A “Smart City” framework was used to investigate and develop visions of alternative futures for a peri-urban superblock north of Bangkok, Thailand. The Smart City framework considers seven smart pillars: environment, economy, energy, mobility, people, living, and governance, with a focus on community wellbeing that is supported by information and communication technology (ICT). A mixed-method approach that included: community and industry surveys, both online and face-to-face (total n = 770); in depth, semi-structured, stakeholder interviews; passive participant observation; and photo-documentation was used to inform and organize the project visions and designs. Several themes emerged from the community surveys and key stakeholder interviews: (i) connected green space is highly valued and effectively links multiple smart pillars, enhancing community wellbeing and resiliency to flooding; (ii) superblock mobility, connectivity, and sustainable development could be achieved through a seamless, integrated public-transit system following the principles of transit-oriented development (TOD); (iii) the superblock should prepare for the implementation of Thailand 4.0 through the improved programmatic and physical integration of local industry, community, and universities, including plans for a Digital Village and co-work space. Example designs that address these considerations and vision alternative futures for the superblock are presented in this Smart City case study.

The expansion of cities and land use changes have led to the emergence of peri-urban areas representing a transition between fully urbanized and agricultural regions in Southeast Asia. Peri-urban communities provide essential ecosystem services but are vulnerable to climate-related disruptions and socioeconomic challenges. Utilizing their unique characteristics, peri-urban communities can contribute to sustainable development and resilience. This study assesses the potential of peri-urban areas to meet future challenges for sustainable development in a changing world, focusing on the local pandan farming community of Pathum Thani, approximately 53 km north of Bangkok, using the Community-Based Resilience Analysis (CoBRA) approach. A formally established group of peri-urban farming households identified COVID-19, water quality, and solid waste as their primary disruptive challenges. The community identified economic stability and resources (land ownership, financial security, and government support), community and social support (collaborative community, and healthcare facilities), an environmental dimension (sufficient food and clean water), and an information dimension (news and knowledge update) as key community resilience characteristics, which highlight their comprehensive approach to hazard resilience. The study concludes that the community was moderately resilient to hazards and COVID-19 was the primary disrupting event over the past 10 years. To address future challenges in peri-urban agriculture, it is suggested to focus on enhancing economic diversification, strengthening social networks and support systems, implementing sustainable land management practices, and promoting access to timely and accurate information. Additionally, investing in infrastructure for water management and waste recycling, supporting small-scale farming initiatives, and fostering collaboration between farmers and local authorities can contribute to building resilience in peri-urban agricultural communities.

Floating wetland systems potentially can provide a diverse set of ecosystem services that collectively improve urban resilience. Despite the growing studies and use of floating wetlands in temperate and subtropical climates, the design of floating wetlands in tropical climates is still understudied. This paper therefore aims to identify the research gaps in landscape planning and synthesize the design typology that can be applied to tropical urban conditions. The purpose of this research is i) Identify opportunities and challenges in applying floating wetland systems for landscape planning and design, ii) synthesize the design typology that can be applied to urban tropical climate conditions and iii) demonstrate the application of ecological wetland principles for the built environment. This research uses a mixed methods approach by including both a narrative review based on 67 peer-reviewed articles as well as case studies from tropical climates. The review captures the challenges and opportunities of designing ecological floating wetlands in terms of multifunctional usage, site limitation, cost effectiveness, social benefit, and ecological habitat creation. For design typology of floating wetlands in a tropical climate, we discuss design components based on size, floating mat types, structures and materials, planting design, and additional technology. While the first case study showcased a design for an ecological floating wetland, the second case study illustrates how mathematical modeling can guide sizing and performance assessment in planning floating wetland implementation. Ecological floating wetlands can provide a positive impact to the urban environment under tropical conditions, but the main research gaps include an incomplete understanding of contaminant uptake rates associated with different plants, required maintenance of the systems, plant robustness, and community appreciation.

The creation of sustainable cities for unpredicted and uncertain futures requires and involves a broad range of disciplines. Our living conditions within the cityscape are a consequence of the actions of the past generation, while cities shape the next generation’s way of life. Some of the key challenges in shaping our future cities are not only our behavioural changes but also the redesign and restructuring of the built environment to make it more liveable and give it a sustainable urban form. On the basis of the empirical evidences obtained from the Life and Sustainability classes at Thammasat University, in this study, I critically evaluated the sustainability concepts and models of sustainable future cities from the young generation’s perspective. Zero energy, quality of life, green infrastructure, city resilience, and combined approach were the ffve main concepts explored. The analysis shows the students’ perceptions and learning outcomes of sustainable concepts and models. By using the built environment module as an example, I collected data 1,735 undergraduate students enrolled in the fall semester of 2016 and closely re-examined 35 group projects. The results revealed that most of the students were familiar with the two concepts of quality of life and green infrastructure. However, there found it difficult to develop their vision of future cities on the basis of the concept of quality of life. The relationship between the new generation’s perceptions of sustainability concepts and the conceptualised prototypes or models of future cities from their understanding was analysed from a socio-economic perspective. Finally, in this paper, I suggest that these two concepts, namely green infrastructure and quality of life, be used as the core concepts along with the other sub-concepts to develop the discussion towards the design and development of future cities.

Given the limited number of case studies reflecting Nature-based Solutions (NbS) implemented in the Global South, existing cases of NbS within the city of Bangkok offer valuable lessons. This article aims to document and discuss the design process involved in implementing the NbS concept for Benchakitti Forest Park in Bangkok. The methodology involves a narrative literature review, qualitative content analysis, and interdisciplinary discussion. The article is complemented by insights from the landscape architect responsible for the park’s design and inspection during the construction process. The results are presented in three parts: optimizing the benefits of NbS, barriers to NbS, and the implementation of the design for Benchakitti Forest Park in Bangkok. The discussion centers on exploring opportunities and challenges in implementing the NbS concept, particularly in the context of a tropical monsoon climate. By deepening the understanding and contextualizing NbS, Benchakitti Forest Park is proposed as a valuable case study for learning landscape architectural design concepts and strategies related to NbS, offering efficient local construction methods, and adhering to specified time frames and budgets. At the early stage after opening to the public in 2022, there should be scientific proof of the park’s performance reflected in ecosystem services and disservices. Our study emphasizes the need for a long-term site monitoring program, landscape management framework, and guidelines to manage the urban wild space which should be integrated with educational programs and multi-stakeholder visioning for NbS.