General News
New project aims to make pavements in Siam Square more user-friendly.
A project that aims to turn the bustling Siam Square into a pedestrian-friendly zone is inching towards becoming a reality.
'Bangkok Sabai Walk'', which involved a design contest to better Siam Square, is being driven by a group of urban planners, academics, architects and artists.
Oraya Sutabutr, of the Quiet Bangkok Group that is spearheading the project, said 130 teams have registered for participation. Of that number, 27 teams had submitted their design entries when the deadline came last week. Teams are divided into two categories _ general public and students _ and must have no more than 10 members.
The number of participants is quite impressive, said Oraya, adding they are very active and enthusiastic in making change.
Bangkok Sabai Walk is one stage of the Ratchadamri Road improvement project which was successfully launched in 2007 with the aim to make the pavement of the area more disability friendly. Under the project, the pavement of the road from Ratchaprasong intersection to Chulalongkorn Hospital was modified to make the surface smooth while the steep ends of each pavement were corrected to accommodate wheelchairs. And smooth pavements with the least amount of obstacles help the blind travel more safely also.
In the previous project about Ratchadamri Road, the committee worked with Disable People's International Asia Pacific Region, the Pathumwan district office and owners of property along the pavement. This time, the network has expanded, covering also Chulalongkorn University, the Association of Siamese Architects, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, and various businesses in the area, including Siam Discovery.
Oraya acknowledges the technical support offered by the Pathumwan district office to the project.
''The district office provided us with maps of the area, which helped reduce the design workload of competitors,'' she said.
Crowded pavements at Siam Square are a familiar sight. Itโs not unusual that the space becomes so congested, especially at night time, that some pedestrians are forced to walk on the road, putting their own safety at risk.
More significantly, there are signs that Bangkok Sabai Walk will get the blessing of the BMA as the organising committee has been invited to meet with deputy Bangkok governors Taya Teepsuwan and Pongthep Techapaiboon to discuss the project this week.
Public participation is key to the Bangkok Sabai Walk project, which focuses on the pavement from Henri Dunant Road to the Mahboonkrong intersection.
Even though it targets both sides of the road, the pavement on Paragon Shopping Complex side is already agreeable for pedestrians rather than the opposite side, which is often full of street vendors aggressively plying their trade and occupying most of the walking space.
The project also looks beyond people with disabilities. As its name suggests, Sabai Walk will make the designated pavement more friendly and safer for all pedestrians.
In pursuing the project, the organising committee conducted an opinion survey on frequent visitors to Siam Square, asking them to list what they disliked most in the area. Over 62 percent of respondents pinpointed the cramped walkways; 56 percent complained of poor ventilation, dust and exhaust fumes; and more than 53 percent frowned upon vendors' stalls which were apparently untidy and pose as obstacles on walkways.
At the same time, the Sabai Walk organising committee held a workshop in July for participating teams and other concerned agencies to ensure that the competitors understand the whole picture and do the design that best answers the problems.
A briefing was also given about the specific needs of people with disabilities, based primarily on the universal access principle, when using the area, for example, the need for smooth pavements and special signs that allow people in a wheelchair to know if there are sloped entrance and exit points.
Each participating team is expected to offer solutions also for noise and air pollution, and bad lighting in areas under the BTS skytrain stations _a big headache for every city administration _ in addition to vendors and cramped walkway issues.
It is understood that the organising committee will give weight to designs that are harmonious with their surroundings and also sustainable. For instance, during the briefing, experts suggested the use of solar panels to power ventilators that could improve air quality in the area. They are to think also about placing noise absorption materials in certain places to help reduce the impact on walkers. More importantly, to ensure the applicability of the project, the participating teams are required to study city regulations.
All design entries will go to the judging committee which comprises urban planning experts, and academics, and the winners will be announced at the end of next month.
The implementation will be based on the winning design, said Oraya, adding a consultant firm will be commissioned to work in detail in translating the paper design to reality. The winning team may be requested to adjust its design to make it viable.
Yet, there will be big obstacles ahead, in particular on the part of street vendors who are likely to resist relocation, she said.
''They are the project's toughest challenge,'' she said.
Meanwhile, Chulalongkorn University (CU)'s Property Management Office, has pledged support for the Bangkok Sabai Walk project.
Sawat Patommongkolkul, deputy director of CU's Property Management Office, said the university will designate space in some alleys, for example Soi 5, as ''walking streets'', in a bid to relocate street vendors from the main pavement. Besides, Sawat said there will be financial support to the project when it comes to implementation.
But Oraya said the organising committee may stick to the Ratchadamri model which saw each property owner pay to improve the area in their own jurisdiction. Such a model would mean that no particular agency has to shoulder the big financial responsibility, she said.
Additional Information
Country: Thailand
Website: http://www.bangkokpost.com/feature/development/192606/paving-a-smoother-future
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When: 21/9/2010
