Thailand welcomes visitors to the Siam Green Sky, the largest urban rooftop garden in Thailand, claiming the status as the new landmark for tourist and urban agricultural learning center at the heart of Bangkok on the 7th of the Siam Square One.
Chulalongkorn University, Ranked Top Thai University and 40th Global University in UI Green Metric World University Ranking 2014, launches an urban agricultural learning center, Siam Green Sky, as a brand new landmark built at the top (7th floor) of the Siam Square One shopping center. As the largest urban rooftop garden in Thailand, the Siam Green Sky is planned to be a learning center of agricultural innovation, horticulture, crops, fruits, and flowers for tourists, students and visitors. Those who are interested can reserve the FREE ticket from today onwards.
Siam Square One – March 13, 2015, Assoc. Prof. Gr. Cpt. Permyot Kosolbhand, Vice President of Chulalongkorn University and Mr. Boonsong Srisawangnate, Director of Chulalongkorn University Property Management, led the management team “Big Three” and members of the group “Gloom Khon Muang Yaak Plook Bhak” to join the opening ceremony of the “Siam Green Sky” which is the largest urban rooftop garden in Thailand and a versatile resource for urban agricultural community. Additionally, there is also a demonstration activity called “Grow Veggies, Love City” which the public can participate without any charge.
Assoc. Prof. Gr. Cpt. Permyot Kosolbhand, Vice President of Chulalongkorn University revealed that “Siam Green Sky” is one of the achievements of the university that perfectly reflects the vision of “Pillars of the Kingdom” in a tangible way and best satisfies the needs for knowledge of society and community, while responses to the environmental problems. The combination of knowledge, technology, and artistic design of landscape architecture makes this sky garden a learning resource and entertainment center at the same time. Also, the Siam Green Sky will be used as a pilot project for the management of green areas both inside and outside of the building before Chulalongkorn University extends the green zones to the rest of the campus area, covering more than 28 acres, turning the university into the new fresh clean air of Bangkok. The facilities will include activity grounds, leisure spaces, a botanical learning center, and a natural classroom to enhance learning activity to another level where creativity will not be framed or trapped in a conventional classroom anymore.”
Mr. Boonsong Srisawangnate, Director of Chulalongkorn University Property Management stated that “Siam Green Sky, operated by Chulalongkorn University Property Management, is located on the 7th floor, the top floor of Siam Square One. This urban rooftop garden is considered to be a complete integration in terms of landscape, art, landscape architecture, and education. It will be a natural classroom that is open to anyone who is interested in learning about vegetation, management, cultivation and environment. Most importantly, it will be a major water catchment for the area, helping to slow the flow of water in times of downpour, enhancing the drainage efficiency of the area, and at the same time, reducing the heat inside the building by 3-4 °C as well as the outside temperature around the green area by as much as 7°C. This decrease in temperature will significantly save annual electricity cost as much as 2,000 baht per square meter of plantation.”
Assoc. Prof. Trirat Charutach, President Assistant of Chulalongkorn University and the architect of the project said that, “Siam Green Sky is designed and developed from the 3 main ideas which are learning center, agricultural awareness, and social networking. The learning center idea focuses on the dissemination of innovative agriculture, landscape management, urban ecology, and safe food production process. The agricultural awareness is meant to bring the local way of life of Thai farmers to the city so that urban people can learn and absorb their wisdom. We also put an emphasis on space management, fully-integrated self-sustenance, the creation of green social network, and renewable energy from solar panels. We expand our initiatives to nearby businesses and encourage them to take part in waste management by bringing their organic waste to us, and we will turn it into compost for the roof top garden.
Ms. Kotchakorn Voraakhom, landscape architect of the project added that, “The concept of dividing the space into three parts consists of an innovative farming plot, multifarious plants plot, and garden plants plot. The innovative farming plot is the biggest part where the innovative cultivation with solar system will be exhibited. Visitors will have a chance to observe the process of making organic fertilizer from store waste, the cultivation of plants suitable for the areas, and the plantations of beautiful flower, edible plants, herb, and rice. The second part or the multifarious plants plot will feature various types of plants displayed in different sections such as the international plant section, and decorative edible plants which visitors can use as a guide to grow their own vegetables and edible plants.
The third part is the pretty and easy to grow plants which will cover plant species that are viable without the need for extra maintenance. In addition, outdoor artworks will be installed around the area, changing the surface of the ventilation pipes into painting canvas by famous street artists from the Silp San Siam project.”
This urban agricultural learning center, Siam Green Sky will be open for the public in all three parts. During a 1-hour visit, expert guides will accompany visitors to explain and describe the concept, model, and management approach for plants and cultivation. Moreover, every Saturday there will be free workshops for those who are interested in agriculture such as growing vegetables without soil, rice growing in the garden, techniques for condominium gardening, and so on. Shoppers will also enjoy the Siam Green Sky market, where clean organic food from vegetables, fruits and flowers will be served for Bangkokians in wallet-friendly prices right at the heart of Siam Square.
Siam Green Sky is open to visitors every Wednesday and Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 free of charge. There are 3 rounds of the visit, starting at the first round from 10:30 to 11:30, the second round from 14.30 to 15.30 and the final from 16:30 to 17:30. The Siam Green Sky will be fully operated from May 22, but visitors can make a reservation for FREE entry from today onwards. For those interested in visiting the Siam Green Sky as individuals, families or small groups of students, please make a tour reservation in advance at Siam Green Sky project management team Phone 099-001-8514 Email siamgreensky@gmail.com Website www.siamgreensky.com Facebook Fanpage: www.facebook.com/siamgreensky
