Tha Chalom, the first sanitation district in Thailand which is the habitation of the Thai-Chinese fishing community settled in the past. Presently it is facing challenges from multidimensional change, from dense urbanization caused by a large non-registered population of migrant workers, a lack of public spaces to promote people's health, and the fading of historical identities. In particular, the fishery economic and cultural lifestyles of Tha Chalom are being severely affected by international fisheries law and regulation.

  To found a prototype of a public space co-owned by the community and promote the holistic wellness of community Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and Arsom Silp Institute of the Arts has cooperated with Samut Sakhon municipality and Samut Sakhon city development group to create a participatory process in the design and development of Tha Chalom public health service center , an only 2-rai public area in the heart of Tha Chalom to become "Tha Chalom courtyard", a public area to promote health and accommodate community activities which will be a mandatory mechanism for improving the quality of life and reviving Tha Chalom's economy and culture.

Architects and the preservation of the old water tower to "Tha Chalom Sky Boat Library"

Through the participatory process the community come up with ideas for various activities that would take place in this public space such as exercise, leisure and recreation for people of all ages, community events, attractions, library, and learning space for youth which is greatly scarce in Tha Chalom area. And the community also wants this area to reflect the identity and way of life of them.

New in the Old: Sky Library for learning and urban development

The new black steel beam structure is designed to cling to the existing white concrete column structure of the water tower in order to clearly distinguish between the preserved old structure and the new structure that has been added according to the needs of the functioning space.

The total usable area of ​​4 floors is designed in a cubic shape that conveys the look of a boat cab with modern materials clinging on the steel structure around the old water tower. And due to the water tower structure, that is tapering off at the top, the library and reading area, which is the largest usable area, are located on the 2nd floor. And the ground floor is set to be an opening space to support flexible uses and keep the continuity of the surrounding green area connected to the "Lan Tai Kong", the space above the former underground water reservoir that has been transformed into a playground that gives out the fantasy of life in the sea on a fishing boat.

The top two floors are designed as a reading area and a viewpoint by taking advantage of the height of the water tower that overlooks the panoramic view of the entire Tha Chin river settlement of Tha Chalom to be a learning space that bring impressions, understandings and realization of being part of the city to create a public awareness of environmental care for youth and tourists who will take part in the further development of Tha Chalom.

Sustainability from the community...to the community, with a budget of 6.8 million baht. 

The Sky Boat Library of Tha Chalom courtyard is developed with the aim of becoming another learning and tourism destination that will be linked as part of the whole Tha Chalom cultural-based tourism development plan as well as an inspiration to local communities to turn the old building that is no longer in use and at risk of destruction to be useful for the current and future lifestyles in a creative way with the community participatory process.

This is one of the concrete achievements of small urban public space development with the cooperation of all local sectors to improve people's quality of life, strengthen the economy, society and culture for holistic wellness of the city, and to build a sense of love and ownership of the community's public spaces through the participatory process leading to area managing and maintaining mechanism  setting between the community, government, and local authorities and extending further to managing mechanism for sustainable development of Tha Chalom.

Team

Architect: Arsomsilp Community and Environmental Architect 

Landsape architect: Arsomsilp Community and Environmental Architect 

Structural Engineer and Electrical Engineer: Samutsakhon Municipality

Contractor: Shinaphak Concrete Co.,Ltd.