • •

How could architecture kindle its conventional love affair with form-making in such disciplinary climate increasingly inconducive to form-making, while concurrently escaping the usual stigma of insularity and social irrelevance? How could architecture perform the balancing act between reacting/adapting to the contextual forces that shape/influence physical spaces, and retaining the authority of shaping/regulating people and society? How could architecture forge a healthy, reciprocal, transformative relationship with the city?

Introduction

Bangkok and Its Predicaments The epicenter of the studio’s investigation is the Bangkok Metropolitan Area. Thailand’s capital city, with population exceeding eight million, is a metropolis in perpetual crisis. The remarkably resilient metropolis possesses seemingly endless capacity to adjust to, and “make do” with, its own predicaments –be it choking density, notorious traffic congestion, inadequacy of public transportation and infrastructure, chaotic streets, lack of green space, unregulated development and urban expansion, deprived education, health and living standards. This studio concentrates on a particular area of Bangkok’s predicaments: banal, unimaginative provision for socio-cultural leisure activities. Bangkok offers limited options for leisure in public settings. As if the city adopted consumerism as a religion, and shopping its official pastime, air-conditioned mega-malls are mushrooming. Museums and cultural-oriented spaces are sparse, few and far between. Public sport facilities are outdated, poorly maintained, if not dilapidated; their private counterparts guarded, gated, isolated. Such predicament, in conjunction with the proliferation of high-rise residential buildings and urban sprawl, can be considered one among the major culprits of increasing social segregation. •

Our investigation is situated within the particular framework of : (A) space of social leisure; and, (B) the Bangkok Metropolitan area.

•

We aim to study categories and forms of leisure activities that belong to local and foreign cultures—historic and contemporary.

•

We aim to propose, and propagandize, speculative forms of inventive, unconventional social leisure.

•

Each studio member assumes a unique stance in the continuum of form and formless expressions, then proposes an architecture-scale intervention/operation reflective of the selected point of view, in order to promote a Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative, which helps improve the quality of leisure activities in Bangkok.

•

We aim to identify agents of, and operations toward, the formless.

•

We aim to explore the potentials of reciprocal & transformative relationships between spatial, human, and temporal dimensions of the proposed interventions.

Introduction

LEISURE TOOLKITS Our investigation begins with a duo of programmatic exercises : Leisure Toolkits I & II. Each studio member chooses to concentrate on an action verb from one of the following categories : (A) cook/dine/mix/drink/taste/smoke/sniff/sip/savor (B) dance/sing/perform/rehearse/read(aloud)/discuss/ chat/club/ party/flirt/love (C) play/stroll//hike/jog/ ride/skate/climb/camp/surf (D) watch/listen/read/learn/bathe/float/(day)dream (E) make/build/write/paint/sculpt/plant/sew/repair

The action verb serves as a springboard from which the member deduces a relevant leisure activitity. At this stage, the chosen leisure activity may be situated at any point in the bipolar spectrum of public and private. However, careful consideration should be spent on the possibility of such activity being developed into a form of social leisure in urban settings in the subsequent phases of the project. The member then conducts an in-depth research + analysis of the chosen leisure activity present in different cultures, geographical locations, and time periods. The intent is to gain a deep understanding of the historic, human, sociocultural, political, and spatial dimensions of the chosen leisure. Examples of the leisure components to unpack are : its origin and history; human participants (& other living creatures, if any); objects, instruments, physical facilities required; symbolic & graphic representations; rules, regulations & official organizations; seasonal events and festivals; social codes, conducts, etiquette; attires, etc. Research findings are analyzed and presented in various graphic and video formats, and compiled into Leisure Toolkit I. Leisure Toolkit II is the compilation of a comparative study of the chosen leisure activity in the context of the Bangkok Metropolitan Area. The toolkit is presented in the same formats as those of Leisure Toolkit I.

Leisure Toolkits

Feasts are often regarded as gatherings of people on special occasions that inevitably revolves around food. Despite the differences of religion, culture, and ethnics, human more than ever associate themselves with the tradition of eating. Wherever one lives on Earth, feasts have pushed the boundaries of having normal meals to becoming a leisure activity during festivals. One of the reasons what makes human different from animals are that we bring artistic quality to our meals. Though universally celebrated today and in historical times.; feasts, in different parts of the world, have different rules of etiquette that people follow. Besides the obvious differences of the food and ingredients, there are also differences in the scale and dimensions of the spatial qualities, the invited participants, the height of where food is served, and the utensils required. Traditionally, Thais have their dishes served at once; however, it is often preferred that there are at least one dishes from each elements. With everyone seated on the floor, the eldest or most respected usually begins the meal. For Chinese feasts, the number of courses can range from ten to twenty depending on the grandness. The most honored seat faces entrances with the rest alternating right and left. 8

Leisure Toolkits : feast

According to Bohra feasts, people begin their meals with dessert or sweets since they view it as an expensive food. Food are served in a large platter called thaal where guests, including strangers, of 8 gathers around to share the food. The only utensil you would need are your hands, while sometimes using naan bread to scoop up the curry is okay too. For Americans, there are no bigger feasts than Thanksgiving. With the host on either end of the table, large portions of food and turkey are served. The Japanese New Year, or Oshogatsu, marks the biggest feasts for the people on the island. Giving the most honored guest seats furthest from the entrance, while the host sits close to the door. Soba noodles are served instead of rice as incorporated is belief of living a long life like as the noodlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; length. Inspired by Marie Antoinette, her French feasts were accompanied by the royal family and noblemen. Those sitting closer to the royal table are more respectable and of higher status. With courses that seemed endless, their normal dinner would begin as early as four.

Pichayut Sirawongprasert

Leisure Toolkits : feast

This series of diagram represents the make-believe mechanisms and reveals the performative sequences of a set of well-known magic tricks; for example, sawing people in a half , disappearing acts, etc. It shows what needs to happen, what needs to be seen -vs- hidden, and when precisely. The vision length of the audience also matters for performing tricks. It is divided into 3 section : close-up distance, middle distance, far

Leisure Toolkits : make believe

Sutinee Prongmake

Leisure Toolkits : make believe

UNIDENTIFY

AT E

ERL

ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND - LEWIS CARROL

LA N

THE LION, THE WITCH A N D T H E WA R D R O B E - C. S. LEWIS

D O

F M O

Story-telling as a leisure activity is here associated with the chosen action verb “daydream”. The study in this phase focuses on one specific component of the leisure activity : the stories themselves, looking into a group of well-known fairy tales originated in various cultures for extraordinary, whimsical, magical, magical-realism moments along the story lines that involve concepts such as portals to other worlds, dramatic scale change, apparition, shape-shifting.

LUCY , O NE O F THE FO UR O RPHANED CHILDREN , DISCO RVERED A DO O R TO THE MAGICAL FO REST INSIDE THE WARDRO BE

THE STORY IS ACTUALLY IN THE REAL WORLD THROUGH A KID ’ S PERSPECTIVE , SO EVERYTHIN G IS BIGGER THAN N ORMAL

NEW YORK DRINK ME BO TTLE , THE PO TIO N THAT CAUSED ALICE TO SHRINK TO BE ABLE TO GO THRO UGH THE TINY DO O R

THE MAGIC FINGER - ROALD DAHL

ENGLAND

H ITC W E HE OB , T RDR N I O WA E L E TH D TH AN

CHARLIE AND T H E C H O C L AT E FA C T O R Y - ROALD DAHL

FRAN

Drin k me!

