“Stonehenge in England was my
inspiration,” says garden designer Mr. Kritsadakorn Thiagkhot,
Chief Landscaper at Sodexo. No one knows why they built that mysterious
Neolithic-age configuration of stones, but people will know the reason
for this new landmark, he says.
inspiration,” says garden designer Mr. Kritsadakorn Thiagkhot,
Chief Landscaper at Sodexo. No one knows why they built that mysterious
Neolithic-age configuration of stones, but people will know the reason
for this new landmark, he says.
The natural memorial uses trees
fallen in the flood as a way to remind visitors of
the interconnectedness of the cycle of life, and of the danger of
climate change run-amok. “Trees rank as first producer of the natural
world’s ecosystems – if they die, we will die too,” he says
wistfully.
fallen in the flood as a way to remind visitors of
the interconnectedness of the cycle of life, and of the danger of
climate change run-amok. “Trees rank as first producer of the natural
world’s ecosystems – if they die, we will die too,” he says
wistfully.
The gardener-visionary explains that
some of the tree stumps are as old as the AIT campus at
Pathumthani. His team combined a count of the trees' rings and
institutional memory of staff to calculate the age of some logs --
such as one taken from near the SV-3 dorm -- at 40 years, give or
take.
some of the tree stumps are as old as the AIT campus at
Pathumthani. His team combined a count of the trees' rings and
institutional memory of staff to calculate the age of some logs --
such as one taken from near the SV-3 dorm -- at 40 years, give or
take.
The site chosen is significant for
its emphasis on the four-elements in the natural world, he explains.
“The mound is surrounded by water, has nice earthen soils, is in a
naturally breezy area, and is sun-lit for many hours of the day.”
its emphasis on the four-elements in the natural world, he explains.
“The mound is surrounded by water, has nice earthen soils, is in a
naturally breezy area, and is sun-lit for many hours of the day.”
The new garden was the idea of Sodexo
Executive Director Mr. Stephen Andrews, who felt the need to create a
permanent and lasting reminder of the flood disaster that so devastated
AIT last year. “We will include a 2.5 meter mark on the highest wood
piece, indicating the high-water level of the flood at its worst,” Mr.
Andrews says.
Executive Director Mr. Stephen Andrews, who felt the need to create a
permanent and lasting reminder of the flood disaster that so devastated
AIT last year. “We will include a 2.5 meter mark on the highest wood
piece, indicating the high-water level of the flood at its worst,” Mr.
Andrews says.
AIT's newest landmark will be
inaugurated on the day of the 118th Graduation on December 18, 2012,
when guests, visitors and graduates alike can visit by crossing over a
pleasant new wooden bridge to a peaceful space for
recalling what happened to the campus on October 21, 2011.
inaugurated on the day of the 118th Graduation on December 18, 2012,
when guests, visitors and graduates alike can visit by crossing over a
pleasant new wooden bridge to a peaceful space for
recalling what happened to the campus on October 21, 2011.
See photo gallery
here.
