How to transform sinking cities into landscapes that fight floods | Kotchakorn Voraakhom

Summary

In a powerful talk, a landscape architect discusses the urgent impacts of climate change on cities like Bangkok, which is sinking rapidly due to urbanization and inadequate infrastructure. They highlight the transformative design of Chulalongkorn Centenary Park, the first new public park in nearly 30 years, which cleverly integrates water management and green space. This park, designed to coexist with flooding, exemplifies innovative solutions needed for climate resilience. The architect emphasizes the importance of collective action in every profession to confront climate risks, urging listeners to commit their hearts to creating sustainable environments.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Major delta cities worldwide, including Bangkok, are sinking due to climate change.
• 🚧 Urbanization is transforming porous agricultural land into concrete jungles, reducing natural water absorption.
• 🌧️ Bangkok is sinking at an alarming rate of over one centimeter per year, four times faster than sea level rise predictions.
• 🏞️ The Centenary Park project aims to provide much-needed green space in Bangkok and combat flooding through innovative design.
• 🌱 The park features the largest green roof in Thailand, which collects rainwater for irrigation and promotes biodiversity.
• 💧 The park's design incorporates gravity to manage rainwater runoff effectively, channeling it to retention ponds.
• 🚴‍♂️ People can engage in activities like water biking, contributing to the park's water management while enjoying recreational space.
• 🌿 The concept of 'amphibious design' embraces flooding as a natural phenomenon rather than attempting to eliminate it.
• 🔍 Addressing climate change requires collaboration across various professions to develop sustainable urban solutions.
• ❤️ The Thai philosophy of 'tangjai' emphasizes commitment and perseverance towards goals, reflecting the speaker's dedication to their homeland.

Q & A

What cities are mentioned as sinking due to climate change?

The cities mentioned include New York, London, Tokyo, Shanghai, New Orleans, and Bangkok.

What does the speaker compare the urbanization of Bangkok to?

The speaker compares it to a 'concrete jungle' that has lost its absorbent capacity.

How fast is Bangkok sinking, and what is the prediction for its future?

Bangkok is sinking more than one centimeter per year, which is four times faster than the predicted sea level rise, potentially leading to parts of the city being below sea level by 2030.

What personal experiences influenced the speaker's career in landscape architecture?

The speaker's childhood experiences playing in a concrete parking lot and interacting with plants growing through cracks influenced their desire to connect urban landscapes back to nature.

What was the impact of the 2011 flood in Thailand?

The 2011 flood was the most damaging and expensive in Thailand's history, displacing millions and turning central Thailand into a large lake.

What is the Chulalongkorn Centenary Park project, and why is it significant?

The project is the first new public park in Bangkok in almost 30 years, designed to provide public green space and help manage water in the city.

How does the design of Centenary Park manage rainwater?

The park is inclined to collect rainwater, featuring a green roof, wetlands for filtering, and a retention pond to hold excess water.

What innovative feature does the retention pond in Centenary Park include?

The retention pond includes water bikes that allow visitors to pedal and help clean the water as part of the park's water system.

What philosophy does the speaker emphasize regarding climate change?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of creating solutions to live with floods rather than trying to eliminate them, promoting an amphibious design.

What does the term 'tangjai' mean, and how is it relevant to the speaker's message?

The term 'tangjai' translates to 'firmly stand your heart at your goal,' representing commitment and perseverance in facing challenges, particularly regarding climate change.