SHADOWS VALLEY: RE-IMAGINING THAI SOCIAL SPACE

Site Selection & Site Analysis

SITE LOCATION

• The site is on Sukhumvit Road in Phra Khanong district in South Sukhumvit, Bangkok.

Among the given sites, the site next to Cloud 11 has potential for our targeted project as the site is in a part of Bangkok’s Cybertech Innovation district. Currently, the existing condition of the site is the ongoing construction which is expecting to be finished in 2026. Our proposed site has a canal and a 26-storey building (ongoing construction) on each side. Moreover, there are two residential high-rise buildings found next to the canal. Thus, after the construction is done, the proposed site area would have valley like effect between these massive buildings.

1.The Canal beside the site area

2.Current Site Condition

3.Residential Building next to the canal

TRANSPORTATION & ACCESSIBILITY: VEHICLE ACCESS

The site is located on the main Sukhumvit road, it has good vehicle access to the site area. There are many bus lines going along this road and the site is closed to two BTS stations, Udom Suk and Punnawithi. A junction, a bus stop and an overpass bridge can be found at the front of the site.

Junction at the front of the site

TRANSPORTATION & ACCESSIBILITY PEDESTRIAN ACCESS

The overpass bridge play an important role for pedestrian access to the site. This pedestrian bridge can lead to the skywalk under the BTS Sukhumvit line and then to True Digital Park and Punnawithi station. Consequently, our proposed site, Cloud 11, True Digital Park and BTS Punnawithi station would be linked together for pedestrian accessibility.

Overpass Bridge at the front of the site

BTS Skywalk

Context Analysis

NEARBY LANDMARKS

(Under Construction)

If we look at the urban textures, we can mostly see residential and commercial areas around the proposed site. The important thing we consider here is the project next to our proposed site. Cloud 11 is a large mix-use project by MQDC. We have learned that it is likely to an expansion or the third phase of True Digital Park. We found that they focus on integrating innovative organizations. Therefore, it is expected that new and creative innovations can be found at Cloud 11 after the construction is done. We believe innovative people coming to this would be able to help another community to relive again.

Residential Areas

Commercial Areas

Site Area

Wat Dhammamongkol

SHADOWS VALLEY

As mentioned above, the site is surrounded by high-rise buildings, which makes it similar to the nature of the valley. Therefore, we decided to name our festival ‘Shadows Valley’.

SHADOWS PUPPET

ACTIVITIES

Digital Exhibition Spaces

Performance Spaces

-Contemporary art

-Contemporary art + Traditional Shadow art

-Traditional Shadow Puppet Show

Food & Recreation

Innovation Tradition

-Food Stalls

-Resting areas

The purpose of ‘Shadow Valley’ is to show how something from the past can be evolved into something new in the present or future with the use of modern technology. In this festival, we will be focusing on shadow puppet performances which will be presented in three ways.

CONCEPT: PORTAL

We arrange our exhibition and performance spaces using the concept of a portal. When we walk into the portal, we are transitioned from the present to the past and vice versa. So, we separate our exhibition spaces into three different spaces: Present, Transition, Past.

The digital performance of a contemporary shadow puppet

The digital performance of traditional shadow puppet

the performance of a traditional shadow puppet show (Nang Talung)

There are more than one way to enter the event area. Therefore, we are using ‘Loop’ circulation to not disturb the storyline of the program. No matter which entrances we use, we still get the storyline of a portal, from present to past and vice versa.

In order to give a solution to our long and narrow site, we need to attract people like a magnet to walk more. Based on the human scale and perspective, as shown in the photo, even though we are walking on the elevated walkway, we can see both the upcoming show’s screen and the theatre on the ground which is located quite far from there at the same time. It makes people want to reach those areas where they see because of curiosity. Therefore, we are providing the focal point to create that magnet effect.

In this area, we are using the opposite wall of the canal to cast the shadow of our event name ‘Shadows Valley’. We place the name block on the canal’s rail. At nighttime, we give the spotlight to the block from behind and the shadow appears. This area can be one of the highlights of the event.

After going down the ramp, we can experience the shadow of leafless trees which are sculptures in the recreation area. They are made to reflect and remind people that the shadow puppet shows are almost leading to extinction, but if given attention, as leafless trees could be green once again, these shadow puppet shows can be alive around Thai people again.

The biggest leafless tree sculpture is behind the theatre. Theatre is located right in front of the outdoor steps of the existing building. Thus, we can enjoy the traditional Shadow Puppet performance in the theatre or use the outdoor steps as resting area. The interesting thing about this place is people from the outside can see the shadow movements of the people inside on the fabric wall of the theatre.

TEAM MEMBERS

LINTHADA TUN

PAN HSU THI

THAN THAR LIN

INSTRUCTOR

WIROTE TESSALEE