THE MAGICAL MONARCH OF MO - L. FRANK BAUM

NT VE AD ND E’S RLA C I E AL ND O W

N E I

M AT I L D A - ROALD DAHL

THE LITTLE PRINCE - A N TO I N E D E S A I N T - E X U P E RY

UNITED KINGDOM

THE GIRL IS PO SSESSED A MAGIC PO WER O N HER FINGER . THIS SCENE IS WHEN SHE GET UPSET FRO M WHAT THE TEACHER SAID TO HER , SO SHE TURN HER INTO A CAT

MAE NARK PRAKANHONG - UTHAI CHAIYANON

BANGKOK

A E M

FIN

PLA BUH THONG - JAN JAO

SAHARA DESERT

TH E G OL DEN SNAKE C AN AC TUAL LY G IVE YOU A WISH

COWS ACTUALLY GIVE ICECR EAM INSTEAD OF MILK

AG E M TH MO OF

N MO

CH T

LIT HE

TLE

MATILDA IS A GIRL WHO HAS A PO WER THAT CAN LIFT THINGS UP , THIS SCENE IS WHEN SHE IS TRYING TO PRACTICE HER SPECIAL PO WER .

TH E PRINC E IS USING TH E ADVANTAG E OF FL OC K OF TH E WIL D BIRDS FOR H IS ESC APE

TIL

I N T HI S W ORLD , NO ONE CA N D I E . W HE NE V E R T HE Y LOS T A NY B OD Y PA RT , T HE Y CA N A LWAY S RE P L A CE I T W I T H CA ND I E S . BUT THE CANDY PARTS WILL ALSO BE MELTED IN THE LEMONADE R AIN

A E M TH MO OF

C GI

LIT HE

TLE

GLASS ELEVATO R MO VES NO T O NLY VERTICALLY BUT ALSO HO RLIZO NTALLY IN A VERY HIGH SPEED .

THAILAND

U N I T E D S TAT E S

Leisure Toolkits : daydream / story telling

MAE N ARK , A STORY OF A WOMAN DIED WHEN SHE IS PREGN AN T AN D BECOME A GHOST THAT SCARE EVERYBODY EXCEPT HER HUSBAN D .

FRANCE

E N A

Tirada Charanwong

LIE

PLA BUH THO NG IS ACTUALLY THE MO THER WHO WAS KILLED BY HER O WN HUSBAND , AND BO RN AGAIN AS PLA BUH , SO SHE CAN STILL MAKE CO NTACT WITH HER DAUGHTER .

E C HO

C FA O L A CT TE OR Y

Tirada Charanwong Tirada

Leisure Toolkits : daydream / story telling

Story Analysis NAME OF STORY

NAME OF STORY Date Name of storyteller Start

Name of storyteller

LEGEND COMMON THEMES

VARIATIONS

RULE OF THREE

Popular plot

Evil character

Object of Focus

End

Storying-telling is a leisure activity that is used to educate people - often children - in cultural and moral values, as well as being an entertaining hobby. It can be described as an activity that ‘builds character’, both in terms of creating an imaginative persona or role and enhancing one’s personality and identity. The origin of storytelling dates back to prehistoric times; since cavemen started communicating with each other through paintings and drawings, which was triggered by the need for survival. As the activity progressed through time, there emerges different creative ways to tell stories, from oral traditions, artistic interpretations to performances. Each style require varying sets of apparatus and mediums, thus creating its own distinctive atmosphere. There is even a World Storytelling Day established for all people of this same interest to participate in their annual events and share stories!

Leisure Toolkits : story telling / character building

Pannathorn Eawsivigoon

The stories themselves contain interesting inquiries. Storytelling naturally has an ephemeral quality to it, because nobody can tell a story with exactly the same feeling and atmosphere. Therefore, there are many variations to one single story. However, this analysis proves that each story possess common themes, objects of focus and evil enemies similar to its variations. Moreover, the rule of three is used in all stories to create a memorable plot (i.e. the three little pigs, goldilocks and the three bears), following the Latin phrase, “omne trium perfectum” (everything that comes in threes is perfect, or, every set of three is complete)

Leisure Toolkits : story telling / character building

“Camp” as an action verb translates directly to camping as the leisure activity, which characterizes : temporariness, flexible shelter (hence architectural formlessness), outdoor activity. Timeline of Camping from the precedent to the present, in parallel to the development of camping inventions and the cross-cultural events that occurred during the time period.

Four camping categories of interest + precedents : Religious. The Hajj - The Pilgrimage of Muslim to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Since there is a enormous events, the supported shelters have to be huge enough to reside over three million of muslim pilgrims at the time. The desert valley of Mina is best known for the lodging role during the annual hajj pilgrimage. It covers an area of approximately 20 km². Mina is considered a ‘pop-up city’ that lasts only 4-5 days during the Hajj.Over 100,000 air-conditioned tents provide temporary accommodation to visiting pilgrims. The Teflon-coated tents are constructed to withstand temperatures of up to 700 degrees Celsius. One unit of tent has a capacity to dwell up to 48 people. Scouting. Thai Scouting camp, is part of the school program under the national scouting organization of Thailand. The camp is considered necessary and held annually or at least once during the study for scout students. It usually stay overnight with many outdoor activities including building a shelter, fire and cooking their own meal. The camp stays around 3-5 days and gathers about 100-200 students from the same school. Military. Thai Military Youth Camp takes place in Kao Chon Kai, Kanchanaburi. The training camp is for Army reserved force students under control of the Royal Thai Army. The camp lasts 3-5 days. The typical small Khaki canvas shelter houses only 2 people maximum. Mobile. Motorhome or Recreational Vehicle (RV) offers living accommodation for between two to six people.Each bed or ‘berth’ is either fixed or converts from another part of the motorhome’s interior, usually a fold out sofa. A kitchenette area will contain cooking equipment. The type of equipment included differs depending on the motorhome make and model, but generally a kitchenette has an oven, grill, stovetop, and sink. More luxury models may also provide a microwave. A separate washroom will be housed in the motorhome. Each washroom will have a flushing cassette toilet, shower and basin. 16

Leisure Toolkits : camp

Grape Nalintragoon

Leisure Toolkits : camp

CANVAS ART

MURAL

"2"+##1&;%56&81 +&9+59

STREET ART *+,$-./

%&'()*&+,!' !"#$%&'() !"# $%&'()*

KEPT PRIVATE Difficult to Collaberate Preserved well Artist’s or Commissioner’s

PRIVACY DEPENDS Collabable Preserved quite well

2+52<+"7=$%42=$3 #69+#&$22"62

Painting is usually viewed as an activity done individually and professionally and in a private spaces like classroom or studio but it can be enjoyed with groups of people, too. By pushing it from being on a single canvas to a sprawl throughout the city where anyone can see, painting can be changed from being an individual activity to a social orientated one. Graffitis are meant to be done quickly to avoid being arrested for vandalism and getting anonymous status ruined. Modern Graffiti started as a form of rebel to send micro messages throughout the city regarding its unfair law. It became part of Hip Hop Culture and became popular as a result. Its original status of being an illegal form of art has started to become unclear as more people commission artists to make legal graffiti.

Leisure Toolkits : paint / graffiti

=+2&3%064 7%&:+4,& 7644$7%41

!"#$ +#0+12&34%56&7%& 86$59&8%:86;

The most famous and probably the most polite and creative graffiti bombing incident was this Banksy Robbo War occurred in Camden, London. The original graffiti was made by Robbo in 1985 then after years, it naturally got scribbled on by other graffiti artists. Then Banksy joined the fun and it became an artistic battle. Several attempts to stop the war was made but none could stop these two. The end of the war finally came as Robbo got involved in an accident and remained in comatose. Banksy made a rough reproduction of Robbo’s original graffiti to end the war respectfully. It’s this anonymous socialization aspect that is an uncommon but interesting part of graffiti that could happen more and make it even more hip and fun than it currently is.

