Suan Dusit Arun is a landmark rooftop landscape set atop the redeveloped podium of the
former Dusit Thani Hotel in Bangkok. Positioned at one of the city’s busiest intersections
opposite Lumpini Park, the project re-establishes a lost civic connection, transforming
a historically iconic yet inward-facing site into a vibrant, publicly accessible urban oasis.
Guided by the principle of “Borrowed Scenery,” the design visually extends Lumpini Park’s
greenery into the development. Framed views of treetops and layered planting blur the
boundary between park and architecture, creating a continuous urban landscape.
This strategy not only reconnects the site to its surroundings but also reinterprets Thai
cultural identity through a contemporary landscape expression where a verdant hillside
rises as a living backdrop to the city.
Spanning approximately 11,200 square meters, Suan Dusit Arun is among Thailand’s
largest publicly accessible rooftop parks. It addresses the growing need for inclusive
urban space, particularly for an ageing society, by prioritizing universal access and social
engagement. The project resolves complex architectural constraints defined by
fragmented podium terraces through a unifying landscape framework of sculpted slopes
and cascading gardens. A continuous 700-meter network of universally designed ramps
seamlessly connects all levels, enabling equitable movement for users of all ages and
abilities.
A teak boardwalk weaves through the Hill Zone and Sky Forest, gracefully traversing an
18-meter vertical elevation. This primary circulation spine offers an immersive spatial
experience, integrating ecological systems with everyday urban life. Along its path, visitors
encounter a diverse range of programs, including an amphitheater, viewing decks, jogging
track, interactive dry fountains, dog park, and intimate pocket gardens transforming the
rooftop into a dynamic social and recreational destination.
Ecologically, the project functions as a high-performance landscape infrastructure.
Advanced BIM coordination enabled the integration of stormwater systems capable
of retaining up to 260 cubic meters of runoff during peak rainfall. The Sky Forest, a
2,000-square-meter layered planting system, combines canopy trees, understory
vegetation, and biofiltration basins to create a resilient micro-ecosystem.
This living system enhances urban biodiversity while improving thermal comfort,
air quality, and water management.
The planting strategy draws deeply from several Nirat (Travelogue poem), inspired by
the travel writings of Phra Sunthorn Vohara. Historically referenced species such as
bulletwood and ironwood are reintroduced as part of a contemporary urban arboretum.
Carefully selected for their adaptability to Bangkok’s climate, these species provide
extensive shade, support carbon sequestration, and contribute to pollution mitigation.
Suan Dusit Arun ultimately redefines the role of rooftop landscapes in dense cities.
It is not merely an amenity, but a civic platform where ecology, culture, and inclusivity
converge offering a renewed public realm that reconnects Bangkok’s past with its future.
Landscape Design Team
Touchapon Suntrajarn: Principal/Managing Director
Somkiet Chokvijitkul : Principal
Paponpat Chotipanpat : Landscape Architect
Nopnara Katekaewmaneeratana : Landscape Architect
Supanut Udomsilaparsup : Landscape Architect
Intanin Yenjit : Landscape Designer
Mr.Kasidit Duangwaraporn : Landscape Designer
Mr.Suparaj Wangjindamanee : Landscape Designer
Mr.Charlie Tongyonk : Landscape Designer
Vasinee Yantana : Horticulturists
Owner : VIMARN SURIYA COMPANY LIMITED
Photography Credit : Rungkit Charoenwat
Other credits:
Architectural Design: OMA
Local Architectural Design: Architect 49, PI Design
Interior Design: Line-house,AFSO, P49deesign, Grid&Co
Energy & Green Building Consultant: Africus
Lighting Consultant : Inverse Lighting Design
Structural Engineering : Aurecon Consulting (Thailand)
MEP Engineering : MITR Technical Consultant
Construction Management : Projects Asia, Project Planning Service PLC.
Main Contractor : RITTA Co.Ltd.
Softscape Contractor : Lilac Design & Construction
Waterfall Contractor : S.Napa (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Aquatica