Theerapat Jirathiyut
Thailand
VERNACULUS
Reclaiming Food Scape
“Where there are people, there will be food.” Bangkok is currently well-known of its street food. The unique scenery of Bangkok streetscape, where people and food co-exist, is presented to the world. However, this unplanned, and unorganized situation where ‘food’ habit the space bring all nuisance to other co-habitat. Vendors start to sprawl out of control, encroaching pedestrian pavement and driveway. Untreated waste, with extensive amount of fat is stream into storm drainage system, creating unnecessary clog downstream, causing an urban flood. As a result, authorities initiate and ban of street vender in most of Bangkok area, wiping out the memorable and dynamic scene of Bangkok once famous street food, also upset those hungry. Is it the best solution? This proposal investigates how ‘food’ can be co-existed with the street again.
Pavement need to be allocated for all activities. Modules are introduced and arrayed along the street, hugging around their core where all supply and waste go ‘Infra Module’. The Module provides supply, collection point and waste water treatment. It utilises an oversized storm-drainage manhole, which tend for a long-term maintenance where all equipment are ‘plugged-in’ to the space. From the core, then branched to ‘Vendor Module’ and ‘Seating Module’ where all foodies’ activities goes. Other supporting module, ‘Green Module’ and ‘Road-Access Module’ can be also distributed along the street, allowing open public space and link pedestrian to road transport.
On operation-side, authorities can provide a core, ‘Infra Module’ to the planned area. Then street space can be leased out to vendor. Vendor’s revenue then allows authorities to provide support and maintenance of the streetscape. The complete circle of support wish to prolong and sustain the system.
The co-existence of ‘food’ and streetscape could be re-balanced, the street vendor ban can be revoke, thus bring back a native scene of Bangkok’s street food.