working with nature
Credit: Adit Sombunsa - Cube Magazine. Image courtesy of Landprocess.
Kotchakorn Voraakhom (born 1981) is a Bangkok-based landscape architect working on productive green public spaces to address the rising challenges of climate change. She holds degrees in Landscape Architecture from Chulalongkorn and Harvard University. During her time at the latter institution, she also co-founded Koungkuey Design Initiative (KDI), a nonprofit design organization that helps improve the lives of communities around the globe. She established her design practice, Landprocess, in Bangkok and created the following projects with her team: the Chulalongkorn Centenary Park, Thammasat Urban Farm Rooftop, Chao Phraya Sky Park, and others. Voraakhom was featured in the “TIME 100 Next" list (TIME Magazine, 2019), BBC 100 Women (2020), and Bloomberg's “Green 30 for 2020". She serves as Global Commission on Nature Positive Cities for the World Economic Forum. She was also one of the 2020 UN Global Climate Action Awards Winners - Women for Results.
LUCIJA ŠUTEJ: I would love to hear about your journey into landscape architecture. Why not architecture?
KOTCHAKORN VORAAKHOM: When I was younger, the concept of landscape architecture was not very clear to me, with vague notions of focusing on the negative space of buildings and cities. My understanding deepened through my education and research in land and ecology, fostering a profound interest. Unlike architects who often place the design at the center of the canvas, landscape architects embrace a design process rooted in connectedness. It necessitates a comprehension of the broader systematic, ecological context before crafting the environment around it. Presently, I find landscape architecture more challenging due to the plethora of unknown nature, and disconnected elements that demand attention.
My upbringing in the densely populated city of Bangkok, where public green spaces were scarce, significantly influenced my career choice. The city lacked walkability, and parks were a rarity during my childhood. Landscape architects dedicated to the public realm were not widely recognized in Bangkok then. While green areas existed in golf courses and five-star hotels, integrating greenery into the fabric of daily urban life was imperative. I aspire for my career in landscape architecture to contribute to transforming public spaces, bridging the gap between people and nature, and introducing new dimensions to urban living in uncertainty.
The brilliance of Olmsted's Central Park in New York serves as a timeless example of how landscape architects can envision the future of a city for centuries. It's remarkable how he foresaw that seemingly unconventional ideas would seamlessly align with the city's evolving needs. The enduring impact of such visionary parks is a constant inspiration for me as a landscape architect, motivating me to strive for a similar level of transformative impact in shaping urban spaces in my hometown.
LŠ: Speaking of interventions in the public space - while you were at Harvard GSD, you co-founded the Konkuey Design Initiative, which, through partnerships, works with different international communities to rebuild public spaces. Could we hear more about the initiative and some of the projects you worked on? How has that experience helped shape you as a landscape architect/ and then impacted the founding of your company - Landprocess?
KV: Before my Harvard journey, I embarked on a design project involving a casino in Las Vegas. Despite the allure of the design environment, I began questioning the core of my work: Why contribute to making the wealthy even richer? (laughs) This introspection led me to a profound realization – my passion lies in impactful projects that enhance environments, paving the way for a meaningful life through my career in landscape architecture.
As my Harvard experience unfolded, I explored how landscape architecture could catalyze positive change in cities and people's lives. Alongside five other dynamic Harvard design graduates (Jen Toy, Patrick Curran, Arthur Adeya and Chelina Odbert), we co-founded the Konkuey Design Initiative organization. In Thai, “Konkuey" means to know intimately, embodying our commitment to a process-driven approach.
Our project set out to generate groundbreaking knowledge, learn from diverse local communities, and move away from a detached, top-down approach. We envisioned a design practice rooted in listening, interacting, and understanding. Over the past 17 years, Konkuey Design Initiative has flourished, with ongoing projects worldwide, notably in the Kibera slum where our journey began. In places like Kenya,– a seemingly fundamental design that marked a crucial step in improving people's lives. Working alongside communities, we became listeners and facilitators, building connections with wonderful communities and kind individuals. I was involved with KDI for two years and left to establish my path back in Thailand.
A recent visit to Kenya provided firsthand experience of the impact of our work, witnessing communities eager to shape new chapters of their lives, including designers joining our initiatives and contributing to positive change worldwide. Personally, I thrive on action (laughs), and it's incredibly fulfilling to witness the ongoing tangible outcomes that now share dreams among designers in our collaborative efforts.
LŠ: I can tell!
KV: I lose interest in projects that don't result in tangible system changes. The impact, whether pro bono or not, matters to me. If the purpose aligns with my beliefs and values, I am committed.
LŠ: You also founded Landprocess, which looks at firmly planting and expanding ecological properties within urban landscapes. Could we hear more about your founding the company and the Thai architecture landscape - what are some of the challenges that companies face?
