Transforming Thailand Government Complex: Make Government More Humane by LANDPROCESS

Built in 2024 / 2025 Campuses and Corporate / 2025 Entries / 2025 Landscape and Architecture / Thailand /
landprocess.co.th

For nearly two decades, Thailand’s Government Complex (TGC), a 178-acre hub for 29 government agencies, has faced challenges like car dependency, traffic congestion, poor air quality, and uncomfortable commutes due to Bangkok’s heat. These issues impacted the well-being of its 37,500 daily users and hindered efficiency. With the 2024 arrival of the Skytrain, Dhanarak Asset Development (DAD) seized the opportunity to reimagine TGC as a sustainable, inclusive, and people-centric hub, aligning with Thailand’s net-zero carbon goals.

Embracing Disruption: The Need to Adapt
In 2020, Landprocess entered a competition to design a 1,500-vehicle parking facility aimed at easing congestion. Our team went beyond the original brief, envisioning a transformative solution that would redefine TGC as a sustainable mobility hub. By integrating green transportation infrastructure, our design prioritizes walkability, contributing to reducing traffic and lowering carbon emissions in the area, and transforming grey infrastructure into nature-based infrastructure.

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, it highlighted the urgent need for government operations to adapt, prioritizing employee health and well-being. with the anticipated arrival of the Skytrain, an elevated rapid transit system, In 2024, Landprocess saw an opportunity to shift away from TGC’s car-centric legacy. we envisioned the Complex as a resilient, inclusive government hub that places people at the forefront.

From Formality to Agility
The redesigned Thailand Government Center breaks away from a traditional, sterile government aesthetic, transforming the garage rooftop into a welcoming plaza with a vast green roof that embraces a human-scaled with nature. Inspired by the Chao Phraya River—a symbol of Thai prosperity—the design reflects the river’s organic flow, historically connecting land and water in Bangkok. At TGC, water plays a central role, with features gold-accented rain chains and drainage systems that channel rainwater, mimicking the river’s natural flow while serving practical purposes. versatile space hosts diverse events, from casual gatherings to formal occasions, fostering connectivity and inclusive atmosphere for the CWGC community and the public. This innovative enhances sustainability, weaved a meaningful connection between tradition, nature, and modern functionality.

Parking as Rainwater Harvesting Architecture
TGC incorporates over 30% recycled materials and sources 65% locally, minimizing waste and emissions. The parking facility doubles as a rainwater-harvesting structure, using vertical blue-green systems to address flooding, air quality, and urban heat. The rooftop combines urban farming and solar panels, meeting 53.4% of the building’s energy needs, while energy-efficient systems reduce operational energy use by 87%. Rainwater flows through cascading rain chains and planters, stored in tanks and a retention pond for zero-runoff discharge, enhancing resilience during extreme weather.

Rainwater flows down the eight-story façade through cascading rain chains and vertical planters, reducing runoff and mitigating flood risks—essential for flood-prone cities like Bangkok. All harvested rainwater is stored in rain tanks and a retention pond, achieving zero-runoff discharge, promoting sustainable water use, and enhancing resilience during extreme weather events.

The elevated 1,500-vehicle parking building emphasizes connectivity and social interaction, seamlessly integrating with the campus’s main axis to create a vibrant, people-centric transitional space. This area hosts activities, clubs, and fitness events, fostering community engagement right at the government’s doorstep. Blue-green elements, such as cascading water features and lush greenery, enrich the walking experience, while easy access to an EV shuttle system enhances mobility and connectivity across the entire campus.

Road as Cooling Corridor
The road network was redesigned to prioritize people over cars, integrating green walkways, rain gardens, and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes. Roads now function as cooling corridors, addressing Bangkok’s heat with carbon-smart native planting and flood mitigation. Underutilized areas were transformed into pocket parks, adding 3,500 trees and 100+ plant species to boost biodiversity and well-being. Multi-layered landscapes maximize carbon sequestration across 30 acres of new green space.

A New Era of Governance: Integrating People with Nature and Climate Priorities
TGC’s transformation reflects community input, redefining it as a low-carbon, climate-resilient development. By integrating nature-based infrastructure with climate priorities and health-driven design, TGC sets a new benchmark for government spaces. It promotes a people-centric, decarbonized approach to urban development, aligning with Thailand’s climate goals and serving as a model for adaptive governance in a challenging world.