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| Khao Sok National Park |
Nakasatien Research and Rehabilitation Center is the facilities that strives to rescue, educate and restore the wildlife at the Cheow Lan Lake. Cheow Lan Lake or Rajaprabha Dam is a dam reservoir in Khao Sok National Park which is located that Surat Thani, Thailand.
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| Cheow Lan Lake, Khao Sok National Park |
Rajaprabha Dam is a dam that cover most of the region at Khao Sok National Park. In these region, there are several wildlife sanctuary and national parks all over the area.
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| Section Diagram with the diversity of Fauna. |
Khao Sok National Park is home to many animals. With 48 mammal species, 311 different species of birds, more than 30 species of bats and countless reptiles and insects the animal kingdom in Khao Sok is more than diverse.
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| Khao Sok National Map indicates the location of the facilities |
The location for the project will be located on the valley of the mountain in which it will be a headquarter of the research and rehabilitation facilities located.
D E S I G N C O N C E P T
The Design Concept for this facilities is consisted of 3 different aspects; adaptability, flexibility and mobility.
- Flexibility
- Construction - The unit of the construction use the technique of interlock in in which it is easy to assemble and easy to repair when it is needed. Bamboo is used as the main material for the construction in which it is a low cost materials and it is a local materials used in that area. Comparing to the floating house at the Rajaprabha Dam, the floating house has such a less space that did not provide any flexible function while the unit has more vertical space in which provides more flexibility in function. Also, the unit mimic the vertical landscape that match with the vertical limestone mountain.
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| The Flexibility of construction that can be adjust due to the needs of the functions. |
Researcher unit
A 4x5x5 meters unit that is for staff who works for facilities in which it is consisted of a working area, 4x4x3 meters, and sleeping area, a 2x2 meters on the second floor. Here shows the function inside the researcher unit whereas on the first floor, there is a researcher working on his laptop while another one is observing the surrounding. To go up to the second floor, people must use the monkey ladder climbing up to second floor. In this example, there is a researcher resting on the sleeping area.
Wet Lab
The definition of wet lab is where all routine laboratory experiments including the use of chemical is experimented in the area. A 8x9x4 meters units that is used for researchers to work on experiment on his/her research. From this example, the researchers do some experiment that they have collected from the animal experimentation.
Dry Lab
The definition of dry lab is the lab that all the computer-based experiment generate models that are used for analysis. With the size that similar to Wet Lab, 8x9x4 meters. However, the unit is an enclosure space in which the space require much more privacy than the Dry Lab. From this section, showing two researchers working on the data analysis that they have collected from the wet lab.
Animal Enclosure and Clinics for Mammals
Animal Enclosure and Clinics for mammals. This unit will be a unit that must carry such a gigantic mammals that may be injured or needed to be rescue. A 9x10x4 meters that consisted of animal enclosure and clinics for helping the wildlife. However, the raft can only carry one animals per raft. In this section, showing the Malayan Sun Bear that has been captured inside for observing the natural behavior or sometimes captured for rescuing them and preparing them back to the nature.
Animal Enclosure and Clinic for Birds
Animal Enclosure and Clinic for Birds. As similar to the Animal enclosure for mammals, with the size of 9x10x4 meters, this units provides a facilities in order to keep the injured birds for restore their health and get prepare for them to return to the wild.
Bird Observatory Tower
Bird Observatory Tower. A 5x5x8 meters tower for the researchers to observe the birds behaviours and engage to study through the scientific methods. In term of construction such a tall tower on raft is very challenging. In order to balance the buoyancy of the raft, the watching area is designed for people to lay down in order to span the weight to the raft in which it will not triggers any unstable condition in the raft.
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| Section shows the activities insides the units; Animal Enclosure and Clinic for Birds (Left), Animal Enclosure and Clinic for Mammals, Birds Observatory Tower, Researcher unit, Dry Lab and Wet Lab (Right) |
- Rafting System
Each unit is constructed on a rafting system whereas this system is floated by using barrels as a floating elements. Barrels are a popular form of flotation used at the raft. They can support a lot of weight, are very durable, and can be used as is with little if any preparation other than installing the bungs.
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| Rafting System |
- Mobility
Unit Connection and its function. The unit is designed according to the unit aggregation system. The connection is based on each function according to the use. Sometimes the different units will be joined together for their specific function according to the uses.
- 1st Connection :
A living unit standing alone when the researcher would like to go to the specific research at the specific location.
2nd Connection : A wet lab and animal enclosure conjoint together in which they will be joined together for when the researcher would like to collect some gene or observing the their nature environment from the animal enclosure. When they collect any data from the animal enclosure, the data will be collect and analyse at the dry lab that connected next to it.
3rd Connection : The connection between researcher unit, the dry lab and the animal enclosure. The function from this connection is that to rescue any wildlife that has been injured or sometimes in a specific condition, for example, the flooding. In south of Thailand, the monsoon-related floods are common in the region, the wet season usually ends in November. Therefore, some animals may injure from this condition.
4th Connection : The connection between researcher unit, the wet lab, the dry lab and the animal enclosure. These connection are joined when the researcher would like to go to the further specific location that may takes days or weeks for observation, these units will provides enough sources for researchers to collect any data from the wildlife observation.
5th Connection : The connection of five units for this example is including the bird observation tower. These connection is also has a similar function as the four connection. These will serve the task for researcher to research more on a specific research in which in this case, bird observation. These units will also provides enough sources for the researchers to live for a days or weeks.
- Whole Connection : These are the whole connection when all the units are joined together, assemble as the headquarter for the facilities and also creates such a circulation that the users may walking through each unit easily.
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| Connection Typology |
- Adaptability
This topic will cover the content of the unit that engage with the nature and natural resources. Each unit is designed as a sustainable design in a way that can provides enough energy for users in each unit. There are 2 main natural resources at Rajaprabha Dam. Wind and Solar.
- Wind Energy : Wind is created by the unequal heating of the Earth's surface by the sun. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in wind into clean electricity. When the wind spins the wind turbine's blades, a rotor captures the kinetic energy of the wind and converts it into rotary motion to drive the generator. Then, the energy will transfer to the unit in which it can provides energy for people who live in the unit.
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| Wind Energy Diagram |
Solar Energy : Solar energy is the ultimate source of energy at the Rajjaprabha Dam, which is naturally replenished in a short period of time. To take advantages of solar energy, the variety of technologies is used to convert solar energy to generate an electricity.
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| Solar Energy Diagram |
As the facilities that composed of several units, each unit can be assemble and disassemble.
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Aerial View shows the assemble and disassemble of the unit
in which it is the main function of the facilities |
In conclusion, the facilities is designed based on the traditional rafting system that is used for the floating house at the Rajjaprabha Dam. With its designed that has used the most durable shape which is the triangle form, it creates more variation in terms of design. Additionally, the facilities are entirely used bamboo as a material in which it is not too expensive and easy for construction. In the end, this facilities in considered as one of the first and foremost floating research facilities in Thailand.
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| Life of Researcher Unit |
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| Exterior of the facilities |
