Year 4 - Term 1

INNOVATIONS FOR LIVING Lat Phrao Community Flood House Sirisan Nivatvongs Unit 22 - Izaskun Chinchilla & Carlos Jimenez

Bangkok, Thailand

Morning markets along the Chao Praya river in Bangkok, circa 1900.

London

Area: 1,568.737 km2

Population: 14 million and growing

9500 km

Bangkok

Climate

Tropical Moonsoon

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Bangkok has a tropical monsoon climate and the highest average temperature of any city in the world. Temperatures in Bangkok regularly stay well above 30°C throughout the year. The period between November and February is the driest period in Bangkok. The humidity levels also remain high during this period. The climate in Bangkok is at its hottest from March to August, while the rainy season tends to fall between June and October. At this time of the year you can expect short spells of rainy weather, with frequent afternoon showers, monsoons and spells of thunder at times.

Since Thailand experiences high temperature and high humidity, Bangkok, the capital city of it remains the same all year round. The climate of Bangkok can be divided into two key parts, wet and dry, however, some add cool season noticing some weather variation.

Site

Along the Chao Phraya River

Most of Bangkok was originally swampland, which was gradually drained and irrigated for agriculture via the construction of canals (Khlong). This intricate waterway network served as the primary mode of transport up until the late 19th century, when modern roads began to be built. Up until then, most people lived near or on the water, leading the city to be known during the 19th century as the “Venice of the East�. Many of these canals have since been filled in or paved over, but others still criss-cross the city, serving as major drainage channels and transport routes. Most canals are now badly polluted, although the BMA has committed to the treatment and cleaning up of several canals.

Water transport: Chao Phraya Express Boat: 35,586 passengers per day (2010) Khlong Saen Saep boat service: 57,557 passengers per day (2010) Long-tail boat: 2,889 passengers per day (2010) Passenger ferries: 136,927 passengers per day (2010)

Map of Chao Phraya River (West of Bangkok)

Thailand’s Flooding History

Thailand

Chao Praya Flood Plain

Bangkok

Route of the 7 main rivers

Chao Phraya River

Chao Praya Flood Plain

Bangkok

1835 - Flood City

The market hour was approaching. The occupants of the floating houses were taking down the shutters which formed the fronts, exposing their wares for sale; printed calicoes, paper umbrellas, sweet-meats, fruits, pots, pans being placed in situations the best calculated to attract the passers by. Many of the boats were shops containing earthen-ware, dried fish, and fresh pork.

There an old woman hawked betel, plantains, and pumpkins. Here you saw canoes laden with coconuts, the Chinaman, with his ready cooked pork, the fishmonger, with his fried and well stewed fish, the baker’s girl, with bread and hoppers, an interminable string of raw commodities, sea and river fish, meat and poultry, fruits, and vegetables.

Venice of the East - Anonymous

Flooding was a natural occurance. Locals learnt to adapt to it.

19 major Canals in Bangkok to irrigate Chao Phraya River

In the late 20th century, Bangkok experienced more severe floodings. These were caused by such things as: 1. Overbank flow : The overflow from the rivers results in widespread flooding. During the peak flood in 1995, the flow in the Chao Phraya River passing through Bangkok metropolis to the Gulf of Thailand was much higher than the capacity of the Chao Phraya River and caused severe flooding in the Chao Phraya Delta and Bangkok metropolis.

2. Uncoordinated development : In urban development, the surface areas covered with houses, roads or paved surfaces have low water absorption properties, thereby converting rainwater immediately into run-off flowing into the drainage system. This phenomenon is in contrast to that in rural areas, where rainfall can be retained by vegetationcover and absorbed by soil.

3. Pollution : Uncontrolled dumping of sewage and garbage may obstruct the flow and cause siltation in the drainage streams. As a consequence, combined with uncoordinated development, many parts of the country has resulted in decrease in drainage efficiency both inland and river courses.

4. Heavy rainfall : Heavy local rainfall is usually the main cause of inland floods, as it often exceeds the drainage capacity of the local areas or streams.

5. Deforestation : This is the most significant man-made cause that increases flood peak from rainfall and reduces the lag time between rainfall and run-off. In a deforested area, surfacerun-off and peak flood discharge tend to be higher, since there are no trees to obstruct the flow.

Moreover, the rapid run-off will increase erosion of soil surface particles, resulting inhigher turbidity and more serious sedimentation. This results in reducing function of the riverand water sources.