Panitnaat Phuphatana

Leisure Toolkits : paint / graffiti

MAN. E C I THE

ChimĂş mummies with naturalistic and geometric tattooing, 1200 A.D. Drawing courtesy of Dr. Marvin Allison. Pressure marks (not tattoos) GERMANY

Discovery Site of Iceman

SWITZERLAND

Tattoos co-located with osteochondrosis and spondylosis

Distributed around the abdomen,on top of the thighs and breasts

AUSTRIA

ITALY

A bride of the dead

Area damaged during excavation

Tattoos on left calf

Egyptian tattooing was predominantly for females

MEDICINAL TATTOOS Tattoos at joints with ware and tear

Ward off sexually transmitted diseases

MALE

FEMALE

1948 1993

His limbs and torso were covered in ornate tattoos of mythical animals

1800

Tattoos becomes Popular in 19th Century Europe

1841

1850

EDW AR royalt D VII sta rt y Tat too O s bses

Circus Popularizes Tattoos

1870

Fir Tatto st Amer ic o St udio an Ope ns

Chat Petch Poka Sup

1939

Jew ish wit Pop h T ula rB at Ho toos d rand loc aus uring ed t

.,1* *(2(*( 9 *(76 $ '5$*21 7$7722 ,1 -$3$1

Gao Yord

1950

Hah Teaw

Ta t toos become par t of Hippie Movement

Maha Samrej

1970

Pad Tid

Punk movement views Tattoos as Rebellious

ion

1961

Ne w Yo T He atto rk B pat a o itis s af ns Ou ter tbr eak

1995

Exh

ibit io Ta n M ma ttoos irror ins t Ac cep ream tan ce

Sorod Mongkol Suea Liaw Lhung

Leisure Toolkits : body paint / tattoo

Ajana Rojthana

Leisure Toolkits : body paint / tattoo

LOGIC BEHIND CEREMONY

STANDARD DIMENSION/ CIRCULATION

THE MINERAL WORLD

NORTH

GEMS

(Holder-Receivers)

EAST

(Holder-Holders)

(Holder-Givers)

Mars

Uranus

EAST

CRYSTALS

MIXED ORES (Holder-Transformers; Catalysts)

Neptune

Jupiter

(Holder-Determiners)

Mercury

WEST

ROCKS & STONES

Saturn Venus

NORTH

Pluto

NUMBER OF PEOPLE

WEST

SOUTH

DEC 22 - JAN 19

Enter

OTTER

WOLF

JUNE 29 - FEB 18

FEB 19 - MAR 20

FOOL

Exit

GOOSE

SOUTH

THE HEROIC MYTH

CIRCULATION

SANDS

VENTILATION

INNOCENT WINTER

OCT 23 - NOV 22

WARRIOR

MAGICIAN

MAR 21 - APR 19

WEST WIND

RAVEN

EAST WIND

FALL

SEPT 22 - OCT 22

RULER

FALCON

NORTH WIND

SERPENT

ORPHAN

SAGE

BEAVER

APRIL 20 - MAY 29

SPRING

CAREGIVER

Fire

DEER

OWL

SOUTH WIND

NOV 23 - DEC 21

MAY 21 - JUNE 29

1.5 m

SUMMER

CREATOR

Herbs

SEEKER LOVER

BROWN BEAR

SALMON

DESTROYER

0.15 m (6 inch)

15 m

AUG 22 - SEPT 21

JULY 22 - AUG 21

WOODPECKER JUNE 21 - JULY 21

SMELL AND FORM

CONSTRUCTION

Artemisia Tridentata

Sweetgrass Juniperus Communis Heirochloe Odorata

Step 1 Preparing the surface

Willow Bark Salix

Step 3 Set in the interior and ready for activity Blow

Step 2 Building the lodge

Leisure Toolkits : sweat / sweat lodge

Smoke/ heat

Salvia Apiana

NATIVE AMERICAN

Tobacco Nicotiana Tabacum

AMERICA TEMAZCAL

Artemisia Vulgaris

Star Anise Illicium Verum

Boswellia Carteri

Bear Root

Pinon Resin Pinus Edulis

Commiphora

Bursera Microphylla

RUSSIAN BANYA

Corn Zea Mays

Dragon's Blood Resin Croton Lechleri

CHINESE

ISLAMIC HAMMAM

Oak venik

Olive oil

Carry the smell of herbs

Herbs

Thanyaporn Janma

Over all picture of the sweat lodge processing

Eucalyptus

Copal

Thanyaporn Janma

Oak venik

Leisure Toolkits : sweat / sweat lodge

BANGKOK IN 2x2 KM2

Each studio member has now determined a particular leisure program for the semester’s design intervention, and has acquired a body of knowledge and an understanding of the leisure’s multi-dimensional components in the Leisure Toolkits. In this phase, we now observe the physicalities and dynamic organisms of Bangkok in an attempt to discover intervention opportunities for our spaces of social leisure that utilize the city’s existing inventory of buildings, structures, and infrastructure as primary design materials. The site exercises are conducted in groups of two. Each group will choose a 2x2 square kilometer area of the metropolis to conduct an urban survey. The selected square kilometers may belong to any neighborhood in the city, as long as there exist within the area substantial specimens of each of the following urban components : 1. Recognizable typology of physical built form, e.g., rows of shophouses, cluster of high-rise buildings, community of low-rise inner-city residences, cluster of industrial buildings 2. Public transportation network, e.g., vehicular streets, alleys, klongs, skytrain routes, railroad tracks 3. Recognizable pattern of voids / open spaces -OR- existing public space/neighborhood facilitity, e.g., plaza, market, park, school, monument

Each group then develops a collection of existing architectural and urban site conditions conducive to formless interventions, i.e., conditions that have the potential to facilitate plausible intervention tactics. Tactics are conceivable on the basis of action verbs such as : insert, convert, transform, add, reduce, superimpose, morph, hybridize, consume, submerge, attach, graft, detach, perforate, penetrate, weave, remove, dismantle, etc. These detectable conditions and tentative operations are diagrammed in the graphic format coherent with that of the Leisure Toolkits. In addition to surveying the chosen area’s formal components, the members observe and diagram its formless characteristics—its human, sociopolitico-cultural, and temporal dimensions— particularly the demographics and activities of the people; flows of people and different kinds of traffic over time; patterns of human-human and human-built environment interactions. We intend for the exercises in this phase to be exploratory in nature. Members are encouraged to allow the interplay between the leisure programs studied in the previous phase and a variety of urban conditions encountered during this phase to occur naturally and initiate the conceptualization of ensuing interventions.The chosen areas and neighborhoods of the city serve as the fields redolent of potential sites—the catalog from which members later zero in on exact location(s) for the design interventions in the subsequent phases of the project.

Bangkok in 2x2 km2

Surawong, Silom and Sathorn districts are known for their collection of high-rises and commercial buildings, but lacks programs of “leisure” activities. Our intention is to analyze this site to seek for opportunity areas to insert our potential leisure programs, expanding the site’s diversity in activities. Being a commercial area the site is very active, which results in the construction of many BTS and MRT stations that brings in a lot of people to the site. Thus, mass of pedestrians ooze out of these points around the site, in which we see as an opportunity for social interaction. The site’s population is diverse in its ethnicities by having communities of Indians, Westerners, Chinese and Japanese. These ethnic enclaves are evident in their architectural features. For example, the Indian community settles around Wat Kaek and a mosque, the Chinese established cemeteries and foundations, the Westerners inhabits Sathorn and churches and the Japanese temporarily circulates around Thaniya building. This creates different patterns and flows of pedestrians within the site. Each colour represents each ethnicity, the opacity portrays the population density, while in some areas they merge with one another. Surawong, Silom and Sathorn each has their own characteristics. The streets and buildings range from small, medium, to large scale respectively. Shophouses are mostly found in Surawong and high-rises are mostly located in Sathorn, whereas Silom has the most variety of building typologies.

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Silom - Sathorn - Surawong

Pannathorn Eawsivigoon & Sutinee Prongmake

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Silom - Sathorn - Surawong

Pannathorn Eawsivigoon & Sutinee Prongmake

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Silom - Sathorn - Surawong

This 2 x 2km scope revolves around the area of Asoke, a new central business district with a good mixture of communites and multi-cultural population. Over the course of time, residential houses as seen in the 2002 map, has been replaced with various office buildings, condominiums, and skyscrapers in 2014; this tells us that Asoke is growing, drawing workers and foreigners to this unique place. Hence, this is the opportunity for an analytical study of this urban area and possibly a potential intervention of a proposed social leisure activity. The building components mapping, where darker shades of grey indicates a more public space and lighter shades of grey indicates a more private space, portrays different purposes of buildings and properties. This may also suggest the density of the area and the relationship in between. Extracted from the mapping is a typology of building types that reveals different physical characteristics and placement. For example, it is clear that many office buildings are situated along Asoke road, while commercial hotels prefer to be along Sukhumvit Road, thus, educational institution are mostly north in the site.

PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITY TIRADA CHARANWONG

P I C H AY U T S I R AW O N G P R A S E RT

LOW

20.00 - 24.00

THE ROAD ALONG ASOKE BECOMES QUITE, WHILE ACTIVITIES NEAR THE S U K H U M V I T R O A D E S P E C I A L LY S O I C O W B O Y O P E R AT E S W I L D LY.

V E RY H I G H

17.00 - 20.00

MAJOR CHANGES

A S O K E B E C O M E S R E A L LY C O N G E S T E D A S OFFICE EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS HEAD H O M E . M A S S T R A N S I T A R E A S A R E H E AV I LY P O P U L AT E D .

2002 2014 KLONG SAEN SAEB

M O D E R AT E

13.00 - 17.00

STREETS BECOME EMPTY AS PEOPLE ARE INSIDE THE BUILDINGS. NORMAL ACTIVITY ALONG THE SUKHUMVIT ROAD.

HIGH

12.00 - 13.00

OFFICE EMPLOYEES FILL THE STREETS D U R I N G L U N C H T I M E . T U R N S I N T O A WA L K I N G S T R E E T, W H I L E L E S S C A R A R E S E E N .

M O D E R AT E

10.00 - 12.00

H I S T O R I C A L C O M PA R I S O N 2002 VS 2014

SHOPPING PLAZAS ARE OPEN AND THERE I S M O D E R AT E A C T I V I T Y A L O N G T H E SUKHUMVIT ROAD.

SCALE 1:4000

SHOPPING PLAZA M A R K E T / R E S TA U R A N T OFFICE CLUB/PUB

LOW

SCHOOLS/INSTITUTION

8.00 - 10.00

HOTELS

OFFICE EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS ENTER THE BUILDING AND CAMPUS. FOR CARS, THERE IS TRAFFIC IN THE MORNING.

SHOPHOUSES CONDOMINIUM RESIDENTIAL HOUSES SHOPPING PLAZA

M A R K E T / R E S TA U R A N T

OFFICE

CLUB/PUB

O P P O RT U N I S T I C

SCHOOLS/INSTITUTION

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Asoke Sukhumvit

HOTELS

SHOPHOUSES

CONDOMINIUM

Pichayut Sirawongprasert & Tirada Charanwong

VOIDS

RESIDENTIAL HOUSES

Pichayut Sirawongprasert & Tirada Charanwong

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Asoke Sukhumvit

TO PETCHBURI ROAD ASOKE PIER TIRADA CHARANWONG

P I C H AY U T S I R AW O N G P R A S E RT

PH ON BT S PR OM 39 ,60 0

E BT S AS OK 85, 100

TO THONGLOR

BT S NA NA 33, 000

ASOKE

SUKHUMVIT 3

EXIT 1

EXIT 3

EXIT 2

SUKHUMVIT 33 SUKHUMVIT 31 SUKHUMVIT 23

SUKHUMVIT 11

SUKHUMVIT 19

SUKHUMVIT 15

SUKHUMVIT 13

LARGE VOID AND WIDE ROAD SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OF LANES REDLIGHT OVER 3 MINUTES MAXIMUM TRAFFIC MORNING AND EVENING

A 4L

A 2L

The means of travel around Asoke is unique and diverse, with an emphasis on transit-oriented design. BTS and MRT stations adjacent to the Asoke intersection are always filled with people commuting, while going north towards Petchburi Road we have the Asoke Pier along the Saen Saep Canal. The main road, acting as a main artery, has smaller roads and alleys that interconnect all the way from Nana to Thong Lor. This means that there are various shortcut routes that one can make while driving from Nana to Thong Lor and vice versa. Further investigations in street scale are made at Asokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main intersection and towards the middle of the road, where office buildings surround food markets. Potential site for opportunistic intervention are also explored and pinpoint. With the first one having a large void and large amount of lanes and close access to mass transit stations, the site can make use of a half-empty parking space. The latter one, is more situated in a space that is dynamically populated by office employees, students, and pedestrians.

M A P P I N G T R A N S P O RTAT I O N SHORTCUT ROUTES MASS TRANSIT

50 PEOPLE PER CROSSING POLICEMAN SET UP CONES FINE 200 BAHT FOR JAYWALK MINIMUM TRAFFIC AT NOON

KIATNAKIN BANK

A 4L

A 2L

SRINAKARINWIROT

TERMINAL 21 A 2L A 6L

INTERCHANGE

A 3L

A 9L

GMM GRAMMY

SOI COWBOY

IN G

SMALL MARKET

MRT PARKING LOT

GRAND PARK VIEW

OCEAN TOWER 2 SHERATON HOTEL

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Asoke Sukhumvit

Pichayut Sirawongprasert & Tirada Charanwong

A 4L

TALARD RUAM SUP

POCKET PARK ASOKE

TALARD PETCH ASOKE MON - FRI 10.00 - 15.00 1,000 people/day

SKY WA LK

A 2L

MON - FRI 6.00 - 16.00 2,000 people/day

BTS

MON - FRI 11.00 - 15.00 3,000 people/day

3 2

EXCHANGE

POCKET MARKET (SWU) TUES, THURS 6.00 - 14.00 1,000 people/day

STREET OBSERVATION

MRT EXITS

Pichayut Sirawongprasert & Tirada Charanwong

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Asoke Sukhumvit

SITE ANALYSIS: RAMA IX BRIDGE TYPOLOGY OF BUILDINGS ALONG SHE RIVER

TYPOLOGY OF BUILDINGS ALONG THE RIVER

High-rise Building Factory

Abandoned space Factory

Park

ER RIV

High-rise Building

Police Office

CON

Abandoned space

ION DIT

Abandoned Buildings

Temple

Department Store

School

NOON

>50%>

NIGHT

>50%>

BOTH

>50%>

Number of Passenger/30 mins

Warehouse

15 m Scale 1:1000

ACTIVITIES UNDER THE BRIDGE Tennis Court

Basketball Court

Thai Soccer Court

Fire Station

Gabbage Area

Parking Lots

OPEN SPACEs

USERS

Family

Vendor

Costumers

Passengers

Patient

Nurse

Car Sellers

Scouts

Exerciser

Officers

Workers

Sellers

The demographics of people shows what kind of condition living and leisures around the area along the river of both sides.

TYPOLOGY OF RESIDENTIALS

Abandoned Space Green Area

Commercial Shophouse

Non-Commercial Shophouse

A story House

Single house

Apartment

Separate Apartments

Abandoned Buildings

Office Residential

15 m

The typology of different residentials that also included some commercial-residence such as shophouses that also open the stores on the first story of the building.

Scale 1:2000

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Rama IX Bridge

Ajana Rojthana & Thanyaporn Janma

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Rama IX Bridge

The chosen area for site analysis includes Yannawa District, Bang Korlaem District and Ratchburana District. The intersection of the three districts is the Rama IX bridge as a part of the Chalermkrung Expressway.

TYPOLOGIES OF CIRCULATION/ TRAFFIC FLOWS AND EXPRESSWAY CONDITION STREET CIRCULATION

RIVER CIRCULATION

Week Days Monday - Friday

Typologies of building along the river include factories, highrise buildings, schools, temples, parks and a number of abandon areas and buildings.

32 33 31 30

Rama 5 Wat Sean Wat Tuek Rama 7

28 27

26 25 23

Many factories on both sides of the river double functionally as industrial piers, creating a typical water condition with docking boats along the riverside. Due to the riverside industrial functions, the water condition in general is not so clean.

