World’s First Non-Rectangular Soccer Fields Built in Thailand Help to Revitalize Its Communities

By transforming space into place, a densely populated area of Bangkok, Thailand has regained vital community meeting places in the form of oddly shaped soccer fields. The Khlong Toei quarter of the city was lacking in areas for neighborhood teenagers to congregate for safe and productive gatherings. Ingeniously, AP Thai, in collaboration with CJ Worx, gave trash-laden, asymmetrical tracts of land a makeover, transforming them into areas where locals could play soccer, Thailand's most popular sport. Local teens, who may live in the same apartment block, but never interact due to a lack of community space, now have the chance to mingle and show off their skills on the field, increasing the community bond.

While Khlong Toei is believed to be a neighborhood without any usable space, AP Thai found this was not the case. “We strongly believe that ‘Space can change one’s life' and seeing the community brought together to enjoy [the fields] meant that we achieved our goal.”

For some inhabitants it was difficult to conceive of playing soccer on such a strange field. In reality, their forms opened up new perspectives—and not only about the game. The concept of “useless” or “wasted” space has been inverted, showing that outdoor recreation can be inserted into the urban fabric in even the most unexpected environments.

Another field, before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

The shape of the field doesn't take away from a fun, communal game of soccer.

AP Thai: Website | Facebook | Instagram
via [designboom]

Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book 'Street Art Stories Roma' and most recently contributed to 'Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini'. You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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