Survive The Wall of Nature

Survive The Wall of  Nature

The Professional cliff camping at Khao Sok National Park 

- Khao Sok National Park -

Khao Sok National park, the man-made ecological structure from the construction of the Chiaw Lan dam turns the tropical rainforest into the gigantic body of water. Only the highest part of the mountain still shown and became the new geologic structure.

The cliff ecology became the big part of the national park. Chiaw Lan dam now is very attractive through the easy access through the Chiaw Lan lake. Today people be able to appreciate the beauty of nature through only the eyes.

- Alpine Climbing Rating and Possible trail -

Alpine rock climbing is not for everyone

To reach the highest of the mountain by climbing is extremely dangerous. With the average high of more than 500-600 meters from the sea level, the cliff in Khao Sok national park almost reaches Grade 4 from 6 Grade of Alpine Climbing which needs to take more than 2-3 days climbing.

The rating was rated under the condition of incline and height. The concept of this project is to invite the professional climber over Grade 4 of Alpine Climbing who already expertise on climbing technique to experiences the new phenomenon of integration of the original form of cliff and architecture through the edge of nature.

- Cliff Ecology Analysis -

Limestone Mountain structure consists of variety layer start from sand,

soil, and bedrock which can be separated into soft rock and hard rock layer.

To build an architecture on the surface of the cliff we need to make sure that we are able to reach the hard rock layer so it would reduce the chance of surface collapse.

- Preparing Campsite -

With the professional climbing trail. It always takes more than 1 day on the cliff which needs to take a night on the cliff. The living condition is almost impossible.

Mostly the full professional climbing team will consist of not more than 10 crews. My project will provide the surviving space and also other surviving condition such as water source, walking path and camping space.

• Preparing campsite

• The first day of the camping space is the time to get as ready as possible before the climber climbs the great wall of nature.

• The camp is able to access through the boat from Cheow Lan dam.

• The visitor will reach the common space which includes the meeting room, bathroom, bedroom and also the climatic monitor to check the weather condition before climbing.

• To reach the Preparation tower which attaches to the starting point of the cliff, the climber needs to get ready by checking each other equipment and carry spare part of almost every stuff. If they decide to take the night on the cliff, they have to be ready to face the extreme condition over the wall.  

- Cliff Camping DesignSection -

After full day climbing or more than 6 hours climbing the surface, if they decide

to take the night and continue reaching the next checkpoint, I design the vertical campsite on the surface of the cliff which could be spread around the cliff under the condition of bedrock and the perspective view appreciation.

Camping site

At the height of more than 100-200 meters above sea level, the living condition is rough and barely have the resting spot and the camper needed to take a night on the cliff. To access the camping site, the site will connect to the carved climbing trail and provided the climbing hook to reach each part of the camp.   

The camping site on the cliff is the vertically living condition. The camper needs to survive more than 60-80 kph wind speed. 

Without any protection, the harness will swing through the wind and it is almost impossible to sleep at the night.  I decided to create the camping location which provided the safe space and still touch the sense of vertically camping. The carving into the cliff for 3 meters by using the original technique “digging” will suitable for the maximum size of the double bed harness camping would create the space that provided the shelter for camping condition.

Water source

On the second day of climbing, the empty water container makes the climber became worried that how will they find the water. They must carry the water purifier to filter the natural water.

The study of limestone mountain shown that the water erosion inside the rock crate the shaft which would be the great potential to collect as the water source for the climber.

Caving technique is needed to access the water path inside the rock so I design the space that easily accessible to the source and also the extended roof which collects the water from the rainwater. The water source could be spread around the cliff to provide the climber in other trails.

Summit Campsite

The summit campsite will restore provide the comfortable living after the 3 days climbing. The camp will provide the living room, water source and walking path inside the rock to access each space which spread around the summit. At the highest point of the mountain more than 500 meters from the ground, the visitor will have almost 360 degrees perspective around the Khao Sok National park or even be able to see the Andaman Sea. 

It would take an only full day or 6 hours down to the ground through the ready hook belaying and don't need to take the same route as the beginning of the trail. Every route will provide the similar water source nearby but the different climbing condition.

Conclusion

In conclusion, to surviving on the edge climbing, the climber needs to have the easier way to appreciate the extreme and greatness of nature by taking a day and night on the wall of nature.

So, the general idea of the new experience of rock climbing will promote the new phenomenon in Khao Sok discovery and invite more people to experience the integration between nature and architecture in the vertical landscape design.

Now, the more value on the cliff of Khao Sok National park was added through my project. The new design that evidence the greatness of natural sculpture, The design that let people see what they unseen from the Chiaw Lan lake, The Form of Nature that was hiding in the south of Thailand.

Nakasatien Research and Rehabilitation Center

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.

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.