Main river and canal

Wat Tephatorn Wat Tepmaree Sung Hee

21 20 19 18

15 13

12 11 10

3 2 1

Wat Sewachut

Rachaburana

2 3

26 25

22 21 20 19 18

15 13

12 11 10

3 2 1

Wat Sewachut

Rachaburana

2 3

Rama 7

Phiboonsongkram 2

27 26 25 23 22

Wat Tephatorn Wat Tepmaree Sung Hee

21 20 19 18

15 13

12 11 10

3 2 1

Wat Sewachut

Rachaburana

Main street

Phiboonsongkram 2

27 26 25 23 22

Wat Tephatorn Wat Tepmaree Sung Hee

21 20 19 18

15 13

12 11 10

2 1

Wat Sewachut

Rachaburana

Ajana Rojthana & Thanyaporn Janma

Wat Khmer Phiboonsongkram 1 Wat Soythong Bang Pho Kheit Khai Chew Khai Da Chonlapratan Payup

DIRECTION #4

need for private called

Thevej Rama 8 Phraarthid

Evening. 6 pm

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Rama IX Bridge

9 8 7 6 5 4

Morning. 8 am

Phin Glaow Tha Rodfai Wang Lung

DIRECTION #3

Wat Warajunyawat Wat Rachasungkorn

Tha Chang Tha Tean Rajhinee Sapabput Rachawong Glom Jow Tha Sri Phra Ya Wat Muang Khae Orientel Tarksin

Parkhet Wat Glang Khet Financial Center Phiboonsongkram 3

32 31

Thevej Rama 8 Phraarthid

Rama 7

Week End Saturday - SUnday

9 8 7 6 5 4

Rama 5 Wat Sean Wat Tuek

Wat Khmer Phiboonsongkram 1 Wat Soythong Bang Pho Kheit Khai Chew Khai Da Chonlapratan Payup

Phin Glaow Tha Rodfai Wang Lung

DIRECTION #2

Wat Warajunyawat Wat Rachasungkorn

Parkhet Wat Glang Khet Financial Center Phiboonsongkram 3

Tha Chang Tha Tean Rajhinee Sapabput Rachawong Glom Jow Tha Sri Phra Ya Wat Muang Khae Orientel Tarksin

32 31

Thevej Rama 8 Phraarthid

Rama 5 Wat Sean Wat Tuek

Evening. 6 pm

Wat Khmer Phiboonsongkram 1 Wat Soythong Bang Pho Kheit Khai Chew Khai Da Chonlapratan Payup

9 8 7 6 5 4

Sub street

DIRECTION #1

Phin Glaow Tha Rodfai Wang Lung

Wat Warajunyawat Wat Rachasungkorn

Phiboonsongkram 2

Wat Tephatorn Wat Tepmaree Sung Hee

Tha Chang Tha Tean Rajhinee Sapabput Rachawong Glom Jow Tha Sri Phra Ya Wat Muang Khae Orientel Tarksin

Thevej Rama 8 Phraarthid

Parkhet Wat Glang Khet Financial Center Phiboonsongkram 3

32 31

Foot path Small alley (soi)

Morning. 8 am

Wat Khmer Phiboonsongkram 1 Wat Soythong Bang Pho Kheit Khai Chew Khai Da Chonlapratan Payup

Rama 7

Phiboonsongkram 2

9 8 7 6 5 4

Rama 5 Wat Sean Wat Tuek

Wat Glang Khet Parkhet Center Financial Phiboonsongkram 3

Phin Glaow Tha Rodfai Wang Lung

The areas under the bridge are government-owned but unauthorized functions such as makeshift parking lots or sport activities are observed. The spaces are also used as multifunction spaces whereas activities change over time due to the users. The diagram illustrates water transportation and its traffic flow, indicating that the pier in the selected area is not an official stop in the water transportation routes, which presents an opportunity for development in the next phase.

TRAFFIC FLOWS

Tha Chang Tha Tean Rajhinee Sapabput Rachawong Glom Jow Tha Sri Phra Ya Wat Muang Khae Orientel Tarksin Wat Warajunyawat Wat Rachasungkorn

Ajana Rojthana & Thanyaporn Janma

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Rama IX Bridge

The survey focused on the main roads of the selected 2x2 km2 area. These main roads provide a day and night traffic t emporality due to the amount of shopping centers and markets on Rama I. After having analyzed the main roads of the site, this study further focused on the intersections of these main roads. The faรงades of the buildings are used for commercial advertisement, thanks to different kind of flat billboards on the walls or structural billboards on the rooftop of some buildings. This site analysis also focused on waiting spaces such as that of the Airport Rail Link which goes from Phayathai station to Suvarnabhumi airport, where the wait time for the train is normally more than 45 minutes, and those in the commercial center area where spaces adjacent to building circulation are provided for people to wait and lounge.

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Rama I + Phyathai

Lucie Rossignol & Panitnaat Phuphatana

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Rama I + Phyathai

Lucie Rossignol & Panitnaat Phuphatana

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Rama I + Phyathai

Lucie Rossignol & Panitnaat Phuphatana

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Rama I + Phyathai

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Din Daeng

Grape Nalintragoon & Josephine Delignies

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Din Daeng

Grape Nalintragoon & Josephine Delignies

Bangkok in 2x2 km2 : Din Daeng

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative

The synthesis of the programmatic exercises and the urban survey in the previous phases then manifest itself in the proposal for a Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative. Equipped with a thorough understanding of an existing form of leisure activity, and familiarity with the organisms of a promising urban area, the members now engage the population of the chosen 2x2 square kilometer area, or the general public, in a propagandistic campaign for a unique & unconventional kind of leisure activity that professes to :

The PSLI addresses the following : • • • • • • • •

(A) promote human interaction, socio-cultural exchanges, and a sense of community; • (B) expand the options and elevate the quality of Bangkokians’ leisure time; (C) create positive atmospheric / experiential impacts that enliven and energize the neighborhood in which the campaign is propagandized. The PSLIserves as the problem setup for the subsequent design phase of the project, and, in effect, the criteria against which the success of the design intervention is measured. It is, in essence, Leisure Toolkit III, in which normative components of the leisure activity previously identified in the Leisure Toolkits are strategically tweaked, transformed, redefined, hybridized, tailored to fit, or clash with, the particularities of the 2x2 square kilometer area.

Target audiences, perpetrators & actors (passive & active participants) Mechanism of unconventionality Mechanism of social engagement Calculated social and spatial experiences Phases and life span of the Initiative Means and strategies of information dissemination/popularization Spatio-temporal relationships Primary + auxiliary programmatic implications AND proposed physical facilities/atmospheric conditions Strategies to engage existing spatial components of the 2x2 square kilometers

The last three elements of the PSLI constitute the conceptual design stage of the project, in which the form—as well as the formless—of the design intervention starts to materialize, initiating the design development process toward design resolution. Submissions are in the form of the PSLI Public Relations Package, which includes : a campaign video/animation and a graphic poster -oran information booklet. Each member also composes an inclusive conceptual presentation depicting the last three elements noted above. All PR materials should be designed with the target audiences in mind, both in terms of the style of communication and graphic representation.

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : Tell-Trails

Pannathorn Eawsivigoon

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : Tell-Trails

Leave your trails

in the city’s tale. 52

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : Tell-Trails

Pannathorn Eawsivigoon

The campaign encourages people of the site to participate in creating a new story or an ‘urban tale’, by recycling thoughts and together rewriting them in creative ways! poster analogies : breadcrumbs = thoughts birds = mobile story collector re-drawn path = re-written story The diagram shows ‘trails’ of pedestrian transit that lead to locations of different scenarios on site. The “mobile story recycling units” are placed to intersect those paths and flow of people, thus are strategic points for collecting stories. The mobile units ideally are portable and is easy to be installed and un-installed anywhere on site. Pichayut Sirawongprasert

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : Feasty!

