FUTURARC INTERVIEW
It is about going deep underneath the structures and systems to find the solutions, creating a fundamental shift of mindset in the way we treat one another in our professions and communities.
Again, like a design project, the problem lies way below what you see on the surface. It is about going deep underneath the structures and systems to find the solutions, creating a fundamental shift of mindset in the way we treat one another in our professions and communities.
CK: Yes, we should all stand for what we believe in and our principles. KV: Innovation needs an integrative approach. Whether as a landscape architect, an architect, an engineer or anyone in the built environment sector, we should practise that. However, standing for your values and beliefs is not about “I’ve always done things this way, and that’s the only way things will have to be”, but rather about finding the right process and teamwork, even if it is away from what you’re familiar and comfortable with. We have to be very clear about what we want, but be sure that you don’t fight for it aggressively, but create your alignments so that we can go far.
We have all kinds of diverse individuals on our team, each with constantly fluctuating personalities and standpoints, and yet we can still respect each other and work together. What’s more worrying is a team member who doesn’t speak up or contribute. To me, the most vital component is the integration of everyone’s passions and ideas to create the best of what we can offer to society.
CK: I agree that your work performance should speak for itself, and not whether you’re a female or male, like you’ve said. KV: Precisely. Who I am and my work should not be defined by my gender. Gender is no longer a biological framework by which one is defined. Nowadays, gender is a choice. If my gender were to change, this interview might not have happened! Gender discrimination is definitely a societal debate we have, but I think more dialogue about how we should judge less and respect each other more as individuals would help us create more diversity and inclusivity. And we cannot fix climate change without gender equity.
CK: What are your organisations’ future plans? Are there any upcoming projects that you’re working on? KV: This year, we are working on a new project called the Chong Nonsi Canal Park. In Thailand where canals are generally perceived as having low value, we are exploring their potential to being transformed from sewage passages into a space for life. Unlike natural waterways, thousands of canals across Bangkok are dysfunctional and poorly designed, as with the streetscapes along them. This is an issue of collaboration between stakeholders, as well as public equity and access to safe walkways. For us and our partners, this gap serves as an opportunity to build better.
My passion has always surrounded nature-based solutions. Now a buzzword in many professions, this concept is about how we can restore and reintegrate nature back into our cities. I think landscape architects can provide great advice on that, and we could play a bigger role in designing our future healthy cities.
FUTURARC 37
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