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.

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. 

The Flexibility of construction that can be adjust due to the needs of the functions.

• Unit Types : 

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Solar Energy Diagram

As the facilities that composed of several units, each unit can be assemble and disassemble.

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.

Life of Researcher Unit

Exterior of the facilities

The Legacy of Seub Nakasathien

35 years ago, in 1982, one of the largest tropical rainforest of Thailand was  shifted in biology, geology, and ecology system due to the construction of Ratchaprapa Dam and nowadays it appears 100,000 Rai of Cheow Larn lake that has divided the forest into 2 parts;  Khlong Saeng -  Khlong Ya wildlife sanctuary and Khao Sok National Park.

Well, for my project, I’d like to go far back of the lake and observe an abundance island with the area of 7 km sq., this isolated island is oriented one side facing toward the East and another side facing toward the West, which receive the directly light from the sun in totally different time in the day and is consisted of 4 types of ecologies.

1. The Tropical Evergreen Rainforest

Which contained native species of plants, such as Tangerine, Wild Rubber Tree, ferns, and wild animals such as Tapir, Wild Elephant, Wild Bulls, mostly are the species that could survived in the specific area after the lake was starting to fill.

2. The Secondary Forest

Is the forest that had been destroyed by concession and timber harvest, which has re-grown in ecological succession, plants are easily grown species such as bamboo, ferns, rattan, and vine. Species of wildlifes such as Wild pigs, wild bulls.

3. The Aquatic Ecology

Beneath the 80 m. from mean sea level under the surface of water there lives several aquatic species such as Snakehead fish, Giant Catfish, Malayan Leaffish, and including algae and kelp on the dead trees.

4. The Wildlife corridor

Appears only when the lake is dewatering, since this is not an ocean so the water level wouldn’t varied daily due to the moon like tides, but the dewatering process would be annually when it’s in need for the city and also push out the unbalanced of mixed seawater inland for agricultural. So when the corridor appears, certain species of animals could cross over to forage.

For me this is a suitable site for K. Seub Nakasathien and Khao Sok memorial, because he deserves more than just a Statue and also the history of Khao Sok should be a reminder to us all! So please let me tell you a brief history about K. Seub and Khaosok!

After the construction of Ratchaprapa Dam to provide electricity for Thailand. Mountain ranges became hundreds of islands after the lake was filled. Forests had been destroyed, wildlife has been killed. Seub was assigned as foreman of the reservoir wildlife rescue project. For two years seub and his colleagues devoted their time and energies in evacuating lives without fear of any danger to themselves to save them from impending flood.

It was a very gloomy project while they were rescuing wildlifes of Khao Sok they could hear the sound of the guns hunting those lives in the same time.

However, many rescued creatures could not survive due to a sudden change in living conditions and broken ecosystem, so the project was failed.

But he never gave up, as a one small voice of human he always speak on behalf of all wildlifes and forest while others are ignored, even he knew that he, is fighting all alone with no one lending a hand, he did his best.

At dawn, on September 1st, 1990, the sound of a gunshot echoed through the stillness of Huai Kha Kheang Forest.

The bullet that Seub Nakhasathien used to kill himself was not only an expression of his determination to protect the forest and wildlife but also a wake-up call, for public awareness that saving the forest is the duty of us all.

A year later after his death and his effort, united nations had considered Thung Yai Naresuan and Huai Kha Kheang forest as a world heritage site. And today Khao Sok became a tourist attraction that I don’t know if they know the history of Khao Sok or  Seub that I’ve just told.

So .. What exactly is my project?

My project is a design of sequential attraction spots in each certain place, certain day and a certain time, with nonvisualized of manmade construction. Only using the integration of classic elements Earth, Wind, Sun, and Water as related mediums to manipulate phenomenons that would only happen once in a year.

The only construction methodology operating in the project is cutting and blasting the mountain. Due to the Act of Legislation on National Park in Thailand; any procedure occurs allows to serves only for the use of the National Park, and Environmental Impact Assessment [EIA] stated to temporary detain the wildlifes away from the operating area, due to the noise and accidents, because they are what valued the most.

There are 2 typologies of blasting; Tunnel blasting and Open pit blasting. The process started with planning the blasting route,  pinch a hole, and place the dynamites. Then it will blast from the inner route to the outer. And the conveyor belt.

Why the memorial has to be a journey?

Instead of just memorable of his name and instead of only appreciate the nature, the users would be part of nature and absorb both aesthetics and its importance and eventually to be able reach the point of realization of K. Seub’s aspiration in order to conserve value of nature.

Before you enter the memorial island you will receive a MANUAL BOOK and it only available for 20 people per year, luckily that this year we have enough places left, and today i’ll be your forestry ranger, and by walking towards the destination you will receive direct and indirect messages as following.