This campaign invites you to join the city-scale Feasty! Here, you will get to see what the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cookinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, while at the same time enjoying a delicious treat on Sundays with your family and friends. In this phenomenal event, people from mixed culture and communities all over town will gather to cook and feast together. This conceptual diagram brings you on a journey through different components of the Feasty! that takes your every day eating experience to the next level. By breaking free from the typical thresholds and spaces that cooking and eating are usually contained, this social and leisure activity is given the streets, spreading food to city-scale. This phenomenal feast consists of many components that allows continuity and interconnectivity between public users and the exchange of culinary experiences. While stirring excitement with the temporal urban feast on Sundays, the feast relocates and operates on weekdays in various hotspots along the Asoke road. The project aims to make food a selection, an art, a business, a break, a show, a gathering, and even a convenience, you name it.

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : Feasty!

Pichayut Sirawongprasert

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : Feasty!

TAKE A J UN G L E BR E AK T I R A D A

C H A R A N W O N G

M O U N TA I N T H I S S PA C E A L L O W U S E R S TO ESCAPE FROM THEIR D A I LY W O R K M E N TA L LY A N D P H Y S C I A L LY. U S E R S C A N INTERACT WITH THE PHYSIC A L S PA C E T H R O U G H A C TIVITIES SUCH AS ROCK CLIMBING.

SOIL T H I S S PA C E I S L O C AT E D ON THE ROOFTOP OF THE OFFICE BUILDING. THE OPEN PLAN IS SUITABLE FOR ACTIVITIES T H AT R E M I N D S U S O F THE COUNTRYSIDE AND ITS UNIQUE SOIL.

GARDEN T H I S S PA C E I S A J U N G L E T H AT C A N A P P E A R I N ANY OFFICE FLOORS. IT IS A STRESS-FREE ZONE T H AT H E L P S E M P L O Y E E S CLEAR THEIR MINDS AND SOUL.

SECRET T H I S S PA C E I S H I G H LY C O N TA I N E D A N D T U C K E D AWAY I N T H E I N N E R M O S T CORE OF THE BUILDING, THE FIRE ESCAPE. IT USES THE MOST QUIET AND ISOL AT E D A R E A T O H E L P OFFICE WORKERS RELAX A N D M E D I TAT E .

Take a Jungle Break proposes to operate with the high-rise office building typology, targeting office workers as its primary audience. Following the conceptual lineage of daydreaming and whimsical, extraordinary fairy-tale moments from the previous phases, the project inserts unexpected, out-of-place outdoor leisure activities & spaces into random vacant interior office spaces, providing respite to weary office workers. These programs are located, and relocated, randomly over time depending on shifting vacant rental spaces, in order to facilitate a sense of discovery.

BEACH T H I S S PA C E G I V E S U S E R S A VA C AT I O N . I N S T E A D O F TA K I N G A F L I G H T T O T H E BEACH, IT COMES IN A S H O R T WA L K . T H E I N D O O R BEACH IS FILLED WITH SAND AND ITS ICONIC PA L M T R E E S .

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : Take a Jungle Break

FA R M T H I S S PA C E I S A C O M B I N AT I O N O F A T Y P I C A L FA R M YA R D A N D A D E N S E R A I N F O R E S T. P E O P L E C A N TA S T E A N D B U Y A N I M A L PRODUCE SUCH AS DAIRY PRODUCTS FROM COWS AND EGGS FROM CHICKEN

BASE D ON O CEAN TOWE R 2

Tirada Charanwong

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : Take a Jungle Break

The project is inspired by the idea of book swapping, which is a crisscross exchange upon books in order to make people read more. The campaign would be based on hybridized swap. In the BOOK & BOARD cafe library hotel, books would be used as the currency. This nonmonetary system would help broadcast the knowledge, making people discover and reuse their old books.

advertisement but can become a message that people using the billboards can leave. Students, workers, people hanging out in the area and people living here could occupy the billboards for some minutes or hours while backpackers could occupy them for one night or several nights. The occupied billboards would provide space to wait, work and take a break.

To spend time in the BOOK & BOARD cafe library hotel and have a drink, you have to give a book or provide a service. If you want to take a book or use a service, you have to swap with your own books or provide a service. The services you can do is help at the cafe, translate, transcript a book into an ebook, manage a workshop, give reading and writing lessons or record an audiobook. On the main roads of the site there are billboards which are built forms with the potential of becoming architectural spaces. This work on existing spaces is about taking advantage of a construction, here by an insertion in the structure. The message on the billboard is not only an 58

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : Book & Board

Lucie Rossignol

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : Book & Board

Window Strip is the Social Leisure Initiative that proposes to create ever-changing, hyper-realistic mock theatrical scenes, diorama-style, inside or in front of multiple buildings along a portion of the Silom BTS route. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;frozen scenesâ&#x20AC;? are programmed to be visible from the window strips of the passing BTS trains, and will be played by both the Initiativeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perpetrators and public volunteers. The objective of the initiative is primarily to serve as a form of social stimulator, encouraging human interaction and conversations among the BTS commuters and the general public alike.

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : Window Strip

Sutinee Prongmake

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : Window Strip

In the past, the canals of Bangkok accommodated many social, cultural and commercial activities as important public places and transportation routes for residents of Thailandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capital city. This project aims at restoring the public space along the entire stretch of Klong Samsen in the Din Daeng area by operating with found underutilized spaces and existing local houses and buildings. The intervention is articulated by a succession of different interventions for music activities, referencing the European precedence titled the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Forest Sessionsâ&#x20AC;?. The Klong Sessions is a musical experience along the Samsen klong of the Din Daeng Village. This project attempts to create interaction between local people, musicians and foreigners by inserting in the village new programs such as rehearsal studio, recording studio, stage,concert bar, writing garden and DJ laboratory. Traditional house extensions and other interventions work together like a small village. All activities are connected by a pedestrian path along the klong where people can have a walk inside this green and peaceful area into the heart of Bangkok.

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : The Klong Sessions

Josephine Delignies

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : The Klong Sessions

HEAD QUARTERS ALL

PLANNING

PUBLIC WORKSHOP

PUBLIC WORKSHOP HEAD QUARTERS

WORKSHOP

ALL

GRAFFITI TUNNEL WORKSHOP

PLANNING

Anyone is welcomed to appreciate and join the graffiti culture

PUBLIC SHOWCASE

ALL COPS ARE skjd

i wish i can just go home just go stop complaining

STREETART TIME

ALL COPS ARE skjd

i wish i can just go home just go stop complaining

STREETART TIME

ALL COPS ARE i wish i can just go home just go stop complaining

“MONITORING”

Those who are willing to make art will exchange their messages here

RESIDENTIAL OFFICE

SHOWDOWN

COMMERCIAL PATHUMWAN PALACE

Come and feel the taste of artistic freedom on this new structure, right under the BTS skytrain tracks. Tired of graffitis that are just tagging? Or find graffitis in gallery not a graffiti anymore? Or if you just want to have a look at new arts without going into narrow dark alleys, this flyover is where the surprising and exciting graffitis belong.You, too, can become part of the culture. This conceptual digram shows how the graffiti crossing network will spread out throughout the line between Siam BTS Station to Rachathewi BTS Station. The goal is to bring together the artistic culture of Siam Square and Rachathewi “Graffiti Hub” by creating a new route that allows anyone to express their inner artistic side. crossbridge-like system supplying and connecting graffitis

Being an easily accessible public space, it makes it easier for “conversational” kind of graffiti to occur in a shorter period of time. Feel free to leave any thing on the surface and soon you’ll find your art turned into something surprising. While graffiti is still viewed as anarchic, which is actually where its appeal is, but it is a good opportunity for anyone to express their inner artistic side. And you might find a hidden gem, that might as well become your anonymous “pen pal” upon this flyover and keep you active.

