Subheadline: Students from the Faculty of Architecture triumph at the “ACTIVATE CITY CHALLENGE”, transforming classroom knowledge into actionable, community-driven urban development models.
Body: The Faculty of Architecture at Khon Kaen University (KKU) has expressed its pride and congratulations to postgraduate students from the Master of Urban and Regional Planning programme. The students successfully applied their academic knowledge to secure project funding at the regional “ACTIVATE CITY CHALLENGE: Igniting Ideas to Move Cities towards a Healthy Thailand” (Northeastern Region). Organized by the we!park group and its network alliances, the intensive event took place from 7 to 10 May 2025 in Khon Kaen Province.
Of the numerous proposals submitted from across the region, four projects spearheaded by KKU Faculty of Architecture students were selected to participate in the highly competitive “PARK CREATOR TRAINING” workshop. These projects included:
- “Korat Park Link: Connecting Parks, Creating Cities” by Ms Siriwan Kham-on.
- “La-lerng Wye: Ma Walk, Ma Wae” (Challenging Walkability at La-lerng Wye) by Mr Krittayot Natkitsupacha.
- “Breaking Walls, Connecting People, Connecting Sakon City” by Mr Yotsaphat Ruechaisa.
- “Soo Chom Phee to Si Chom Phu” by Ms Chonthicha Klanmek, Mr Pongphon Homkulab, and Mr Nattapong Laophaeng.
During the rigorous four-day workshop, the students transitioned from theoretical classroom studies to hands-on field experience. Facilitated by urban design and planning experts, the training focused on healthy cities, participatory design processes, and spatial analysis. The participants also conducted site visits to exemplary public spaces in Khon Kaen, including the Treasury Museum, Nong Song Maew Public Park, Columbo Craft Village, and the KKU Agricultural Technology Park. Throughout the process, students received close mentorship and consultation from distinguished academics and professionals, including Assistant Professor Patamaporn Wongwiriah, Ph.D. (Mobility & Connectivity); the we!park group (Participatory Design of Public Spaces); Dr Nilpat Srisopap (Landscape Design Processes); and Mr Nattakorn Sombat覽tham (Visionary District Planning).
On the final day of the workshop, all teams pitched their participatory healthy district and green space development proposals under the theme “Connecting People, Connecting Cities”. The pitches were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges representing the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), the Thai Association of Landscape Architects (TALA), and Associate Professor Noppadon Thangsakul, Ph.D., representing the Faculty of Architecture, Khon Kaen University.
The Faculty of Architecture is pleased to announce that the “Soo Chom Phee to Si Chom Phu” project outstandingly demonstrated its capacity in spatial analysis and community engagement. Consequently, the team was selected as one of the final three teams to receive financial development grants from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth). This funding will be utilized to implement and develop a tangible healthy public space in Si Chom Phu District, Khon Kaen Province.
This achievement serves as a practical extension of the curriculum’s “Urban and Regional Planning Laboratory 1-3” courses. The Master of Urban and Regional Planning programme at Khon Kaen University is dedicated to equipping students with the skills necessary to formulate action plans that directly address community needs and foster sustainable urban growth.
Assistant Professor Patamaporn Wongwiriah, Ph.D., the project advisor, remarked that this success highlights how experiential learning beyond the classroom is key to producing a new generation of high-calibre urban planners. The Faculty of Architecture extends its gratitude to the we!park group and all network alliances for establishing this valuable learning platform, which helps cultivate a proactive “urbanist network” dedicated to creating more liveable cities.
News/Photos: Assistant Professor Patamaporn Wongwiriah, Ph.D.
Review/Editor: Kannaphat Sirikiat
