Chao Phraya Sky Park: From abandoned railway infrastructure to pedestrian bridge

February 23rd, 2023

Tags: Bangkok, bridge, Chao Phraya River, Chao Phraya Sky Park, pedestrian bridge, Thailand

The Chao Phraya Sky Park project is Thailand’s first pedestrian-friendly bridge park that spans over the famed Chao Phraya River and extends to connect with parks at both ends. Its presence exhibits the adaptive reuse of an abandoned 40-year infrastructure from the failed mass transit rail of Lavalin Skytrain. This has resulted in the rebirth of a greenspace in a dense urban fabric – from a freestanding infrastructure that was once stood as a monument of city’s lost opportunity.

This latest public park above the river is in the historical area of Phra Nakhon district of Bangkok, in the existing area where attention was once given more to vehicles than pedestrians. Designed by LANDPROCESS, the bridge park is sandwiched between the existing busy roadways of the Phra-pokklao bridge in a challenging dimension of 8.5 metres wide and 280 metres in length.

The Chao Phraya Sky Park stands as a loud entity for a walkable city through the river view that connects Bangkok’s historical presence and the modern skyline. This public park above the water reflects the community’s calls for their rights to stroll across the river, and a celebration for pedestrians to embrace the river view, which has been typically occupied by informal settlements and luxurious private properties.

Context-wise, the Chao Phraya Sky Park neighbours the historical steel bridge of Sapan Phut, recognised as the nation’s first vehicle designated bridge. The former echoes the latter’s curved structural language – albeit in a subtle, contemporary fashion – alluding to the harmonious coexistence of the past with the present. Not only can pedestrians sight Sapan Phut Bridge from a distance, they are also presented with a unique river view along with Bangkok’s postcard destinations; from the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) to the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho) and the Wichai Prasit Fort.

Related: This ribbon-like infrastructure is more than just a pedestrian bridge

To increase the perception of space and accommodate activities such as strolling and cycling, Chao Phraya Sky Park was designed with two interweaving pathways. It also sits elevated above the roadways to minimise visual obstruction and pollution from vehicles. The sense of exploration is heightened by the obscure visual endpoints on both sides from the elevated and intertwining walkways.

The merging of the two pathways at the midpoint serves as a social gathering space by way of a ‘linear performance stage’ with cascading steps for seating. Inclusivity for all has also been prioritised with elevators, pedestrian rails, wheelchair ramps, and other universal design elements embedded throughout the bridge park for easy access.

The landscaping features various low-maintenance plants that require less soil and are able to withstand the harsh local climate, along with considerations to avoid obstruction for road safety. The diverse layers of plants add to the vibrant cityscape while promoting the urban biodiversity of microclimate and green corridor.

By rethinking the conventional through the adaptive reuse of abandoned infrastructure, this project sets an example of how we can adapt and coexist with one another in our environment. The Chao Phraya Sky Park symbolises a call to action that must be further addressed in terms of public health and public green spaces, climate crises, and the urgency of building resilient cities.