Promotion of 15-minute city framework as an urban design guideline: a case study of Banthat Thong Road, Bangkok, Thailand

Banthat Thong, as an upcoming commercial and food district, is currently facing many problems with pedestrian mobility, transportation and traffic congestion even though situated within walking distance of 800 metres to multiple public transportation stations. The low walkability and safety of the footpath pavement not only induce the use of private vehicles but also act as a prominent barrier to developing seamless mobility in the area. The research topic: Promotion of 15-Minute City framework as an urban design guideline: A case study of Banthat Thong road, Bangkok, Thailand, aims to study the concept of the 15-Minute City framework and explore how to apply it practically to the selected site and solve the problem in the neighbourhood of Banthat Thong in Bangkok, Thailand.Four research objectives correspond to three research questions, stating the scope and nature of the research throughout the paper. The first research question, “What are the development criteria a 15-Minute City should consider?” frame the first objective to study the 15-Minute City framework under the urban design context. The second research question, “Can the 15-Minute City framework be used as a design guideline for Banthat Thong?” correspondent with the second objective to study and evaluate Banthat Thong road under the 15-Minute City framework. Finally, the third research question, “How can we develop a 15-Minute City framework as an urban design guideline for Thai city?” will answer with two final objectives to create urban design guidelines from the 15-Minute City framework for Banthat Thong and to propose a redesign for the Banthat Thong road where people can travel in the area seamlessly, safely and conveniently at any time of the day.The research methodology worked with the combination of quantitative and qualitative urban data from preliminary secondary data collection and primary data collected by questionnaires and on-site observation. The literature reviews and the comparative case studies of foreign countries as examples in the application of the framework suggested that the four principle dimensions of the 15-Minute City framework should be in consideration with other two aspects in the physical environment readiness and the people’s behaviour and demand for mobility infrastructure in the area are the development criteria any 15-Minute City should consider.The questionnaire received 170 responses, and the answer to multiple of the questions implies that there is high demand for connected, seamless transportation. According to the top three suggestions for mobility development in the area, 18.3% of the respondents suggested public transportation development, including commuter bus or tram to commute around the area or from BTS/MRT stations, in second place after more organised parking space (public, free or low-price and convenient) of 21.4%. As well as, 20.4% of the respondents desired bicycle/ e-scooter rental as a new service they wanted to see in the area.The incorporated evidence in the integrated analysis of the spatial data demonstrated that Banthat Thong has the potential to develop under a 15-Minute City framework with development priorities of digitalisation, proximity, diversity and density dimensions, respectively, weighing from the current assets and how timely the development in each dimension will be impactful and effective in the current context.The study proposed a localised 15-Minute City framework for urban design in Banthat Thong, which included the development of specific plans in four dimensions and the input of development policy that prioritised mobility planning to encourage active and soft mobility (non-motorised means of transportation in the forms such as walking, cycling, skateboarding, running, and roller skating), enhancing connectivity and transportation choices for space users in Banthat Thong.To look into details, the urban design and policy recommendations applicable to Banthat Thong encompassed promoting adaptive reuse of existing buildings, mixed-use development, transforming form-based codes into hybrid systems with mixed-use zoning, and incentivising smart city initiatives, with financial support and public-private partnership models.As a guideline for implementation, the study recommended an action plan with assigned roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders involved from private, public, educational, and community sectors. The leading actor in the 15-Minute Banthat Thong project is the Property Management of Chulalongkorn University (PMCU). They oversee progress and coordinate with all sectors, including Chulalongkorn University, and private companies offering shared mobility services. Funding support comes from the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) as a smart city accelerator, along with legal support from local government bodies such as the Pathumwan district office and police station.However, the research faced limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which hindered data collection with strict public health measures. Additionally, the contextualised framework designed for Banthat Thong’s unique characteristics may pose challenges to implementing it as a default template in other areas. Adaptation of the concept for strategic planning and design in different neighbourhoods worldwide requires forming and regulating localised principles and criteria according to the context of each area.