Gulf of Thailand

1980s - Flood Blocked City

1. Overbank Flow

4. Heavy Rain 2. Uncoordinated Development

3. Pollution

5. Deforestation

2011 Flood Barriers (in red) to mitigate water overflow in Bangkok

2011 - Flood Chocked City

Cost in Flooding Damages (000) US dollars Oct 2011

332,000 Oct 2010

1,000,000 Dec 2004

452,000 Nov 1989

1,261,000

400,000 Aug 1984

Nov 1993

400,000 Aug 1978

6,000,000

Severe flooding occurred during the 2011 monsoon season in Thailand. Triggered by the landfall of Tropical Storm Nock-ten, the flooding soon gushed through the provinces of Northern, Northeastern and Central Thailand along the Mekong and Chao Phraya river basins.

The dykes designed to block the overflooding were ineffective in most cases because of the abundance of waste. Water flow was slow on many major canal routes. Many locals have now resulted in their own clean up efforts rather than relying on government assistance.

The 5 factors mentioned previously continued to exacerbate. This, combined with record breaking rainfalls and a tropical storm, developed into the worst flooding disaster ever to occur in Thailand, with an estimated damage projection at 6,000,000,000 USD.

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Plan of Bangkok

Showing height above Sea Level, and Flood Barrier

Plan of Bangkok

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Showing the water level rise during the 2011 flooding

Site

Along the Lat Phrao Canal

Klong Lat Phrao - One of Bangkok’s major canals

The geology of the Bangkok area is characterized by a top layer of soft marine clay known as Bangkok clay. This feature has contributed to the effects of subsidence caused by extensive ground water pumping. There are fears that the city may be submerged by 2030, parts of the city are now 1 metre below sea level. Subsidence has resulted in increased flood risk, as Bangkok is already prone to flooding due to its low altitude and inadequate drainage infrastructure resulting from rapid urbanization. The city now relies on flood barriers and augmenting drainage from canals by pumping and building drain tunnels, but parts of Bangkok and its suburbs are still regularly affected by flooding. Global warming poses further serious risks, and a study by the OECD has estimated that 5.138 million people in Bangkok may be exposed to coastal flooding by 2070, the seventh highest among the world’s port cities. The site I’ve selected is centred around the canals of the district of Lat Phrao. This district was not only significantly affected during the 2011 flood, but it is one of the prime areas undergoing rapid miragration from rural Thais. Dilapidate stilt houses are commonly seen throughout the district. I would like to propose that my building be situated here to alleviate the poor conditions of the people of Lat Phrao Canal.

Creating a Water Network

A series of buildings situated along the canals working cooperatively to create a water network.

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Proposed Solution Green Economy

Environment

Economy

Green Economy Social To solve this crisis, my building will operate under the umbrella of a green economy. This would allow for an easier life, in regards to the transition from ‘normal life’ to ‘flood life’. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) representing global business defines green economy as “an economy in which economic growth and environmental responsibility work together in a mutually reinforcing fashion while supporting progress on social development”. A green economy is one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. It is represented by these 3 main entities.

Another important issue to consider is the sustainability factor.

I have highlighted 5 important factors Social/ Ecological Exchange - This notion sees exchange as a social behavior that may result in both economic and social outcomes. It is possible to observe social exchanges everywhere, not only in market relations, but also in other social relations like friendship. Social exchange process brings satisfaction when people receive fair returns for their expenditures. Unlike economic exchange, the elements of social exchange are quite varied and cannot be reduced to a single quantitative exchange rate.

Local Root - It is important to maintain the essence and Genius loci of the site. Imposing modern forms of architectural typology may threaten and undermind locals.

Sustainable with 5 factors

Socially Accessible - Social access is a concept of the delivery of public services, facilities and amenities to intended user groups. Limited access may be due to their high cost, the lack of appropriate infrastructure or due to prejudices within the society that restrict use. E.g. Often a city has large sources of raw water, adequate purification facilities, but appropriate user end infrastructure like public taps, w.c.s, and bathing places do not exist.

Economic Viability - The community of users of this building will have to be economically semi autonomous.

Ecological Sounds - This is a discipline studying the relationship, mediated through sound, between living beings and their environment. Variation in soundscapes may have wide-ranging ecological effects as organisms often obtain information from environmental sounds. However in our case the relationship is between the architecture and the user.

Site Plan 1:1500

Lat Ph

rao Ca

nal

Lat Phrao- Textures of Reality

Lat Phrao Canal

Continue 3 km

Boundary Line of Lat Phrao District

The Lat Phrao district comprises of many textrures, ranging from the hard concrete aesthetics of the Bangkok metropolitan to the soft qualities of timber housings.

