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Jin Wellbeing County
Jin Wellbeing County. © Panoramic Studio
Typology: Mixed-use | Location: Bangkok
A mixed-use development in Thailand, including residential, commercial and healthcare facilities, with a design based on principles of sustainability, wellbeing and community.
Located in the Chao Phraya Flood Plain in the suburbs of Bangkok, Jin Wellbeing County is designed with consideration to the surrounding landscape and local climatic conditions, including a polder system, which helps retain water to manage flash floods during the rainy season and utilise it for irrigation purposes across the site. The landscape includes a variety of plants that have been arranged to imitate a forest, while the site’s water management system ensures there is an adequate supply of water during dry season. A creek runs through the site acting as the main drainage and treatment system, while a biopond is used for water retention, enabling irrigation throughout the year. This resilient ecosystem is home to a big variety of urban wildlife, including birds, aquatic animals, insects and squirrels, maintaining biodiversity on the site and surrounding areas.
Circulation routes around the site are fitted with ramps, handrails and seating areas, allowing residents to move around safely and enjoy the surrounding landscape. Rough surface materials are used to reduce the risk of slipping, along with adequate lighting for night-time usage, while the paths are optimised to accommodate ambulance and emergency services vehicles.
The landscape has been designed to enhance the feeling of community through the provision of group activity facilities, as well as chance encounters along the site paths. A selection of seating areas and outdoor tables around the site offer a sense of retreat, while an edible garden allows residents to grow their own fruit and vegetables and creates opportunities for communal gatherings and workshops.
Prapan Napawongdee is a Landscape Architect and Co-Founder of Shma Company Limited
Jin Wellbeing County has been designed as an urban park where the buildings occupy only 50% of the site. The outcome is a senior living facility that provides clean air and great outdoor spaces for the residents to explore, contributing positively to their physical and mental wellbeing.
The project reflects Eastern values and traditions of multigenerational living, aiming to cater for the needs and interests of people of all ages. The architecture is based on flexibility, allowing the layout of the residencies to be transformed in order to accommodate residents from different age groups, including wheelchair users, as well as the provision of living quarters for full-time caregivers. At the same time, our aim has been to provide a living environment that doesn’t resemble medical facilities. As such, the installation of rails, bars and walking support equipment only happens when necessary, enhancing the feeling of domesticity for abled-bodied residents, while the design integrates accessible routes throughout.
The development is designed like a campus, including facilities that allow residents to learn new skills, engage in a variety of activities and meet new people.
The masterplanning of Jin Wellbeing County is based on four living unit models: Household, Small House, Open House and Neighbourhood. This resembles the different social environments in which one might find oneself, from a family to a village, a district, and eventually a town, aiming to create a feeling of belonging and community among residents.
The project has been designed according to strict guidelines for tropical weather. All buildings are long and slim, stretched along an east–west axis that enables cross-ventilation and allows natural light in to the buildings. Vertical fins in timber print patterns help to cut excessive sunlight during late morning and early afternoon, while giving a touch of warmth to the overall presence.
Nui Ratiwat Suwannatrai is an Architect and Founder of Openbox Architects
