How Bangkok Can Survive Climate Change | Ratchu Vaan Surajaras

What happens when an entire city risks disappearing under water? In this compelling talk at the Design Indaba Conference in Cape Town, Thai landscape architect Ratchu Vaan Surajaras explores the urgent future of Bangkok in the face of climate change, flooding, land subsidence, and rising sea levels. Drawing from the devastating 2011 Thailand floods, Surajaras presents an innovative vision for resilient urban design — transforming Bangkok’s canals, public spaces, infrastructure, and waterways into a citywide system for water retention, recharge, and climate adaptation. Inspired by the late King Bhumibol’s “Monkey Cheek” water management theory, this talk reveals how cities can learn to live WITH water instead of fighting against it. Through landscape architecture, ecological thinking, and urban systems design, this presentation demonstrates how climate resilience can also create greener public spaces, stronger communities, and a better quality of life. In this talk: • The 2011 Bangkok flood catastrophe • Climate change and sea level rise in Thailand • Why Bangkok is sinking • Flood resilience through landscape architecture • Canal infrastructure and urban water systems • “Monkey Cheek” water retention theory • Sustainable city planning and public space design • Green infrastructure for future cities • Water-sensitive urban design • Adapting cities for climate resilience This keynote was delivered live at Design Indaba Conference in Cape Town — one of the world’s leading conferences on creativity, architecture, innovation, and design. If you’re interested in: climate adaptation, resilient cities, sustainable urbanism, architecture, landscape architecture, environmental design, flood mitigation, urban planning, water-sensitive design, ecological infrastructure, or the future of cities — this talk is essential viewing. Subscribe for more inspiring talks on design, sustainability, innovation, architecture, and the future of our planet. #RatchuVaanSurajaras #DesignIndaba #ClimateChange #Bangkok #LandscapeArchitecture #UrbanDesign #FloodResilience #Sustainability #ClimateAdaptation #UrbanPlanning #RatchuVaanSurajaras #DesignIndaba #Bangkok #ClimateChange #FloodResilience #LandscapeArchitecture #UrbanDesign #UrbanPlanning #Sustainability #ClimateAdaptation #ResilientCities #GreenInfrastructure #Architecture #FutureCities #WaterManagement CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction & Opening Remarks 00:27 The 2011 Bangkok Flood Disaster 01:25 Searching for Solutions for Bangkok 01:47 Canals as Multi-Functional Infrastructure 02:00 Bangkok’s Historic Relationship With Water 02:49 Urbanization & The Loss of Canal Culture 03:00 Land Subsidence & Sea Level Rise 03:43 Bangkok’s Water Management Crisis 04:28 Why Bangkok Could Disappear Underwater 05:10 Learning to Live With Water 05:24 The “Monkey Cheek” Water Theory 05:58 Four Strategies for Climate Resilience 06:13 Release — Creating More Room for Water 07:15 Retain — Expanding Water Holding Capacity 07:56 Reconnect & Recharge Urban Spaces 08:30 Reimagining Bangkok’s Canal Network 08:47 Urban Recharge Parks & Green Sanctuaries 09:13 Community Spaces & Water Storage 09:31 Water Purification & Affordable Housing 10:03 Reconnecting Temples, Culture & Water 10:30 Agriculture, Rainwater & Community Income 10:46 Building a Flood-Resilient Bangkok 11:11 Climate Change & The Future of Cities 11:28 Learning to Live With Water 11:36 Closing Remarks