The growth in urban density has led to changes in the quality of our living environment. The lack of public open spaces and parks has become a critical issue, especially in Bangkok’s metropolitan area, where people spend most of their lives inside buildings rather than on public grounds. With limited space remaining in inner urban areas, providing adequate outdoor living quality has become increasingly challenging, calling for alternative public-space solutions.
Punn Smart Workspace, a modern green office building located in the Rama IV district, an emerging CBD and future smart city of Bangkok, positions itself as a friendly neighbour, focusing on enhancing the community’s livability through inclusive design. Embracing the crowded neighbourhood, Punn introduces a privately owned public space (POPS) at the building’s frontage, transforming a workplace and urban infrastructure into a reformed civic landscape, which reflects the rhythm of everyday urban life while fostering meaningful connections between people, place, and the city.
The design focuses on the core concept of “sharing,” integrating private space for public benefit. A merged streetscape of both private and public sectors extends pocket parks and urban plazas, maximising the use of scarce open space in the dense Rama IV neighbourhoods, with diverse urban activities ranging from daily routines to public events. Punn’s frontage becomes a natural continuation of the public realm where movement, rest, and social encounters coexist. A variety of edges and seating elements shared among residents and the public strengthens community spirit. Moreover, layered green spaces and shaded courtyards create an intimate yet breathable environment that softens the surrounding urban density, offering microclimate comfort and ecological benefits. The shared landscape model serves as a key prototype for public-space alternatives in future smart districts, inspiring the growth of modern urban green networks across Bangkok’s metropolitan area.
Punn Smart Workspace
Landscape Firm: REC STUDIO CO., LTD.
Lead Landscape Architects: Krit Thienvutichai
Clients: Dolsiri Development Co., Ltd. (joint venture between L.P.N. Development PCL. and Nye Estate Company Limited)
Architect: P.A.Design Company Limited
Drawing Credit: REC STUDIO CO., LTD.
Photography: Jaroonphan Kitphanich Photography