Solution Strategy Overall Scope

Water Infrastructure

Food Tourism Energy and Waste

Solution Strategy Water Infrastructure

During normal or draught season

Water Infrastructure

During flooding season

Larger arrows indicate the main canals in Lat Phrao that will be the site for my scheme.

One of the long term aims in this proposal is to create a water infrastructure- to utilise the larger water canals and help direct the flow of water southwards to the gulf of Thailand.

This will speed up the rate of discharge of the water, unblocking smaller canals and as a result, mitigate the damages caused to public infrastructure. Flood water, grey water and rainwater will be collected and filtered to be used as water supply for locals.

During draught/ normal seasons, the remaining clean water collection from the flood season can be distributed to the local residents.

Collected for general water supply Building becomes the water source for locals

Speeds up the flow of water underneath the structure

Solution Strategy Food

Hydro Agriculture

Water Hyacinth

Chinese Kale

Floating Plontoon Cabbage

Vitamins & Cosmetics

Lettuce

Tomato Sauce

Rice

Rice Bran Oil

Food

Organic Fertilizer

Tomato

Floating Planter Frog

Fish

Bio Plastic

Fried Frog

Steamed Fish

Seaweed

Oil and Energy

Giant Water Bugs

Fried Insects

The Bangkok canals are notorious for its excess Water Hyacinth build ups. They proliferates rapidly in lakes, dams and irrigation channels and chokes them. However this infamous weed is a rich source of carbohydrate and can be used to make biodegradable plastic. By utilising the plastics, combined with the introduction of hydro-agriculture, can produce food. The variety of crops/ fish would allow local Thai culinary sensibility to be exhibited.

Solution Strategy Transport, Tourism

12 km to Don Meung

BTS Mochit

17 km to Wat Pho

13 km to MBK Travel Time 20 mins

Airport Link Ramkhamhaeng

32 km to Suvarnabhumi Airport

BTS Saphan Taksin

42 km to The Ancient City

One of the most inconvenient consequence of the flood is its disturbance of transportation routes; mainly roads, pulic transporation systems. In this time the underground trains (MRT) will be closed, still open to public use however is the Sky train (BTS) and Airport Link.

In my proposed scenario, the city will see its return to its past title of “Venice of the East“, as the means of transportation will be via the main canal routes. And additionally using the BTS and Airport Link for more convenient transits.

This will then mitigate the need for people to move away from the city. And for tourist already in the city to continue on their holiday.

BTS Bearing

Shopping Attraction

Siam / Chitlom District

Cultural Heritage Attraction

Grande Palace / Wat Pho

Natural/ Eco Atrraction

Ancient City Park

Transport, Tourism

BTS Siam BTS Chit Lom

Solution Strategy

Energy and Waste Exchange

Toxic

Combustion

Landfill Other

Food remains

Textiles

Metal

Plastic

Glass

0 10

Biogas

Food Scrap

20

Fertilize

30 40

Composting

50

Energy and Waste Exchange

Paper/ Cardboard

Plastic

Bangkok Waste Average 0.7 kg/day per house hold

Gas

60 70

Percent

Agricultural Organisms

Canal waste build up

Water Hyacinth

Gasification

Mosquitoes & Pests

Each type of waste must be distinguish from another, so that each may be recycled, reused, or converted into useful energy. The irresponsible littering of waste into the water can encourage aqua plants like water hyacinth to sprout, leading to other problems.

2050 LIVING WITH THE FLOOD

Problems faced by current residents

Difficult access from main road for emergency services, e.g. ambulence, fire department

Water level rise- Bangkok continues to subdue by 3 cm every year.

Waste build up- New homes/ water hycinth blocks the circulation of the canal causing rubbish to collect.

Bugs- Water Hyacinth is an ideal breeding spot for mosquitoes.

Structural integrity- Damages caused by flooding, molding and decay.

Initial Proposal

Facade folds down like a drawable bridge to link each structure to become new spaces

This Bridge House may deals with Waste management

Each Bridge House have their own functions and roles. All working together to alleviate the issues faced by the canal residents.

Initial Model

Platforms float, reacting to the rising water levels.

Garbage bags for waste disposal. Travellers on boats are encouraged to throw away any rubbish they carry. The bags operate on a pully system.

1:20 Study model

Final Model Proposal

Inhabitable unit- inspired by the form of boat houses. Cladded with thai style windows. Tall windows facing west-east allows for good ventilation. Each unit has it’s own role and function, this one in particular, carry out it’s role as a garbage collection/ toll booth kiosk.