KV: Following my time at Harvard and entering my 30s, I felt a need to embark on a significant venture (laughs), a midlife crisis. As I contemplated what lay ahead, opening my own company wasn't initially part of the plan—it unfolded organically through an open call competition: Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park. At that juncture, it was just me and three other recent graduates.
Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park. Image credit and courtesy: LANDPROCESS
Image credit and courtesy: LANDPROCESS
Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park. Image credit: VARP Studio, courtesy: LANDPROCESS.
Image credit and courtesy: LANDPROCESS.
Image credit and courtesy: LANDPROCESS.
Image credit and courtesy: LANDPROCESS.
Credit: Suratchana Pakavaleetorn, courtesy: LANDPROCESS.
Credit: Panoramic Studio, courtesy: LANDPROCESS.
In Thailand, environmental design is predominantly shaped by engineers, architects, and urban planners. Unfortunately, landscape architects are often perceived merely as gardeners, with our discipline linked to notions of successful private sectors of hospitality and green aesthetics. Winning the competition for Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park marked a significant milestone as the first new park to be built in the last 30 years. Upon entering the local architecture scene, I aimed to showcase the expertise that landscape architecture brings to the urban context in Bangkok, emphasizing a distinct skill set we can contribute.
I firmly believe that to change a system, one must actively engage with it. This involves learning to collaborate with various parties and stakeholders and driving transformative change. Sitting and complaining are not options; instead, it's crucial to make people understand by experiencing the capabilities and contributions of landscape architecture in their daily lives.
LŠ: Landprocess worked on exciting projects such as Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park, Chao Phraya Sky Park, and Thammasat Green Roof - that address the re-usage of existing infrastructure and, in some cases, reduce urban flood risk. It would be great to hear what attracted you to each of these projects and some of the challenges you found along the way.
KV: Amid our dense concrete city, the thrill of my work emerges from not starting with empty land or ground zero (laughs). Instead, we need to steal existing spaces, transforming them innovatively. Consider a roof with infrastructure, traditionally contributing to increased heat – but why not convert that roof into a renewable energy source? By exploring every possibility, we evaluate existing infrastructure to craft new public spaces.
I'm particularly passionate about our ongoing project in Bangkok. We're working on a sky train to connect the Thailand government city, with the goal of humanizing the entire surrounding area to be more walkable and accessible to mass transit. This transformative project is on track to open in a few months.
Thailand Government Complex, images credit and courtesy: LANDPROCESS.
LŠ: So exciting! Would they be urban farms?
KV: The project involves creating an urban farm on top and repurposing existing parking spaces. The building's facade plays a key role in facilitating this innovative use of public space. Exploring a new approach to urban farming and community engagement is exciting.
LŠ: Speaking of urban farms- I would like to stop at the Thammasat Urban Farm Rooftop project, one of Asia's most prominent green roofs. The idea of urban farming is now present and is implemented to various degrees across the globe as we face food and water scarcity in preparation for future climate challenges. In your opinion, what role will urban farming play in the future? How can such projects gather a larger following across different cities?
KV: This represents the evolution towards a more productive and sustainable green approach. In addressing the building's energy consumption, I'm particularly intrigued by the concept of circular economies. The idea of a complete loop, where organic waste serves as fertilizer for the food grown on urban farms, holds immense potential, mainly when applied to entire university campuses.
It's fascinating to consider the impact of urban farms on our awareness of food sources. Often, we are disconnected from the origins of our food, and an urban farm can bridge that gap. Moreover, the challenge of acquiring soil in cities is alleviated by utilizing sun-exposed rooftops and implementing water reuse in buildings. This perspective reframes cities not as problems but as solutions. Instead of relying on forests outside the city, we explore how cities can sustain themselves through renewable energy. While some might perceive it as complex, it's about compact climate resilience within urban spaces.
Thammasat Urban Farm Rooftop. Credits - LANDPROCESS, Panoramic Studio
LŠ: You are also one of the researchers into floating cities. Bangkok, Venice, New York City, Shanghai, and many other cities are slowly sinking as sea levels rise. How can landscape architects help solve this problem?
KV: Adaptation is imperative; it's a matter of survival. In the face of rising sea levels, cities like Bangkok and Jakarta are at the forefront of this climate challenge, making it a part of our daily lives. Our discussion revolves around finding solutions without further destroying the existing natural system. Resourcefulness is key. While we explore innovations like urban farms and water reuse, a crucial shift in mindset is equally essential.
We must shed our fear of water and tap into the wisdom and technology of previous generations to coexist harmoniously with the sea and rivers. Landscape architecture provides powerful tools, utilizing nature as our medium. The way forward is to embrace nature within the city, allowing it to thrive alongside us. It's not just a short-term solution; it's a necessity for a sustainable future.