Thammasat Urban Rooftop Farm, Tambon Khlong Nung, TURF Thai Building Photos
Thammasat Urban Rooftop Farm in Tambon Khlong Nung
20 Aug 2020
Thammasat University Rooftop Farm
Design: LANDPROCESS
Location: Tambon Khlong Nung, Thailand, South East Asia

Amidst the climate crisis, food and water scarcity pose tremendous threats to human civilization. Once abundant agrarian societies, Bangkok and cities across Southeast Asia, have fallen victim to unregulated urbanization. To prioritize global food security, and the health of our people and the environment, cities must utilize neglected spaces to efficiently and sustainably produce food.

Repurposing 236,806 sq. ft. of wasted rooftop space, Thammasat University introduces an adaptive climate solution with Asia?s largest organic rooftop farm – Thammasat University Rooftop Farm (TURF). Integrating landscape architecture with the ingenuity of traditional rice terraces, TURF incorporates sustainable food production, renewable energy, organic waste, water management and public space.
The mound shape architecture pays respect to the university?s former director, Dr Puey Ungphakorn. ?Puey” means “mound under the tree,” or ?nourishment,? in Thai. With an earthwork of rice terraces and modern green roof technology, the cascading rooftop absorbs, filters and slows down runoff 20 times more efficiently than conventional concrete rooftops.

As rainwater zigzags down the slopes, TURF grows food to feed the campus. At...