BACC

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : Graffiti Overhead

RATCHATHEWI GRAFFITI HUB

Panitnaat Phuphatana

Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative : Graffiti Overhead

TOKYO The site of our field study is Tokyo, the world’s most populous urban area. We observe case studies of formless design intervention tactics— most notably insertion of micro-scale public buildings into urban left-over spaces, crosscategorical hybridization of building programs, and co-existence of architecture and urban infrastructure —painstakingly researched and documented by Atelier Bow-Wow in thier Pet Architecture Guide Book & Made in Tokyo publications. The studio members collectively document a collection of case studies of architectural and urban interventions observed in Tokyo that demonstrate various intervention tactics considered applicable to our Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiatives proposed thus far. We also observe the use of public spaces for Japanese leisure activities.

Tokyo

AKIHABARA ELECTRIC SHOPPING ARCADE Akihabara Station, Sobu Line, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo BUILDINGS + INFRASTRUCTURE ECOSYSTEM Examples of buildings, primarily commercial programs, tucked underneath infrastructures are in abundance. Electrical goods stores are stacked multi-storeyed underneath a bridge and along the stretch of the elevated railway in Akihabara. Tokyoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efficient use of space is a great case study for the increasingly dense city like Bangkok and its study opens us up to innovative ways of employing new urban spaces in the city. Some of our social leisure campaigns investigates the potentials of intermingling architecture and infrastructure, occupying the space underneath the BTS skytrain stations and rail.

2K540 AKI-OKA ARTISAN 5-9 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo The commercial arcade is located underneath the elevated JR train tracks, utilising what would be an abandoned urban space and transforming it into a lively artisanal market. The space is painted white to enhance the lighting quality in an otherwise dark and uninhabitable space. We observe the project as a case study for the urban insertion tactic and experiment with this technique in Bangkokâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s context.

Tokyo

AMEYOKO FLYING TEMPLE Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo

SUMIDA RIVER DOG PARK Nihonbashihamacho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Elevating the sacred temple above the chaotic shopping street allows for a vertical demarcation between two diametrically contrasting functions that share the same urban footprint. Ascending the stairs from the densely populated market one would encounter an entirely different atmosphere that is unexpectedly peaceful, tranquil and calm. Here we see a way to escape from the chaos of the street below, which can relate to one of the projects associating to the idea of daydreaming and escapism.

This area along the embankment of the Sumida River underneath the Metropolitan Expressway was previously occupied by an unofficial neighborhood of homeless shelters, titled Blue Sheet House in Atelier Bow Wowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pet Architecture Guide Book. The city has recently turned the urban space into a neighborhood dog park, providing a space for dog walkers to drop off their beloved pets or use it as a play area during their evening stroll. The urban intervention encourages the leisure activities in an otherwise unexploited space. Two of our projects similarly explore such space along the Chaophraya River. Tokyo

URBAN INSERTION TACTICS : BETWEEN-THE-GAP BUILDINGS AND BETWEEN-THESTREETS MICRO HOUSES The two typologies exist in abundance and are unique to the ultra-dense Tokyo. Tiny gap buildings are inserted in 2+/meter wide vertical space between buildings. Linear strips of micro-houses are formed over a sliver of land the width of a typical central reservation of a street, partitioning two sides of the street - in some cases mitigating a dramatic shift in elevation between the two sides. The houses are only the width of a humanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arm span in most cases. They efficiently utilise their limited spaces and readjust many functions to fit accordingly. Some car garages are observed to be able to fit half a regular-sized automobile.

Tokyo

TEMPORARY PICNIC / KITCHEN FACILITIES These tent structures provide kitchen facilities that accommodate temporary social gatherings located in the city’s empty parking lots. Users can bring their own ingredients and cook them on spot, which moves away from the conventional domestic cooking, bringing new experiences and atmospheres to participants. The activities and functions can relate to one of the projects associating to the word “feast”.

TSUKIJI FISH MARKET EAT-ON-THE-GO Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo Food stalls and ramen stands around the Tsukiji Central Fish Market (Tsukiji Shijo) offer meals on the go.

Tokyo

THE FORM(LESS) OF PSLI In this design phase, each studio member gives form to the Propagandistic Social Leisure Initiative by proposing design of the physical space for the primary leisure program of choice, plus other ancillary programs as deemed appropriate by each PSLI. •

•

• •

•

The design intervention should operate at an architectural / building scale, with the aim of generating impact at an urbanistic / neighborhood scale. With the knowledge accumulated from surveying Bangkok and Tokyo, each member determines strategic area(s) within the studied 2x2 square kilometers as the intervention site(s). The design intervention may be in the form of a unified architectural entity or fragmented entities. At least 50% of the total square meter area of the intervention must utilize the existing urban conditions (built forms, pattern of voids, open spaces) and demonstrate considerations regarding access, circulation and structure. The architectural expression of the intervention should demonstrate its creator’s stance between the dichotomy of form and formless. Formless may not be completely suppressed by form in any intervention. The intervention may consist of formal components of both permanent and ephemeral natures, but must not be composed entirely of ephemeral structures. The intervention should attempt to explore the interactive triumvirate of its physical/ atmospheric/ experiential characteristics, its human audiences, and the issue of temporality. Such exploration may yield, for example, atmospheric/ experiential variations over time (spontaneous, daily, weekly, monthly, annually, a lifespan, several lifespans) due to, or in an attempt to generate, shifting/emerging activities and events.

The Form(less) of PSLI

The Form(less) of PSLI : feasty!

Pichayut Sirawongprasert

The Form(less) of PSLI : feasty!

Pichayut Sirawongprasert

The Form(less) of PSLI : feasty!

Pichayut Sirawongprasert

The Form(less) of PSLI : feasty!

Pichayut Sirawongprasert

The Form(less) of PSLI : feasty!

The â&#x20AC;&#x153;feasty!â&#x20AC;? project revolves around the idea of feasting that is often regarded as big social gatherings. The word feast is particularly interesting, as it does not only focuses on food, but it also involves the spatial qualities, process, participants, and the temporal activities. Located at Asoke, a busy area in Bangkok with mixed communities and users, gives the potential opportunity of a culinary intervention. The concept is to create a city-scale feasts that spreads along the entire street in between two anchored ends, one being near the Asoke intersection and the other being the middle of Asoke road. There are two parts to the project, the form and the formless. The formal part focuses on the physical market, a place where the facilities and activities take place, whereas the formless comes in mobile modules that are dispatched and rolled out onto the street. This formal part designs from the existing market, thus, introduces new functions and activities that would generate new feasting experiences. The market accommodates two contrasting spaces; one is floating pods that hang vertically from the roof while the other is the open ground floor that allows many activities to take shape. The pods are static spaces with rooms for the cooking studio, rent-akitchen, sky dining, and a storage facility for the modules. Massive smoke stacks sculpturally hang down to ventilate any excessive smoke and potentially mark cooking spaces on the ground floor. The formless part is the kitchen modules that aim to maximize functionality while also integrating cooking with eating. The modules features different cooking methods and the capacity is measured by the dimensions or volume of the food that can be cooked. Also, users can select from various appliances that would respond appropriately to each occasion. The triangular hanging rack above the foldable countertops is an added layer for hanging plates or utensils freeing people from the conventional tables and allowing people to food hop during Sunday feasts. The module is a potential system of where layers of cooking and eating can be integrated to enhance the feasting activities. The design integrates many systems like the module-matic, turbines, pumps and traps, and people carriers. The modulematic is an autonomous system that basically works as a threedimensional conveyor belt that transports the kitchen modules to and from the users. The various turbines are mechanical fans kept inside the sculptural smoke stacks to provide proper ventilation to the market. The pumps, grease traps, and pipes are also cleverly installed within the trusses for easy maintenance and service. The trusses are also modified for vertical circulation like elevators and stairs and horizontally as suspended walkways between the pods. Essentially, structural trusses become spaces for module circulation, human circulation, and infrastructural facilities.

The Form(less) of PSLI : feasty!

Pichayut Sirawongprasert

The Form(less) of PSLI : feasty!

Pichayut Sirawongprasert

The Form(less) of PSLI : feasty!

Pichayut Sirawongprasert

The Form(less) of PSLI : feasty!

