Dhanarak Asset Development Co., Ltd. (DAD), the state-owned enterprise managing Thailand’s Government Complex, has announced the completion of a landmark transformation that positions the site as Thailand’s first green government city. The initiative reimagines the role of public-sector land, placing sustainability, walkability and human wellbeing at the centre of urban planning.

Led by Dr. Nalikatibhag Sangsnit, President of DAD, the multi-year redevelopment shifts the Government Complex away from traditional, closed administrative design toward an open, people-first civic environment. The concept, titled “City of Green Lifestyles,” focuses on how citizens move, rest, breathe and interact with nature within an urban government setting.

“For decades, government districts in Thailand were designed to manage paperwork, not people,” said Dr. Nalikatibhag Sangsnit. “We wanted to reverse that logic. A city, especially a city owned by the state, must first work for human life.”

At the heart of the transformation is a newly opened 5.1-rai landscaped green connector linking Buildings B and C. Once a traffic-heavy buffer zone, the space has been converted into a pedestrian-friendly green corridor connecting offices, public transit points and communal areas. The redesigned landscape acts as a climate buffer, helping reduce heat, improve water absorption and encourage daily walking and outdoor activity.

Over the last six years, DAD has expanded green spaces within the Government Complex by more than 47 rai. When combined with surrounding landscaped zones, the total green area now exceeds 138 rai, creating one of the largest continuous public green spaces in northern Bangkok. Importantly, previously restricted government land has been opened for wider public use, dissolving the boundary between administrative infrastructure and the city beyond.

The project aligns closely with Thailand’s national sustainability goals, including ESG principles and the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic model. Design elements prioritise expanded tree cover, permeable surfaces and flexible open spaces that support exercise, informal gatherings and community interaction.

DAD’s approach has gained international recognition. In 2025, the organisation became the only public-sector entity to win the Asia-level International Innovation Awards for two consecutive years, honouring its Government Complex Smart City initiative and the GCC Super Application, a digital platform integrating transport, navigation and public services.

Unlike large-scale urban megaprojects, the Bangkok Government Complex transformation relies on incremental, system-based upgrades rather than new land acquisition. Urban planners and policy experts view this model as a scalable blueprint for governments across Asia, particularly in rapidly growing cities where the public sector remains one of the largest landowners.

“This is about proving that sustainability is not an added cost,” Dr. Nalikatibhag added. “When green infrastructure improves health, reduces stress and invites public use, it becomes both economically rational and socially essential.”

With this initiative, Dhanarak Asset Development is redefining how government spaces function, demonstrating how public-sector leadership can set new standards for humane, sustainable and inclusive city-making.