Bangkok has unveiled the Suan San Pocket Park, a innovative green space project designed by Shma Company Limited that addresses the city's critical shortage of public parks. The newly completed park represents a significant step toward meeting the World Health Organization's recommended standards for urban green spaces, as Bangkok currently provides only 7.49 square meters of green space per resident.
The project comes as part of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's ambitious initiative to increase per capita green space to 10 square meters by 2030. This goal reflects the urgent need to address the substantial gap between Bangkok's current green space availability and international health standards, which recommend at least 9 square meters per person according to WHO guidelines.
Designed under the direction of Yossapon Boonsom, the pocket park showcases innovative landscape architecture that maximizes limited urban space. The design team, including landscape architects Tarntip Tantprasert, Pluek Jongphichavorakul, Natasha Bell Garsia, and Poohlawat Sangduean, created a compact yet functional green environment that serves the surrounding community's recreational and environmental needs.
The park's construction was managed by Anongnard Jungmongkolsawat, while horticultural specialists Supaluk Paorik, Pornpun Chairat, and Sirinthon Sumangsai ensured the proper selection and arrangement of plant materials. The visual identity and signage were developed by graphic designer Vipulapas Puapolthep, creating a cohesive aesthetic that integrates with Bangkok's urban landscape.
Photographer Nawin Deangnul documented the completed project, capturing how the pocket park transforms a small urban plot into a verdant community space. The park demonstrates how strategic landscape design can create meaningful green infrastructure even within Bangkok's densely developed urban fabric.
This pocket park model represents a scalable solution for Bangkok's green space deficit, showing how small interventions can contribute to the city's broader environmental and public health goals. The project serves as a prototype for future urban green initiatives that could help Bangkok achieve its 2030 sustainability targets while providing immediate benefits to local residents.