The Form(less) of PSLI : Tell-trails

Pichayut Sirawongprasert

Pannathorn Eawsivigoon

The Form(less) of PSLI : Tell-trails

Pichayut Sirawongprasert

Pannathorn Eawsivigoon

The Form(less) of PSLI : Tell-trails

Tell-trails is a leisure activity campaign that aims to encourage social engagement as well as provoke cultural preservation in an enjoyable manner, through the act of story-telling. In the present Bangkok, that is tamed by recent technologies and infrastructures of concrete and steel, the site which is bounded by Surawong, Silom and Sathorn is the perfect setting to initiate such campaign, enabling the expansion of the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural diversity. The design intervention includes the mobile story-collecting units that are distributed to various strategic points and time around the site to gather stories in its immediate context. The mobile units are flexible pneumatic structures that can be installed and inflated quickly at the different sites. Stories are collected in the form of audio and video recordings. Simultaneously, the unemployed units are parked at the centre of the site, utilising the space under the infrastructure of the BTS Skytrain Chong Nonsi. The individual units, once connected, together form the Tell-trails Gallery Space, where the collected stories are exhibited and shared amongst the public. Visitors are encouraged to manipulate, interact with, and add on to the projected stories, initate shadow plays, contribute their own stories to the exhibition, perpetuate subsequent generations of stories - thus leaving their trails in the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tale...

The Form(less) of PSLI : feasty!

Tell-trails

Pannathorn Eawsivigoon

The Form(less) of PSLI : Tell-trails

The Form(less) of PSLI : Din Daeng

Grape Nalintragoon

The Form(less) of PSLI : Din Daeng

100

The Form(less) of PSLI : Din Daeng

Grape Nalintragoon

The Form(less) of PSLI : Din Daeng

101

102

The Form(less) of PSLI : Din Daeng

Grape Nalintragoon

The Form(less) of PSLI : Din Daeng

103

National Housing Authority Din Daeng is a housing project built for low-income residents. Built in mid 1960â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, it lacks many modern facilities and could not suffieciently fulfill the demands of the residents. Recently, the NHA planned to demolish the entire building complex, requiring people to move out and causing constant protests that halt the plan to date. Upon site observation, the condition of a group of apartments in zone C (No.33-56), however, is still in a functionable state but lacks maintenance. The camp(ing) conceptual thread matches well with the solution as a temporary residence. The design intervention is composed of two main parts: Temporary Living Space & Common Activity Space, The latter utilizes the vertical gap space between two building fronts to insert much-needed leisure activities for the residents. Renovation of the living units is done in phases, one floor at a time. The vacant ground floor spaces of both buildings are transformed into the Temporary Living Space for the residents of the floor under renovation. The semi-public fronts of the temporary living units collectively form the Common Living Room - the communal space that encourages social bonding among the residents. The Common activity space between two parallel apartments includes a vertical ramp circulation that connects the upper floors of the buildings, benefiting the elderly and disabled residents who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use the stairs & encouraging more physical mobility which promotes healthier living. A nursery program is included for those who required special care, particularly the kids and the elderly. Structure of the Common activity space is intended to be fragmented, light and airy in appearance, supporting multipurpose activity space for various forms of leisure. Stacking platforms at various levels are connected by ramps and bridges.

104

The Form(less) of PSLI : Din Daeng

Grape Nalintragoon

The Form(less) of PSLI : Din Daeng

105

The Klong Sessions project proposes a new form of musical gatherings in Bangkok. Inspired by a French musical project The Forest Sessions, the intervention explores ways of creating musical experiences in which participants - the locals and foreigners - can discover, create, and share music. The Klong of Din Daeng village is located in between the backsides of the existing houses and buildings. It seems to be long forgotten. The disregarded space is concealed by a concrete wall. The presence of abandoned spaces turns into an opportunistic atmosphere as the place is filled with vegetation that grows along the klong, giving this isolated space a peaceful environment.

By restoring public space along the klong, this project is articulated by a succession of differents interventions for differents activities. Linked between themselves by a pedestrian path over the canal, they try to make an interaction between foreigners, local people and musicians.

RESTAURANT

ROAD

BAR

GUESTHOUSE

STAGE

TRAVELLER

STUDIO REHEARSAL

TYPOLOGY

BUILT

LOCAL

component

pedestrian

path

PEDESTRIAN PATH

DJ LABORATORY

ARTIST

WRITING PARK RECORDING STUDIO

ABANDONADED SPACE

IMPROVEMENT

Until recently, the canal of Bangkok accomodated many social, cultural and commercial activities functionning as important public space for residents of Thailand capital city.

open

modular

The traditional housing extensions and others intervention work together like a small village inside the Din Daeng village. It try to attract and mix different kind of people and knowledge

Nowadays, the klong of Din Daeng village seems to be forgotten. Located to the backside of housing, it use to be a dirty space hidden by a concrete wall. Thanks to the presence of abandonaded spaces, we can observe that the vegetation grow all along the klong give to this space a particular atmosphere, like a peaceful isolated space inside Bangkok.

house

CLEANING WATER SYSTEM

extension

The design intervention proposes to enliven this urban area by programming and installing public spaces along the klong. The project articulates through a succession of different interventions for various musical activities, linked by a pedestrian path that stretches over the canal, encouraging social exchanges and interaction between foreigners, local people and musicians. The aim is to blur the boundaries between the existing back-of-the-house and the newly created public functions. Some existing kitchens and living rooms serve as the domestic spatial components of the project, extending out to meet the public path.

106

The Form(less) of PSLI : The Klong Sessions

Josephine Delignies

The Form(less) of PSLI : The Klong Sessions

107

108

The Form(less) of PSLI : The Klong Sessions

Josephine Delignies

The Form(less) of PSLI : The Klong Sessions

109

110

The Form(less) of PSLI : The Klong Sessions

Josephine Delignies

The Form(less) of PSLI : The Klong Sessions

111

Window Strip Guerrilla Theater proposes to create ever-changing, hyper-realistic mock theatrical scenes along a portion of the Silom BTS Skytrain route. Frozen theatrical scenes, played by both the Initiative’s perpetrators and public volunteers, flashes at particularly choreographed moments in time for the public audience riding the passing BTS trains. Over time, the programs are made known to the public and in effect make this urban strip known for the ephemeral guerrilla act. The intervention consists of three components : an extended stand, fake facade, and the headquarters of the Window Strip Guerrilla Theater. The “frozen scenes” are programmed inside the extended stand and the fake facade, which are visible from the window strips of the passing BTS trains. The extended stand is a structure attached to selected buildings along the routes, accessed through the buildings. Fake facades are temporary structures that clip onto existing building facades, providing spaces for multiple theatrical scenes that are accessible at the time of each performance by telescopic cherry pickers. 112

The Form(less) of PSLI : Book & Board

Lucie Rossignol

Sutinee Prongmake

The Window Strip Guerrila Theater headquarters is located at the intersection of Silom and Naradiwas Rajanakarin Road, in an abandoned building, of which only the concrete column and beam structural framing survives. It is a gathering space for volunteered performers and also storage of the fake facade units, lighting equipment and costumes. There are three types of unit : open, semi-enclosed, and enclosed units which provide privacy for programs such as changing rooms. The units can be move vertically and horizontally inside the building by lifts and rails. They are distributed to locations when needed by the crane at the top of the building and the telescopic cherry pickers travelling along the street.

The Form(less) of PSLI : Window Strip Guerrilla Theater

113

114

The Form(less) of PSLI : Window Strip Guerrilla Theater

Sutinee Prongmake

The Form(less) of PSLI : Window Strip Guerrilla Theater

115

Studio Instructor Bea Vithayathawornwong Studio Members Ajana Rojthana Grape Nalintragoon Josephine Delignies Lucie Rossignol Panitnaat Phuphatana Pannathorn Eawsivigoon Pichayut Sirawongprasert Sutinee Prongmake Thanyaporn Janma Tirada Charanwong