The project was completed in March 2022 at Wat Chak Daeng, a Buddhist temple situated in the Bang Krachao Area of the Samut Prakan province in Thailand. The temple, renowned for its longstanding sustainability programs spanning over two decades, integrates the principles of environmental conservation into its Buddhist teachings.
Per community request, the pavilion is designed to host up to 200 seats and to accommodate a variety of events such as religious ceremonies, weddings, and funerals, while providing shaded connections to nearby existing buildings and maintaining an uninterrupted view of the historic crematorium.
With the exception of the structural steel, the project utilizes upcycled materials from the temple’s own waste management program to create a multi-layered and multi-functional roofscape, emulating a tree canopy.
The roof panels (made of compressed milk cartons) are periodically punctuated with translucent panels to allow filtered daylight through the ceiling baffles (made from plastic bottles and agricultural waste) and large clusters of hanging plants.
To help minimize construction costs, major portions of the project are installed by the temple staff and volunteers themselves, with coordination assistance from the general contractor and our team, including the roofing, the ceiling baffles, and the pavers (fabricated within the temple grounds using trash in the concrete mix).
As the steel members are exposed, the entire structure is designed and detailed as a holistic system. Off-grid columns of varying sizes not only accommodate large spans for optimum seating arrangements, but also further enhance the forest-like quality of the structure.
Driven by a desire to contribute to the local community, the monks, a group of generous donors, and our design team collaborated on a survey, engaging community leaders to identify a crucial requirement: the need for a shared public space within the temple grounds. This space would serve as a versatile venue capable of accommodating various activities, including religious ceremonies, educational events, weddings, and funerals.
In line with the temple's steadfast commitment to sustainability and after attaining consensus among stakeholders, the project's objective was to create a flexible covered outdoor space with a seating capacity of up to 200 individuals. The design was to showcase upcycled materials sourced from the temple's recycling program, underscoring its dedication to waste reduction. Moreover, the pavilion aims to establish a physical connection between the adjacent hall, education center, and crematorium, fostering a cohesive environment within the temple grounds.
The proposed design aligns with the temple's vision and addresses community needs by incorporating a forest-like canopy that utilizes upcycled materials from the temple's waste management program. The goal is to create a multi-layered and multi-functional roofscape. Compressed beverage cartons form the roof panels, interspersed with translucent panels that allow filtered daylight to illuminate the space through the ceiling baffles, made from plastic bottles and agricultural waste, and clusters of hanging plants.
To minimize construction costs, the project employs a collaborative approach. Temple staff and volunteers, with support from the general contractor and our team, take charge of major installation tasks such as roofing, ceiling baffles, and pavers. These pavers, created using a mix of concrete and trash, are fabricated within the temple grounds.
The entire structure is designed and detailed as a cohesive system, with exposed steel members contributing to the overall aesthetic. The columns, varying in size and functioning off-grid, not only facilitate optimal seating arrangements with large spans but also enhance the forest-like ambiance of the structure.
Design thinking has the potential to transcend economic barriers and benefit individuals at all levels. By fostering collective collaboration and adopting unconventional project delivery structures, we can grant communities, such as the one surrounding Wat Chak Daeng Temple, access to design and positively impact the lives of those in need. We can develop innovative approaches that foster sustainable development, by remaining attentive to the environmental and the economic landscape.
The project's primary objective is to address the scarcity of public spaces in Thailand while promoting the concept of upcycling and improving the quality of life in the surrounding community. All materials used in the project, except for the steel structure, are derived from trash collected and managed by the temple and crafted in collaboration with community partners. As a result of our efforts, we have successfully advanced the fabrication techniques for construction materials made from waste, showcasing compelling use cases for these innovative materials.
Although the funding raised only allowed for the current version of the pavilion, the roof structure has been designed to accommodate future installation of PV panels. These panels will provide power for the lighting and ventilation fan systems, reducing reliance on external energy sources. Additionally, the project has plans for the future integration of a greywater collection system, which will be used to irrigate the surrounding greenery, further enhancing sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Team:
Architects: Invoke
Photographer: THANAWATCHU