作为新兴的商业与美食街区，邦叻通（Banthat Thong）目前在行人通行、交通及拥堵方面面临诸多问题——尽管该区域距离多个公共交通站点仅800米步行可达。步行友好度与人行道铺装安全性偏低，不仅催生了私家车使用需求，更成为该区域构建无缝通行体系的显著障碍。本研究主题为《以15分钟城市（15-Minute City）框架作为城市设计导则：泰国曼谷邦叻通路案例研究》，旨在探究15分钟城市框架的内涵，并探索如何将其实际应用于选定场地，解决泰国曼谷邦叻通街区的现存问题。本研究设置四项研究目标，对应三项研究问题，明确了全文的研究范围与属性。第一项研究问题为"15分钟城市应考量哪些发展准则？"，以此确立第一项研究目标：在城市设计语境下探究15分钟城市框架。第二项研究问题为"15分钟城市框架能否作为邦叻通路的设计导则？"，对应第二项研究目标：基于15分钟城市框架对邦叻通路展开研究与评估。最后一项研究问题为"我们应如何构建适配泰国城市的15分钟城市框架作为城市设计导则？"，其对应两项最终研究目标：一是基于15分钟城市框架为邦叻通制定城市设计导则，二是针对邦叻通路提出重新设计方案，使民众可在一日任意时段于区域内实现无缝、安全且便捷的通行。本研究采用定量与定性结合的城市数据研究方法，数据来源包括初步的二手数据收集，以及通过问卷调研与现场观测获取的一手数据。文献综述与国外应用该框架的比较案例研究表明，15分钟城市框架的四大核心维度，需结合物理环境就绪度与民众行为及通行基础设施需求这两个方面进行考量，此即为任何15分钟城市都应遵循的发展准则。本次问卷共回收170份有效回复，多项问题的回答结果显示，民众对互联互通的无缝通行交通存在较高需求。在该区域通行发展的前三类建议中，占比21.4%的"规划更完善的停车场（公共、免费或低价且便捷）"位居首位，其次为18.3%的受访者建议发展公共交通，包括增设通勤巴士或有轨电车以在区域内往返，或连接BTS/MRT站点。另有20.4%的受访者希望引入自行车/电动滑板车租赁这一新型服务。空间数据综合分析的整合证据表明，邦叻通具备基于15分钟城市框架开展开发的潜力，其开发优先级依次为数字化、临近性、多样性与密度维度，该优先级基于现有资产，以及各维度开发在当前语境下的时效性与实施效果而定。本研究为邦叻通的城市设计提出了本地化的15分钟城市框架，涵盖四大维度的专项规划制定，以及优先考量通行规划的发展政策输入，以鼓励主动型与柔性出行（非机动化交通方式，包括步行、骑行、滑板、跑步与轮滑），提升邦叻通空间使用者的通行连通性与交通选择多样性。具体而言，适用于邦叻通的城市设计与政策建议包括：推动既有建筑的适应性再利用、混合用途开发、将形态化法规转型为混合用途分区的混合体系，以及通过财政支持与公私合营模式激励智慧城市举措。作为实施导则，本研究提出了一份行动计划，明确了私人、公共、教育与社区各涉事利益相关方的角色与职责。邦叻通15分钟城市项目的牵头方为朱拉隆功大学资产管理处（PMCU），其负责监督项目进度，并与包括朱拉隆功大学在内的各部门，以及提供共享出行服务的私营企业开展协调。资金支持来自作为智慧城市加速器的数字经济促进局（depa），法律支持则来自巴吞旺区办事处与警察局等地方政府机构。不过，本研究受新冠疫情（COVID-19 pandemic）限制，严格的公共卫生措施阻碍了数据收集工作。此外，针对邦叻通独特特质设计的本地化框架，若作为通用模板推广至其他区域，可能会面临实施挑战。全球范围内不同街区的战略规划与设计若要适配该概念，需根据各区域的具体语境制定并规范本地化的准则与标准。