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A Blueprint for Resilient Cities
If government buildings are meant to symbolize stability and progress, why do so many still reflect outdated, car-centric planning and sterile functionality? In Bangkok, LANDPROCESS offers a bold counterpoint with the recent transformation of the Thailand Government Complex (TGC) - an example of how civic design can do more than serve while leading a new standard.
The Thailand Government Complex long endured poor transit access, traffic bottlenecks, and isolation. With the Skytrain’s extension in 2024, LANDPROCESS, led by Kotchakorn Voraakhom, introduced a new vision; one that prioritizes environmental performance and human-scale design.
The firm began by prioritizing connectivity. What was once an overlooked rooftop parking deck is now a planted public plaza, reached via a 200-meter Skywalk that connects directly to the Skytrain. The redesign integrates environmental goals with civic function, advancing LANDPROCESS’s focus on responsive, carbon-aware urban development.
The plaza sits atop a multi-use garage that integrates rain-harvesting functions. Its roof is now an urban farm, and its walls are fitted with vertical planters and rain chains. These features work together to lower surrounding temperatures, purify runoff, and reduce stormwater waste. Rainwater is stored in tanks below, repurposed to irrigate the site, while the upper and lower plazas host everything from fitness programs to EV charging stations.
More than 3,500 new trees and 30 acres of re-greened space now fill the once-sparse complex. The road network has been softened into shaded walkways, cooling corridors, and active paths that support both pedestrians and biodiversity. Formerly forgotten edges are now thriving pocket parks and multi-use trails that encourage community gathering and well-being.
The question is no longer whether government spaces can lead in sustainable development; it’s why aren’t more doing it. TGC proves that with the right design priorities, even the most rigid institutional landscapes can become flexible, inclusive ecosystems.
Addressing climate challenges through spatial transformation, the Thailand Government Complex redefines how civic architecture can support ecological goals. This vision was honored with a Gold Award at the 2025 NY Architectural Design Awards, highlighting LANDPROCESS’s commitment to adaptive urban design.
Credits:
Entry Title: Thailand Government Complex
Entrant Company: LANDPROCESS
Winning Category: Landscape Architecture - Public Landscape
Explore more architectural marvels through Towarowa Towers | The Epitome of the Heart of Warsaw here.
