Last year, Bangkok Design Week made a massive statement by unrolling the "Mega Mat" across Lan Kon Muang, inviting the public to lounge while sparking a conversation about plastic waste. This year, the festival returns to the same iconic plaza with a "less is more" philosophy. The highlight of the Phra Nakhon district is High Line Bangkok—an open-air installation designed to transform the civic plaza into a communal living room that welcomes everyone, day or night.

Designed by Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee of the award-winning firm HAS Design and Research, the installation is a direct response to how Bangkokians actually move through space. The architects spent time observing how the city’s rhythm shifts along with the sun, letting human behavior dictate the form of the structure.

In the blistering daylight, we naturally hunt for refuge in the shadows of trees or the narrow shade of lampposts. As evening falls and the air cools, the energy shifts back toward the light. This dance between shade and illumination is the heartbeat of the project. It highlights how light and shadow can extend the lifespan of our daily routines, encouraging us to reclaim public spaces even in the heart of a tropical metropolis like Bangkok.

The pavilion-like installation is engineered to transform this vast, open expanse into a dynamic public space that evolves with the sun. During the day, the installation acts as a canopy, casting colorful reflections across the plaza and turning a sun-drenched void into a cool, semi-outdoor sanctuary where people can gather freely. Once the sun sets, the structure takes on a new life, acting as a massive light diffuser that extends the reach of the city's streetlights to effectively unlock the plaza for nighttime use.

Perhaps the most impressive feat of High Line Bangkok is its structural restraint. Rather than pouring new foundations or creating permanent waste, the architects used the plaza’s existing lampposts as the primary support system. This approach significantly reduces material consumption and waste, perfectly aligning with the BMA’s vision for a sustainable, zero-waste future for the city.

Bangkok Design Week 2026 is running between January 29 and February 8. Find out more here.