Platform- Interlocking timber allows for a light, easily assembled structure. The platform acts as a pedestrian highway during a flood.

Bamboo structure- interlocking bamboo joints provides good structural stability.

Foundations- Inspired by the foundations of Pont des Art bridge. The timber foundations were casted in concrete to support the iron bridge. The timber here is exposed. Lightness and permeability takes precedence in my design.

Final 1:10 Model Innovations for Living- Scheme summary My scheme is an architectural response to the pressures vanacular canal houses face when frequent floodings occur in the city of Bangkok. My proposal seeks to alleviate the predicament local residents face in and out of flooding season. The proposal is an amalgamation of insfrastructural and domestic elements. It is important to distinguish what occurs in the buildings between these 2 situations.

During Flooding Season- City Infrastructure This will be the period of time when the building will be most heavily used. 3 local families will operate and maintain the building, provide various services for local residents and commuters. During this time the building will have civic funtionalities, serving a larger context of the local area.

It will provide

• a safe passage across the canal • transportation on floating platforms • the clean up waste in the vacinity • amennity spaces for commuters/ locals • public restrooms and bathrooms • clean drinking water • weather data updates

During Regular Season- Domestic Infrastructure During this period of time the building will function only as a private domestic infrastructure. As a reward for maintaining and providing for the locals in times of difficulty, the 3 familes will be able to enjoy and use this building as their own enterprise.

Innovations (Details)

Innovation 1 - Structual Joint + Tension Wire Using locally sourced materials and simple contruction methods to create a light, effective and friendly architectural frame

Innovation 2 - Reinforced Extendable Column The timber is reinforced with steel columns. Using similar mechanisms to that of a hydrolic lft, it allows the height of the building to be adjusted according to the level of the water

Innovation 3 - Timber Foundations Exposed timber foundations. Lightness and permeability takes precedence in my design. Foundations sit facing the currents of water. A permeable sack hangs in between the foundations.

Innovations (Details)

Innovation 4 - Floating Waste Collecting Platform Platforms can be deployed from the building to pick up passengers.

Whilst at the same time help to clean up waste from the canal.

Innovation 5 - Water Filtering Sack A water filtering sack hangs underneath the builing. It filters clean water through layers of membrane filters by way of osmosis.

Innovation 6 - Water Collecting Roof Panels Pulley deviced operated roof panels encloses the toilet space. It opens and closes depending on the swing of the windows in the space.

Innovations (Details)

Innovation 7 - Semaphore Device Movable faรงade/windows able to optimize air flow, connected to an apparatus for sending messages by semaphore. Semaphore devices (shaped like a boat oar) respond to the swing of windows and movements of louvres. The oars move back and forth to convey the direction of travel for passing boats underneath the structure.

Innovation 8 - Folding Facade Mechanically operated facade able to fold into a walkway. This connects the local houses to the building.

Innovation 9 - Angklung Device A musical device connected to the structure signals when the platforms dock and leaves.

Overall Scope 3d Model

Bamboo Structure Water Harvesting Foundation & Platform Passage/ Access Waste Management

Hydraulic Posts Accessibility

Amenity Space Semaphore Signallers

Passage/ Access

Interlocking Bamboo and Tension Wire Strucure

Taking inspiration from my first 1:20 study model, I continued to develope an arrangement of structures that could extend high in height, yet stable, and is sourced locally. By using 4 posts in each corner, and interlocking horizontal elements, the overal structural stability could be achieved. The structure is further reinforced by tension strings.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

A canopy structure using similar contructuion techniques

The model was assembled using 4mm dowels and pins, small hooks, and brass wires. In the first iteration (fig. 1) an elastic string was used for tensility. However this proved to be ineffective, so brass wires were substituted in its case (fig. 2). Later iteration of the structure also included a pier element shown in fig. 3. More dowels were added to create a floor space, this also helped to reinforce the overall stricture (fig. 4).

This school project in the small village of Jar Maulwi

Passage/ Access

Foundation and Platform

As shown in the axonometric below, the foundations, bamboo structure and platform all work together to create one working bridge system. In reality, this system could be duplicated to create a longer structure to cross over from one canal side to the next.

Passage/ Access Hydraulic Posts

One later addition into the main structure were extendable legs. This alteration was done, retrospectively, after realizing that the height of the structures were unnecessarily high. By incorporating extendable columns, the height of the building can be adjusted depending on the severity of the flood levels.

