Dusit Central Park, Bangkok

Dusit Arun at Dusit Central Park spans 7 rai (11,200 square metres) above Lumphini Park. As Thailand’s largest publicly accessible  rooftop park, it extends Lumphini’s greenery into Bangkok’s skyline. The park sits above the intersection of Rama IV and Silom Road in Bangkok’s busiest commercial district. It rises above the retail spaces of a mixed-use development that includes offices, hospitality, and residences. Dusit Arun has become a destination for both tourists and locals. Gatherings extend into the evening when Bangkok’s outdoor spaces are most comfortable. Lighting preserves the park’s character while encouraging access into evening hours.

“The Roof Park at Dusit Central Park was conceived as a ‘Super-Core’ urban oasis,  a seamless extension of Lumphini Park into the Bangkok skyline.” Bernhard Bstieler, Inverse Lighting Designgraph

Layered Light Across a Multi-Level Landscape

On the seventh floor, the Natural Trail runs 750 metres through a jungle of Thai plants, offering open views across Lumphini Park’s dense canopy. WE-EF bollards guide movement along staircases connecting the trail between levels. At 1000 mm height with wooden cladding, the bollards blend into the landscape while preserving uninhibited views towards Lumphini Park, reinforcing Dusit Arun’s role as an extension of the green canopy below.

The Plaza forms the park’s primary gathering and recreational zone. After dark, WE-EF projectors illuminate the area and GOBO projectors cast patterned light across the plaza. The effect is ambient and welcoming without overwhelming the space. Dusitpini Amphitheatre offers tiered seating overlooking Lumphini Park, providing one of the few viewpoints in Bangkok where visitors can watch the sunset fall over the treetops.

At the sixth-floor office entrances, lighting creates a transition between commercial lobbies and the elevated gardens. Three fixture types work in layers: projectors uplight the tower façade, linear fixtures accentuate the canopy overhead, and inground fixtures uplight trees that frame the entrance. Glare control keeps light sources discreet throughout, allowing the skyline to take centre stage. In play areas and gathering spaces, where activity requires brighter light, wall-mounted fixtures and projectors provide full illumination within zone boundaries. Along viewpoints, wall-recessed luminaires guide movement at foot level only.

Custom Wooden Cladding Through Close Collaboration

A defining feature of Dusit Arun is the custom wooden cladding applied to lighting poles and structures. By day, the wooden-clad poles read as part of the park’s design. By night, the poles support functional light and emit a warm and understated presence. Dusit Arun is the first WE-EF project to formally document this wood cladding treatment. As Bernhard Bstieler of Inverse Lighting Design noted: “WE-EF played a pivotal role in transitioning the concept to reality.” Through extensive technical support and on-site mock-ups, the team verified the performance of luminaires against the evolving planting and hardscape design. This partnership extended to: •    A wood-texture finish on WE-EF bollards (MRY224) and on the poles (AM-S) carrying WE-EF projectors (FLC200 Series) and GOBO projectors (FLC230 GOBO), blending into Landscape Collaboration’s organic palette and the garden’s residential character. •    Detailed coordination on structural requirements and electrical integration, ensuring a clean, professional finish within the landscape. •    Support during final commissioning, including the setup of customised GOBO projectors for a versatile range of event-ready scenes.

Dusit Arun shows that urban infrastructure can function as an environmentally responsible public green space. Seven rai of gardens, trails, and gathering spaces sit above one of Bangkok’s busiest roads, yet the park feels calm and accessible into the night.

Credits

Project: Dusit Arun at Dusit Central Park Completion: 2025 Location: Bangkok, Thailand  Client: Vimarn Suriya Architect: OMA, Architects 49, PI Design Landscape Architect: Landscape Collaboration Lighting Designer: Inverse Lighting Design Contractor: RITTA Photographer: Depth of field - DOF Products: FLD121, FLC220, FLC230, FLC240, FLC230-CC [GP], ETC320-FS, ETC330-FS, ETC340-FS, MRY224, PLS430, STI134, VLR120, VLR130, VLR140