Day 1 started on August 29th | The Arrival

In the early morning you will enter to the island by a local boat to the pier that was carved at best to emerge with the landscape. This island is isolated by water far away from human activities means a testimony of k. Seub soul, how he distanced from social and keeps all his thoughts and pressure to himself and never let anyone know.

All through the day you will accordingly adjust to blend in while you’re hiking, from the balance of each steps, the smell, the sound, and the feel of the forest. Then until the late evening, you’ll arrive at your first camp.

You’ll spend your first night at this quiet space, that cut through the mountain and meet the cave, sheltered from strong wind and rain, and connected to the tunnel of aquifer, where provides space for cooking, relaxing and sleeping on the side walls. The pit opening will be approximately 2m H., that let the fresh air ventilate to the interior, while the smoke will detained by the barrier.

Day 2 August 30th| The Lost

You’ll start to acknowledge symbolical phenomenons, when the sun rises and you could see it from the pit because the space has designed to precisely angled corresponding to the sunrise of only this day. Sunrises emphasize the beauty of lives, but in contrast within this space you wouldn’t hear any sound incorporated with lives except ours? Isn’t there something strange? Then you’ll noticed the dead trees from far away with the atmosphere conveys the sense of overwhelming, represent the lost of forest and wildlife that K. Seub put his life to protect while he lived and also his death. These dead trees are memorial without names appeared infinite in numbers of uniqueness and the sameness.

Before lunch, you will arrive at a space filled with clean water, accumulated from the runoff surface and small streams. By staring into the room while the sun shines towards your back and cast your shadow on the surface of water, with the reflection of the water on the ceiling of calcite minerals that shines bright when the light touches. Where you are the only living, any action you proceed effects changes in the room, you walk your shadow changes, you touches the water the reflection changes, you paddle the water the sound changes, you speak the room louden you noises. This means nature has life of it own and it is infinite, but the only one thing that could damage them or help them live eternity is your action. And when it’s noon this room will be all dark. And you’ll spend the rest of the day hiking and then you’ll arrive at your second camp site in the forest.

Day 3 August 31st| The Way

This morning is differed from your first morning, you will wake up by the sound of the forest, birds chirping, the breeze, and the sun light that shines through the gap between each truck of trees, but this will be your last sunrise you would see.

Through the afternoon you’ll be hiking across the peak of the mountain to the other side where sunrise wouldn’t appear. It is an open pit channel that the length from the plan is only 200 m. but with the height makes it more tough with the gain or 60% upward and 80% slope downward on the other side. As the channel surface is mostly rock small plants and shrubs are mostly grown, however, through the succession, soil and plant seeds could deposit by wind or water, and the space will process through time. Also the channel is angled directly to the afternoon sun as it’s like you’re always hiking towards the sun, but there is no way back! The condition of the weather would challenge you differently, just think what if it’s raining or what if it’s cloudless and also your physical condition would be another challenge, you can ask PP, how did he survived such condition like this, so you might arrive at your camp the first or the last at 3 hours behind and it’s all dark.  This night you would camp in the forest.

Day 4 September 1st| The Death

This day you’ll spend the whole day hiking to the only destination which is your last campsite. You will arrive in the near evening where you will unexpectedly break the feel by the polished limestone floor, which makes you feel uncomfortable with the balance. Then after you all settled with the camping the sun will starting to set precisely through the cutting channel of the mountain, and you all will gathered to appreciate this delicate phenomenon, as the sun goes down the light will cast on the polished floor beautifully, and then at the last minute, appears a twilight shines horizontally through the gap between the floor wshppppp----! as it was the last light,  and afterall it becomes all dark and silent. THIS means the death of K. Seub.

Day 5 September 2nd| The Realization

Through the day you will walk within the small open pit cut through the surface of the mountain which divided the upper part as the primitive forest and the lower part of the cut as the secondary forest. The mist from the evaporation of the water surface by strong heat radiation of the afternoon sun plus evapotranspiration of the forest when the weather is hot but the trees are dense with humidity, these evaporated clouds will confuse your visualization plus the feeling of lost the sense of direction, because everything is all white and you couldn't see what’s exactly below the pavement. You could only walk carefully along the appeared path.

And in the near evening you will arrive again at the pier, you will leave the island when the sun goes down, as the boat is sailing the sky starts to dim to the almost complete darkness, this will be the time you will get to recall and understand all the experiences and phenomenon that had happened from the whole journey before you arrive to the city.

Then finally you’ll realize that the “legacy” of khun Seub is neither the Huai Khakeang, Khao Sok, nor any forest that was protected by the sacrifice of his death. But his name that lives to carry his aspiration will contribute by the livings, in order to leave “The Forests”  as our “legacy” to the generations of us all.

Thank you.