The park's incline is specifically engineered at a three-degree angle to naturally filter and collect stormwater runoff.
The landscape architecture, designed by Landprocess, won the ASLA Award of Excellence in 2018.
The underground reservoir can store over one million gallons of water to prevent local street flooding.
The park was created to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Chulalongkorn University, Thailand's oldest institution of higher learning.
It was designed as a 'sponge park' to address Bangkok's chronic urban drainage issues.
The wetland area acts as a natural bio-filter, cleaning runoff before it is stored or released.
Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park is a 12-acre green lung in central Bangkok designed to mitigate flood risks through an innovative gravity-fed water management system. The park features a distinct 3-degree tilted landscape that directs rainwater into a series of rain gardens and wetlands. Beneath the surface, a massive underground storage tank holds excess water during the monsoon season. The elevated design creates a tiered observation deck that provides panoramic views of the surrounding cityscape. The site occupies a former residential area that was reclaimed for public utility to mark the university's 100th anniversary. It serves as both an urban recreational space and a functional flood defense mechanism for the Pathum Wan district. The park integrates native plant species across its elevated lawns and wetland reservoirs. It remains a key case study in sustainable urban architecture within high-density environments.
The highest point of the sloped lawn looking down toward the water features and the university skyline.
Visit during the late afternoon to experience the cooling effect of the water features as the sun begins to set.
Walk up to the highest point of the park for the best unobstructed view of the surrounding university buildings.
Bring a picnic mat to sit on the expansive sloping lawns, as permanent benches are limited in open areas.
Avoid visiting during the peak heat of midday (noon to 3 PM) as there is limited shade cover on the main sloping lawns.
Respect the 'no smoking' and 'no alcohol' policies typical of university grounds; maintain a quiet demeanor as it is a study and recreational area.