Direct Acting Plunger Plunger pushes up structure directly at a 1:1 ratio of movement

Plunger

Cylinder

Water is piped through from below

I choose the direct drive hydraulic plunger configuration because it has fewer moving parts than other systems. And because the abundance of water, a hydraulic system was preferred. With the hydraulic type driving system, the hydraulic unit forces water into the hydraulic jack and the plunger pushes the structure upwards using energy stored in the water under pressure. The structure can descend automatically as the water returns to the cylinder along the same route. To produce this system, I used 9mm dowels and drilled deep 4mm holes through each one. A threaded aluminium rod was used for the plunger, and a nut was put on to hold it in place. In retrospect, this system was not effective as it weakened the overall stability of the structure. The copper wires, which acted as tension wire, previously stabilizing the entire structure, had to be removed on the lower tier to make way for these extendable legs.

Passage/ Access Semaphore Signalers

Semaphore Devices operating via a pulley mechanism connected to the facade of the building. It allows the user to convey information at a distance by means of visual signals whilst at the same time ventilate the space.

Gold leafing in Thai culture is social activity. It is a sacred act that blesses the buildings overall efficacy and success.

Clear

Stop

Passage/ Access

Accessibility (Folding Facade)

The ornaments of the facade were inspired by a traditional Thai House.

1

2

The facade of the building facing the existing houses is able to collaspe and fold into a platform. This provides the local residents with a private route to access the building (no. 1). The other way of accessing the building is via boats, docking at the pier of the structure (no. 2). A private access path was included in the design so that during draught or normal seasons, the private residents who maintain the structure during flooding season can enter the structure uninhibitedly.

Pi ng

La t

Pr im

Le k

Yh ai

Amenity Space

Jalichandra Family (5 members) The size of the amenity spaces in the building was roughly based on the general internal area calculations of the existing building. A typical Thai home will place living areas and kitchens on the ground flood. Assuming that the flood will render the ground floor useless, the users will have to relocate their activities into the new spaces provided in the building. The new spaces includes a flexible floor space and a kitchen.

Flooded Existing Local House Bedroom Bedroom

Bedroom Bathroom

30+ m2

Flexible space

8 m2

Kitchen

7 m2

Living room

5 m2

Kitchen

The lower floor of the buidling provides a 8m2 kitchen. The upper floor provides a flexible semi open area, which can house activites like Thai massages.

Waste Management Waste Collection Platforms

The floating platforms uses a barrel barge system to stay afloat. It is also cladded with a weaved water hyacinth skin on its rear. This basket collects any floating waste that the users travel over whilst padeling accross the water. The platforms have two roles; the collection of waste, and providing a means of transport for users of the building.

Weaved basket texture from water hyacinth

Water Harvesting Grey Water Collection

The roof of the bathroom operates in a similar fashion to the semaphore devices, in that, when the windows are adjusted the panels of the roof open up so that during rain, the water can be dirrected downwards and collected into water barrels.

Windows are closed during heavy rain, this causes the panels to fall, opening a canal for the rainwater to flow through.

Whilst the weather condition is good, the windows may be kept open. This closes the roof panels sealing the roof shut.

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21:00 pm

20:00 pm

18:00 pm

Homework

(Returns)

Closes Folding Facade - Returns into House

Filters collected rain water

Tends to people

Serves Dinner

Prepares for Dinner

17:00 pm

Returns from work (Public Transport)

(Raining)

ng

Pi

Wake up

im

Pr

Tends to massage (Operate Semaphores) Picks up Kids from school

Picks up locals to access the building

Clean

Tends to massage

Prepares Lunch

(Returns)

Adjusts the Rain Collecting roof

Checks the weather forecast (90% rain)

Takes Lat and kids to work and school

16:30 pm

16:00 pm

15:00 pm

14:00 pm

11:00 - 12.30 pm

10:30 am

Eat Breakfast (during journey)

Shower (in house)

7:15 am

7:30 am

Shower (in house)

Wake up

7:00 am Eat Breakfast*

Prepare Breakfast*

6:15 am

ai

Wake up

Yh

Wake up

k

Le

6:00 am

La

Operators

Interaction

Collected rainwater in 3 hours - 100 litres per tank.

Operation of Semaphore makes sure boat traffic flows coherently.

1 Person per hour x4 hours.

2 water capacity of holding 200 litres each.

Projected waste collected 8+ kg per trip x3 trips.

Results

Final 1:10 Model

Lat Phrao Community Flood House