Strategic Recommendations for Bangkok's Blue-Green Infrastructure.pdf

1. Improving Blue-Green Infrastructure in Bangkok:
A Blueprint for a Greener, Healthier, and More
Connected City
Ishmam Ahmed

2. Bangkok
Context
An overview of Bangkok’s
Blue-green infrastructure -
and a review of existing
policies for the area.
Policy
Limitations
Limitations of current policy
- and highlight potential for
improvement.
Six
Strategies
Six strategies to improving
Blue-green infrastructure in
Bangkok.
Six
Proposals
Six proposals specific to a
specific blue-green project
in Bangkok - Chong Nonsi
Canal Park - based on the six
strategies.

3. Bangkok’s
Blue-Greens
Blue-green infrastructure
refers to a network of natural
and semi-natural systems,
such as wetlands, green
roofs, and parks.
In Bangkok there are two
main categories :
Canals
Parks

4. Bangkok’s
Blue-Greens
Blue-green infrastructure
refers to a network of natural
and semi-natural systems,
such as wetlands, green
roofs, and parks.
In Bangkok there are two
main categories :
Canals
Parks

5. Blue-green infrastructure can
reduce the flood risk in Bangkok
by reducing runoff, increasing
storage, and providing natural
flood mitigation measures.
Blue-green infrastructure can
reduce the urban heat island
effect by providing shade,
increasing evapotranspiration,
and promoting air circulation.
Blue-green infrastructure
reduces pollution (water & air)
by treating wastewater, and
mitigating the impact of vehicle
emissions. Can reduce
congestion through alternative
modes of transport.
Lower Flood Risk Reduce Urban Heat Reduce Pollution & Congestion
Importance of
Blue-Green
Blue-Green Infrastructure
work together to manage
water, provide ecological and
social benefits, and enhance
resilience to environmental
challenges such as climate
change and urbanization.

6. Aims to reduce green
house gas emissions,
increase green space,
and enhance urban tree
coverage to improve
urban livability and
address climate change.
Green Bangkok
Existing
Policies
Aims to increase green
space, (by turning
unused spaces green)
improve resilience,
and involve
communities through
a participatory process
Pocket Parks
Aims to improve
footpaths to meet
international
standards, promoting
walkability, and
fostering accessibility
Sidewalk Project
Aim to improve the
appearance and
functionality of canals
but also emphasize
their potential for
attracting visitors and
enhancing local
economies.
Canal Revival

7. Limitations
Major Blue-Green
Infrastructure is disjointed
and isolated.

8. Limitations
Current Blue-Green
Infrastructure are currently
located within commercial
zones - and away from
high-density residential
zones.

9. Limitations
Current Blue-Green are
inequitably distributed and
have limited access to the
different district of the city.

10. Limitations
The 'Lo-rang-ruea'
(wheel-rail-boat) policy
initiative has shown success
outside the city center, but
its potential in central
Bangkok remains largely
unrealized.
(Dark blue line = navigable
waterways)

11. Limitations
Current projects focus on
beautification rather than
addressing critical
environmental concerns.

12. Six Strategies

13. Six Strategies
Redefine Goals
1
Shift Focus
2
Enhance Access
3
Prioritise Functionality
4
Integrate with Transport
5
Prioritize accessibility by redefining the goal from "10 sqm of green per capita" to "% of population with
access to at least 10 sqm of green space." This approach promotes a more equitable distribution of green
spaces.
Strengthen Ecological
Connectivity
6

14. Redefine Goals
1
Shift Focus
2
Enhance Access
3
Prioritise Functionality
4
Integrate with Transport
5
Shift blue-green infrastructure development from commercial to residential areas to create spaces for
leisure, retreat, and activity generation, rather than merely serving as a commercial backdrop.
Strengthen Ecological
Connectivity
6
Six Strategies

15. Redefine Goals
1
Shift Focus
2
Enhance Access
3
Prioritise Functionality
4
Integrate with Transport
5
Transform sidewalk networks into 'greenways’– shaded bike and pedestrian pathways – that penetrate deep
into residential areas and connect them to nearby blue-green infrastructure, providing easy access.
Strengthen Ecological
Connectivity
6
Six Strategies

16. Redefine Goals
1
Shift Focus
2
Enhance Access
3
Prioritise Functionality
4
Integrate with Transport
5
In future blue-green infrastructure development, prioritize urban regenerative functionality over aesthetics
and tourism - focus on solutions that improve environmental risks, pollution, and green space
accessibility.
Strengthen Ecological
Connectivity
6
Six Strategies

