THE ACCESSIBLE VIEWPOINT

The destination of the 2000-metre hike is the viewpoint designed to take a 360 ° view of the mountain without any obstacles. The viewpoint features a double viewing deck with tempered glass railings and public restrooms. The form of the panoramic viewpoint resembles the shape of the “reverse fault” located below the Gran Sasso mountain.

The viewpoint is made of natural-looking materials with a low amount of maintenance. It is also connected by the existing trail between Rifugio Duca degli Abruzzi to the peak of Corno Grande which is the common route for expert hikers. The location of the platform facing both east and west provides rewarding panoramas to people who arrive.

WESTERN BANGKOK AIRPORT INTL.

Architectural Thesis Project

Project Year 2018-2019

Advisor: Satta Panyakaew

This architectural thesis project aims to study the design of airports, by setting tasks based on the current situation, focusing on the weaknesses of airport service in Bangkok, which may not be sufficient to cope with the increasing population in the city. When looking at major travel destinations, the integration and service of airports can support the needs of each part of the city, such as in the case of London, England, which has six airports distributed throughout the city.

The introduction of Western Bangkok’s new 20gate international airport would be a significant development for the city, as it aims to support the increase in both leisure and business travel. This growth is driven by the availability of more affordable plane tickets and improved communication infrastructure. However, one area where Thailand has struggled is in the connectivity of its public transportation systems.

The new airport aims to address this issue by seamlessly integrating air, rail, and road transportation, making it easy for both locals and tourists to travel to and from any part of the country. With its strategic location and advanced facilities, this airport has the potential to play a crucial role in Thailand’s national development plan, making it a key hub for business and tourism in the region.

BANGKOK: THE EXPANDING CITY

Bangkok is ranked 2nd in the world’s traffic congestion data. As the population is expanding towards the western side of Bangkok, travelling to the airports located on the eastern side is inconvenient. Moreover, Thai tourism is increasing due to the visa exemption for the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The current serviceability of the two existing airports could not meet the demand of the users, so constructing one more airport on the west seems to be a good idea to tackle this problem. This also gives choices to locals and tourists to choose the airport that suits them the best.

Site Selection Criteria

The site specifically needs to be located in the farmland area of Western Bangkok. Site selection is based on the availability of existing and planned public transportation in that area, distance to the city centre, and distance to nearby residential areas.

Two potential areas were selected and the scores were given based on the criteria stated above. The site with the higher score is chosen for the design process.

SITE PLAN & LINKAGE

Elevated highway: The main roadway access is connected to the main highway. This could reduce the time users have to spend in the airport.

City & High-speed train: The main linkage to Bangkok’s city centre and the newly developed railway allows users to travel between the city centre and the western and southern parts more easily.