Amid the world situation of less land and much higher prize, together with the warming earth and extreme temperature changes; many countries around the world are heading towards designs of skyscrapers as new cities. This is the beginning of the 2200 Khon Kaen Sky City Project and 2060 Kangsadan Project – the new perspectives of Khon Kaen in the next 100 years and Kangsadan in the next 40 years.
Asst. Prof. Chamnan Bunyaputtipong, Ph.D., a lecturer of the Faculty of Architecture, Khon Kaen University, who teaches the Design Course for 4th year students said that the works were designed for the 2200 Khon Kaen Sky City Project, under the concept of Vertical City, taught by himself, and -the 2060 Kangsadan under the concept “Metabolism Movement”, taught by Dr. Nat La-iad-on. These concepts belong to the design of 1960, that enables students to freely step out from the traditional design to the new design.
The 2200 Khon Kaen Sky City involves design of a vertical city on Nam Ton (the monkey cheek or receptacle area of Khon Kaen). The design includes houses, shops, farms, fish museum, temple, and the turbine plant for producing and circulating energy. The aim is to solve problems of land shortage and costs and the environment in the future. Students had to submit their plan, cross-section of the structure to show the height and width, with the necessary systems, functions, interior-exterior views. AI was allowed to be used in the design.
“Thai kids usually are less smart than kids abroad when it comes to creativity, even though they are intelligent. This is because they are taught to be within a scope. Today, we want to open an area for them to think and create ideas without any scope so that they can come up with their own ideas and inspiration that can be used in real life in the future. This truly impressed the students.”
Asst. Prof. Chamnan added that for this project, the students trained to be creative. When they are given the design problem, they could use their ideas and apply them. Besides, they are aware of the environment, for the tall building design uses less land. The land can be used to grow trees. Therefore, the future function of the building when there is no water supply or electricity must involve the system that can provide these utilities based on calculation of various factors.
Mr. Krittayot Haopan, a 4th year student majoring in architecture, the owner of the Green Loop, a learning center and Micro Algae Research for solving air pollution, food shortage, medicine and production of different products, and waste water treatment; said that the building was designed in blocks, just like the jigsaw that can be adjusted according to the land condition. It is cylindrical in shape but looks circular on the side. This was inspired from the shape of Micro Algae, and can be adjusted in all zones of the building and can be expandable when needed just like the algae that continuously grow.
“I wanted to do the project about plants or trees. So when I found Micro Algae, that can produce their own food I think they are useful because they absorb carbon dioxide and can be developed into many products. So I studied about it intensively to use it as the design concept. It was truly my inspiration for this
Krittayot ended that the design course offers real experience and make the lessons fun. Everyone joined in expressing their ideas and creativity as well as research intensively to design their own works. The concepts obtained from this project will be extended and applied in other pieces of works in the future. Especially in this era, cities have expanded and there is less land. So skyscrapers are not anything far from us. The design of skyscrapers that are environmental friendly is something architects must be aware of.
If interested, wait and see the works at ISAN Creative Festival 2024 (ISANCF2024) or Creative Isan 2024 that is held on June 29 – July 7, 2024. Faculty of Architecture will be another landmark of this creative route.
Follow the design information of the Faculty at: https://www.facebook.com/kkuthailand/posts/pfbid0ed3ouAcE3pkoZ9bsrHyjbeyaP8EXQ7MH1WQdP49xop3ozBGFEW4g86xjD53EN5FBl
News: Phanit Khatnak