17. Redefine Goals
1
Shift Focus
2
Enhance Access
3
Prioritise Functionality
4
Integrate with Transport
5
Integrate blue-green infrastructure (i.e canals, parks) into the transportation system to provide last-mile
connectivity. Provide boat services along the canals and bike stations at key 'greenway’ nodes.
Strengthen Ecological
Connectivity
6
Six Strategies

18. Redefine Goals
1
Shift Focus
2
Enhance Access
3
Prioritise Functionality
4
Integrate with Transport
5
Improve the quality and resilience of blue-green infrastructure by connecting currently isolated
components through ecological corridors, creating a unified urban ecological system. Link this system to
Bang Krachao District (Bangkok's green lung) to enhance biodiversity and resilience.
Strengthen Ecological
Connectivity
6
Six Strategies

19. Policy
Execution

20. Policy
Execution
The Klong Nonsi Canal
Project, a recent green-blue
infrastructure project, can
serve as a prime example of
how our proposed policy
interventions can be
translated into design
solutions.

21. Six Proposals
Current Plan & Section
1
Access over % Green
2
Prioritise Regenerative
Functions
3
Enhance Access : Add
Greenways
4
Integrate with Transport
5
In the current plan, the canal park is flanked by two major 3-4 lane roads - making it quite inaccessible. The
‘green’ is further broken down into inaccessible subsections between roads.
Connect to wider
Blue-Green
Infrastructure
6

22. Six Proposals
Current Plan & Section
1
Access over % Green
2
Prioritise Regenerative
Functions
3
Enhance Access : Add
Greenways
4
Integrate with Transport
5
The core intervention prioritises access - over simply accounting for the % of green space produced. The
western section (facing the residential area) is turned into a park, and the roads are restricted to the east
side. Isolated and inaccessible green areas are removed to form a usable green space.
Connect to wider
Blue-Green
Infrastructure
6

23. Six Proposals
Current Plan & Section
1
Access over % Green
2
Prioritise Regenerative
Functions
3
Enhance Access : Add
Greenways
4
Integrate with Transport
5
The canal has a decorative concrete roof - which robs of the canal of its potential to mitigate urban heat. It
is removed to maximise the full regenerative potential of the canal.
Connect to wider
Blue-Green
Infrastructure
6

24. Six Proposals
Current Plan & Section
1
Access over % Green
2
Prioritise Regenerative
Functions
3
Enhance Access : Add
Greenways
4
Integrate with Transport
5
Connect to wider
Blue-Green
Infrastructure
6

25. Six Proposals
Current Plan & Section
1
Access over % Green
2
Prioritise Regenerative
Functions
3
Enhance Access : Add
Greenways
4
Integrate with Transport
5
Greenways are introduced - emanating from the park and into the residential zone (westward). This will
make the park more easily accessible to residents from deep within the residential zone.
Connect to wider
Blue-Green
Infrastructure
6

26. Six Proposals
Current Plan & Section
1
Access over % Green
2
Prioritise Regenerative
Functions
3
Enhance Access : Add
Greenways
4
Integrate with Transport
5
A boat service is initiated - with stops on the eastern section. The BRT stops are also placed on the eastern
section - turning it into a transit node. Bridges are built over the canal to allow people to access canal from
the node.
Connect to wider
Blue-Green
Infrastructure
6

27. Six Proposals
Current Plan & Section
1
Access over % Green
2
Prioritise Regenerative
Functions
3
Enhance Access : Add
Greenways
4
Integrate with Transport
5
Bike stations are introduced at key points in the greenway.
Connect to wider
Blue-Green
Infrastructure
6

28. Six Proposals
Current Plan & Section
1
Access over % Green
2
Prioritise Regenerative
Functions
3
Enhance Access : Add
Greenways
4
Integrate with Transport
5
The integration of the boat service and the bikes in this system will allow for last-mile connectivity. The grey
line (which is at its feasibility phase) could now do with significantly lower number of stations - as it is
projected to run along the canal. Alternative transport reduced demand on the current system.
Connect to wider
Blue-Green
Infrastructure
6

29. Six Proposals
Current Plan & Section
1
Access over % Green
2
Prioritise Regenerative
Functions
3
Enhance Access : Add
Greenways
4
Integrate with Transport
5
The project already has plans to be further integrated into a wider blue-green network - according to the
BMA. No proposals are required for this aspect. However, connecting the canal park to Bang Krachao
(Bangkok’s lung) could greatly enhance the resilience of the entire blue-green network.
Connect to wider
Blue-Green
Infrastructure
6

30. ● This approach will provide equitable access to green
spaces
● Harnessing regenerative functions will mitigate
climate risks
● Integrating blue-green infrastructure into the
transportation system will reduce pollution and
congestion
Towards a greener, healthier, and regenerative city.
Benefits

31. The End