Aamaal Phakdeetham Chimvilaisup, Dr. Parisa Musigakama, and Dr. Sasikan Srisopon
Abstract :
The Child, Youth, and Family Well-being Promotion Office (Office 4) under the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) has implemented a project to expand community-based infant daycare and early childhood care centers in Bangkok. Conducted in collaboration with Promoting Parental Roles for Society Co., Ltd., the initiative aims to ensure that young children (aged 0–3) from diverse family backgrounds in urban communities receive appropriate care, developmental stimulation, and timely interventions. The pilot project was carried out in Romklao Community, Lat Krabang District, through collaboration with public health volunteers and local leaders. Capacity-building programs strengthened their competencies in child rights, positive communication, home safety, developmental stimulation through handmade toys, and age-appropriate nutrition under the principle of “proper, sufficient, and safe.”
The project, known as Baan Ya-Yai Daycare for Grandchildren, was designed as a Daycare Sandbox model operated by elderly community members in partnership with the Koh Fuen Nakhon Community. The design and construction were led by lecturers from the Faculty of Architecture, Rangsit University: Aamaal Phakdeetham Chimvilaisup, Dr. Parisa Musigakama, and Dr. Sasikan Srisopon. A participatory design approach was adopted, engaging elderly caregivers and community health volunteers in co-developing spatial programs and material selections to ensure that the design reflected actual user experiences and community needs. Located in the Romklao Community Health Center under the National Housing Authority, the project transformed a narrow, underused storage hall with a raised floor into a safe, inclusive, and multifunctional childcare space.
Guided by the concept of Intergenerational Aesthetics (Capdevila-Werning & Lehtinen, 2021), the design fosters empathy, shared aesthetic interpretation, and mutual learning between generations. The elevated floor was converted into a daytime napping area for infants, while the lower level functions as a flexible play-based learning space (Sriwilai & Chainongpan, 2020). A small wooden fence defines an outdoor zone for reading, homework, and play activities for older children, supervised by elderly caregivers (Thienlai & Wannihutapat, 2018).
This project exemplifies how architectural design can synthesize intergenerational well-being, transforming underutilized community spaces into nurturing environments. Beyond childcare provision, Baan Ya-Yai redefines the role of elderly residents as active contributors to community vitality and cultural continuity through spatial participation and caregiving.
Objectives :
1. To create a safe and supportive environment for early childhood care within the Community Health Development Center, ensuring both physical and emotional well-being through appropriate spatial design and environmental quality.
2. To develop a prototype “Daycare Sandbox” model operated by elderly community members, serving as a pilot project that can be replicated and expanded to other communities across Bangkok while promoting intergenerational care and community participation.
3. To design architectural solutions within spatially constrained environments that effectively respond to users with diverse physical characteristics and behavioral needs, integrating inclusivity, adaptability, and human-centered design principles.
Conceptual Framework :
The conceptual framework of this project is grounded in the study of spatial design within a constrained physical context where certain structural elements cannot be altered or removed. The narrowness of the site and its fixed framework required an adaptive design approach that optimizes spatial potential while maintaining safety, accessibility, and functionality for diverse users. The users, comprising young children and elderly caregivers, possess distinct physical characteristics, sensory needs, and behavioral patterns. Therefore, the design responds to both age groups through an inclusive and empathetic architectural strategy.
At the core of the concept lies the idea of community-based childcare managed by elderly residents who act as surrogate grandparents for children whose parents work during the day. This intergenerational care model provides not only physical safety but also emotional connection and cultural transmission between generations.
The project applies the concept of Intergenerational Aesthetics, emphasizing how spatial design can support child development while enhancing the emotional and psychological well-being of the elderly. The environment becomes a medium through which knowledge, values, and aesthetic experiences are shared and transferred to younger generations.
Architecturally, the framework prioritizes safety and ergonomic design. Rounded materials, soft surfaces, and child-appropriate railings are employed to minimize risks and ensure comfort. The design synthesizes functionality, empathy, and cultural continuity, creating a prototype environment that nurtures both learning and care. Through this integrative approach, architecture serves as a tool for cultivating intergenerational well-being and fostering sustainable community resilience
Process / Methodology :
The spatial design process of the Baan Ya-Yai Daycare for Grandchildren project was grounded in an evidence-based and context-sensitive approach that addressed the site’s physical constraints and diverse user needs. The design team conducted a series of systematic investigations, beginning with site surveys and stakeholder consultations to identify existing spatial limitations, user behavior, and environmental conditions. These analyses informed design decisions aimed at maximizing the potential of a small, fixed structure within the Romklao Community Health Center, operating under limited financial resources.
The design process was structured into five key stages:
1. User Behavior Study: The behavioral patterns of both target age groups—young children
(aged 0–3 years) and elderly caregivers (aged 60 years and above)—were observed to understand their physical activities, movement, and interaction needs within shared spaces.
2. Site Analysis: On-site assessments were conducted to document physical conditions, spatial dimensions, light and ventilation, and accessibility issues that affected functionality and safety.
3. Project Programming: Spatial functions and activity zones were defined based on user requirements and contextual constraints, balancing flexibility, visibility, and safety.
