Klong Toey Community Lantern is a Multi-Use Sustainable Social Center in the Heart of Bangkok

Norwegian firm <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/tyin-tegnestue">TYIN Tegnestue</a> collaborated with local students to give back to the residents of the Klong Toey community by building this lively multi-use community center in Bangkok. After taking over an abandoned lot, TYIN Tegnestue and their team of volunteers worked with the community to design and build a meaningful space that would help area residents. The <a href="http://www.tyinarchitects.com/projects/#" target="_blank">Klong Toey Community Lantern</a> is a stage, a community center, a reading room, a football court, a climbing area and a meeting place. The project hopes to signal the beginning of more sustainable development in the Klong Toey area.

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khlong_Toei_District" target="_blank">Klong Toey (or Khlong Toei)</a> is the largest and oldest areas of slum dwelling ares in Bangkok with more than 140,000 people living here in sub-standard housing with little to no rights

With a lack of public services like healthcare, affordable education, sanitation and electricity, the area has an extensive drug problem, high unemployment rates, along with violence and crime.

TYIN Tegnestue wanted to do something for the community to improve the social sustainability, encourage community interaction and provide a safe space for children to play.

The project hopefully the beginning of more sustainable development in the Klong Toey area.

The entire process took over a year and the group spent many hours researching the area and community members to gain their trust and opinions.

After deciding on a good location and overall design strategy for the community center, <a href="http://www.tyinarchitects.com/" target="_blank">TYIN Tegnestue</a> held a number of workshops to clean the parking lot and then build the structure.

One of the main goals was to maintain the size of the football field, so the structure was limited in size to something long and narrow.

The structure measures 12m x 1.2m and the full height of the building is short of 5 meters.

The site before it was cleaned up and built upon.

The structure's simplicity, repetitive logic and durability ensures that it will be long lasting and of use to the community for many years. It's design also encourages adaptations or updates as the community sees fit over time.

TYIN Tegnestue sees the Klong Toey Community Lantern as part of a long term strategy towards sustainable development in the area.

Front elevation of the Community Lantern.

Cross sections of the Community Lantern.