The Design Contest for the Landmark Rangsit, Chulalongkorn Water Gate, “Pathum Thani: City of Rivers from the Royal Grace of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn the Great” is a project that Rangsit City Municipality, Royal Irrigation Department, and private sectors in Pathum Thani Province have jointly initiated to design and improve Chulalongkorn Water Gate area to construct a public park, a monument of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn the Great, a museum, and an observation tower as well as develop the area around the Chulalongkorn Water Gate Office, Office of Water Transmission and Maintenance Department of South Rangsit, and staff houses. The project has been carried out to commemorate the royal honor and grace of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn the Great. With a firm determination to help people, His Majesty King Chulalongkorn the Great initiated the development of “Thung Rangsit” area, formerly known as “Thung Luang”, which had been a forest without a river. Since the area had not been suitable for agriculture, the people had lived in poverty. His Majesty King Chulalongkorn therefore initiated the excavation of Rangsit Prayunsak Canal and an embankment in the name of His Majesty the King “Chulalongkorn Water Gate” for the benefit and prosperity of people in Pathum Thani from the past to the present. Therefore, upon completion, Chulalongkorn Water Gate area will become a new recreational area that can promote tourism and a new source of history learning of Pathum Thani Province as well. 

The winner of this contest is the representatives of students and professors from the Faculty of Architecture, Rangsit University. The design shows the hamonous design and creation process of architecture 

and landscape and clearly reflects the identity of Pathum Thani by applying the curve of the royal lotus, the symbol of Pathum Thani Province, to architectural elements in various dimensions. In addition, the curve axis is used to connect the traffic system to all areas of the project as well as create a transition space that facilitates a harmonious interaction between the interior and exterior of the buildings, especially the arrangement of access to each area within the project. The designers have a hidden implication of conveying the history of Pathum Thani from the past to the present and the future. 

First, the Monument of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn the Great is designed with lines similar to lotus petals and elevated 5 meters above street level for the outstanding and open scenery from the Rangsit Prayoonsak Canal. The location of the monument at the beginning of the Rangsit Prayunsak Canal is selected to remind people of the benevolence of His Majesty the King Chulalongkorn the Great who initiated the development of this Rangsit Field. Then, the area of the Irrigation History Museum exhibits about the excavation of the Rangsit Prayunsak Canal and the construction of the Chulalongkorn Water Gate. The museum building is designed for easy access with the harmony with the surrounding landscape. A green area is located on the roof of the building which represents the agricultural town of Rangsit Field. The former ofiice of Water Transmission and Maintenance Department of Southern Rangsit, an ancient wooden building and a part of the outdoor display in the park, can be viewed from the hall of the museum building. Next to the museum building is a multi-purpose activity area which is the entrance to the City Observation Tower. The twisted shape of the lotus stem is applied to the architectural style which leads to the base of the tower that is rounded like lotus petals arranged in the shape of a royal lotus. The copper-colored aluminum composite is used to cover the steel structure that is the building’s weight bearing core, which is durable and can change the color of the surface according to the intensity of the sunlight at different times. IGU insulated glass that can withstand high winds is used to reduce heat transfer and conserve energy. In addition, Air Purification Tower System is integrated into the Rangsit City Observatory Tower to help improve air quality, covering a radius of approximately 1 square kilometer around the tower. Therefore, this observatory tower is an important landmark to convey the story of Pathum Thani at present and in the future as well as a lung for people in Rangsit area as well.