4. Design Development: The final spatial configuration was refined to support play-based learning, intergenerational engagement, and ergonomic comfort for both children and elderly users.
5. Design the space to be appropriate and consistent with users’ needs and patterns of use, while taking into account the spatial constraints, as follows.
5.1 The design of the narrow hall is divided into two zones. The first zone utilizes the existing raised platform, approximately 60 cm high, which cannot be demolished, and converts it into a daytime resting area for children. A rounded metal balustrade is installed, with openings designed to be 11 cm wide in order to reduce the risk of children falling or getting their heads stuck between the bars. The staircase is made of wood with rounded edges to lessen the severity of injury in case of impact. The second zone uses the floor area in front of the raised platform as a learning space through play. The floor, walls, and ceiling are renovated and repainted, and once completed, the floor is covered with foam mats to reduce accidents. (Department of Health, 2019)
5.2 A partition wall is designed as a thin sliding glass door so that staff in the adjacent area can see the activities inside and can promptly provide assistance in the event of an emergency. ( Rajanukul Institute,2013)
Data from interviews and site observations were analyzed qualitatively to identify behavioral patterns and spatial requirements of both user groups. This analytical process provided a foundation for synthesizing empirical insights into the spatial design strategy, ensuring that the final environment reflected real user needs and community expectations.
This methodology demonstrates how research-driven design can transform a physically limited community facility into a prototype for inclusive, intergenerational, and context-responsive architecture that promotes both educational and social well-being.
Techniques and Materials :
The design approach of the Baan Ya-Yai Daycare for Grandchildren project was guided by a human-centered methodology that emphasized both physical functionality and emotional well-being. Behavioral observations of the two main user groups, young children aged 0 to 3 years and elderly caregivers aged 60 years and above, revealed overlapping needs for rest, comfort, and sensory engagement. While infants required structured periods of daytime sleep, many elderly participants also expressed a preference for midday rest. These findings informed a spatial configuration that accommodates parallel patterns of activity and rest across generations.
The elevated section of the existing structure was adapted into a collective napping area for children, designed with soft floor materials, curved edges, and natural ventilation to ensure comfort and safety. The lower level was converted into an open, flexible play zone that encourages movement and social interaction through Play-Based Learning activities. The design facilitates direct visual connections between play and rest areas, fostering a sense of supervision and interdependence among users.
At the building’s front, a small outdoor area was enclosed with a low wooden fence, providing a defined yet permeable boundary for older children to engage in quiet activities such as reading and doing homework while waiting for their parents. This multi-layered spatial organization supports intergenerational interaction, allowing the elderly to share experiences and stories that enrich children’s learning and emotional development.
Locally sourced, sustainable materials such as lightweight wood and non-toxic finishes were used to create a warm, homelike atmosphere. The resulting environment demonstrates how thoughtful material selection and spatial articulation can cultivate physical safety, psychological comfort, and a sense of belonging for all generations.
Result / Conclusion :
Currently, Thai society faces two major challenges requiring urgent attention. The first concerns the prevalence of small nuclear families raising young children in isolation, particularly infants and toddlers who have not yet reached the age to attend school or community childcare centers. These families often lack the support of extended relatives, leading working parents to entrust their children to informal caregivers who may not possess sufficient knowledge of early childhood development. As a result, many children experience developmental delays. The second challenge involves the rapidly growing elderly population who, despite retirement, still seek meaningful engagement and contribution to family and community life.
The Baan Ya-Yai Daycare for Grandchildren project under the initiative to expand community-based infant daycare and early childhood care centers in Bangkok (Phase II) addresses these dual challenges. It introduces a Daycare Sandbox model in which trained elderly community members provide structured childcare and developmental support for children aged 0–3. This model ensures appropriate care and early stimulation for children while promoting active aging, social participation, and community cohesion. It also provides the elderly with additional income and a renewed sense of purpose through caregiving.
Physically, the project transformed an underused storage area within the Romklao Community Health Center into a safe, multifunctional environment designed to encourage intergenerational engagement. The integration of play-based learning, resting, and reading areas supports both physical safety and emotional connection. Socially, the project revitalized neighborhood relationships and strengthened the role of the elderly as active contributors to early childhood care and cultural transmission.
In designing and renovating the space, it was necessary to take into account the budget provided by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), which was limited to 50,000 baht. The project was ultimately implemented with a total cost of 58,000 baht, exceeding the approved budget. Following a joint meeting with Parents’ Role Promotion for Society Co., Ltd., the organization agreed to cover the excess amount on the grounds that the construction should be carried out in accordance with the design in order to maximize the functional benefits of the space.
On August 25, 2025, the project was presented to relevant agencies including the Romklao Public Health Service Center 45, local health volunteers, the Fuen Nakhon Community Committee, the Lat Krabang District Office, and the National Housing Authority. All agencies endorsed its success and recommended its replication as a model for other communities. The project’s scalability demonstrates its potential to be integrated into Bangkok’s district-level childcare policy framework, contributing to Thailand’s long-term vision for an aging-friendly society. Baan Ya-Yai thus exemplifies how architecture and social design can collaboratively enhance intergenerational well-being, educational equity, and sustainable urban community development.
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