Development of urban form on the flood prone
in Thailand;
the case of Chao Phraya River Basin
Thongchai Roachanakanan, PhD
Office of Climate Change Convention
Ministry of Interior
Key Words
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Changes
Fragile and Vulnerable
Floodplain, Flood Risk Prone
Natural Environment and Built Environment
Cultural Environment & Touristic Urbanism
Climate Change and Urban Disaster
Adaptation and Mitigation
Urban Climate Resilience
Understand the natural environment and changes
• A primary domain of tropical monsoon region is
long period of raining season in association with a
number of storms; typhoon and cyclone.
• By the end of 19th century around 90% of the
region was covered with tropical rain forest and a
great variety of ecological systems.
• Today only 25-30% of tropical rain forest still
remain as a consequence of rapid deforestation.
• Climate change and its impacts have become issues
since the 1990s after natural disasters were obvious.
Thai Society and Water-bound Settlements
• For centuries Thai society has lived in harmony
with nature on the floodplain.
• Water-bound settlements were significant.
• Modernization in the 20th gradually changed urban
forms in the region.
Floating Houses along the river
Simple and functional forms for tropical living
Living in harmony with natural environment
Highland (Upstream) settlements
Traditional Thai House (on Stilts)
House on stilts has been a typical form;
functional human adjustment to flood.
A typical house form in the region
The same principle and
similar form can be seen
in the southeast Asia;
Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam.
Most can be found in the remote villages.
Urban forms have changed gradually since the early
19th century; according to western influences.
Roads in Bangkok were only 12 km. long totally.
Starting deterioration of upstream natural environment
the northern railway development and logging industry
Modern changes were concentrated in cities.
Most activities were along the rivers.
King Rama V opened Rangsit irrigation project on
18 November 1896 adopt policy on increasing rice
production; the main income of the kingdom.
In 1888 it was described
that no settlement was
found on the north and
east of Bangkok.
Homan Hiede, a Dutch
engineer proposed a
network of irrigation canal
on the central plain north
of Bangkok in 1910.
Rangsit was a popular area for the westerners in
the 1900s, built vacation houses.
Bangkok has become a typical modern urban form.
Urban forms were influenced by the west, from
Singapore to Phuket and Bangkok.
A few floating houses are functional on the river but
many have disappeared. People move to city and town.
Today water-bound settlements in the city
Waterways in the cities are polluted.
Touristic Urbanism; Fantastic urban forms!!
Urban Design for Tourist Attraction
Entertainment; amazing Thailand!!!
New cultural environment???
Hako; Japanese town in Bangkok
From Pattaya to Phuket; Touristic Urban Forms
Understand “Cultural Environment”
another fragile social fabric!!!
Cultural environment is collection of social
values and local heritages.
Reflection of local belief and myth
A question; what people believe today?
Culture is becoming commercial show!!
As tourist attraction!!
Something cannot be copied or duplicated.
Awareness of Cultural Values
Certainly, it is not a show!!
Once upon a time, Thai society was significant in terms
of unity, extended family and sense of belonging.
Close and warm family relations were impressive.
Changes in Thai society; single family
The aging members are abandoned and left
alone (sometimes in the street).
Thailand is approaching aging society!!!
Sense of belong is disappearing; fragile society.
The portion aging people is increasing
awfully!!!
Condos are booming as a reflection of change.
New urban form!!!
as a dream of young generation;
struggle for convenient life in the city
Consequences; complicated urban problems
Big cities are consuming more energy and resources.
Global warming has become international issue
since 1992; impacts of climate change.
Climate change is becoming more critical.
Concentration is on natural disaster; flood,
drought, landslide and storms.
A term of “Urban Disaster” has been classified.
Disaster is caused by nature or man?
“Fragile” and “Vulnerable” are included.
Basic principle; avoid any development in
risk prone area.
Application of Disaster Risk Index
Attempts to cope with urban disaster risk.
Identify disaster risk prone; making risk maps.
All vulnerable communities are shown on map.
Fragile ecological systems are not included.
Understand ecological systems & the most fragile
natural environment
Understand regional ecology
Fragile ecological systems and vulnerable food-chains
Biological diversities are environmental indicators.
The greatest rainfalls and fresh water ecological
systems on earth!!!
Searching for a better balance; man and nature
Environmental deterioration is caused by urbanization
mainly.
The increasing flood events around the world.
More urban population in disaster risk prone.
Urban flood risk management options
Urban climate resilience; an alternative?
Thank you