According to the World Health Organization, air pollution kills about 7 million people worldwide each year. Multidisciplinary design firm Cloud-floor seeks to solve this global challenge and improve the quality of life for city dwellers. In 2021, the team realized a translucent pavilion in Bangkok where visitors can breathe cleaner air in open public spaces. The "Common Air-rea", open during Bangkok Design Week 2021, serves as an information centre, meeting point and rest area for attendees.
Sponsored by the Creative Agency Economy (CEA), Cloud-floor designed and built Common Air-rea, demonstrating air pollution mitigation and improved air quality in semi-open public spaces.
The project is not only an attempt at design, but also an attempt at technology: an experiment in an air purification mechanism driven by a combination of solar energy and electricity from traditional sources. This space is surrounded by translucent filter curtains, which not only prevent air pollution from entering the indoor environment, but also filter out excess solar radiation. Curtains still allow daylight to enter to improve visibility inside the building and provide a sense of publicity in the space.
A "green area" with air-purifying plants has been added to the design, which has the ability to retain dust, can capture particles smaller than 10 microns in the air, and retain other air pollutants.
There are also some plants that produce attractive odors, creating a relaxed atmosphere.
The building is also equipped with equipment that can trap dust particles and allow purified air to circulate internally. The project has no closed doors, giving visitors the feeling of being open. Air curtains are used at the entrance and outlet to control air circulation and prevent unpurified air and pollution from flowing back into the building. The combination of enclosed structures, green spaces and air purification technologies opens up new design possibilities for public spaces, such as waiting areas, bus stops, outdoor markets, and a clear air shelter for visitors in any public space.
The roof structure of the public air purifier is equipped with a solar system that enables the building to use alternative energy sources. Solar energy is stored in batteries to be combined with electricity from traditional sources to power Common Air-rea's air purification system, air curtain, lighting system and mobile phone charging station during Bangkok Design Week. The designers say the prototype can be scaled up and further applied to other open space environments.
Project Status:
Construction: D-63
Structural Engineering: CE Officers Co.Ltd.
Lighting design: Kullakaln Gururatana
Landscape Architecture: Kernel Design Co., Ltd.
Ventilation and AQI Improved Design: Assistant Professor, Dr. Prapat Pongkiatkul
Solar System Consultant: Dr. Pisist Kumnorkaew
Graphic and Exhibition Design: DOS Co.Ltd.
Real-time data management: YIMSAMER GmbH
Status: Completed (2021)
Photo by Panoramic Studio