The design studio MVRDV has unveiled Mega Mat, a temporary installation for Bangkok Design Week at Laan Kon Muang Plaza. Made up of over 500 recycled plastic carpets, it forms an 860-square-meter platform that highlights the potential of material reuse.
Thailand generates millions of tons of plastic waste every year. With Mega Mat, MVRDV encourages reflection on the circular economy by transforming recycled plastic into a functional urban space. Inspired by the traditional Sua-mat, the installation consists of 552 modules that recreate a textile pattern, turning the plaza into a gathering space. After Bangkok Design Week 2025 concludes on February 23, the structure will be dismantled and repurposed for temples, yoga mats, or bags.
Mega Mat also serves as a three-dimensional infographic on plastic waste disposal in Thailand. Its colors represent different types of waste: red for unregulated landfills, orange for controlled landfills, yellow for uncollected waste, and green for recycled plastic, echoing the rooftops of the Wat Suthat Thepphawararam temple.
A raised corner of the installation houses an exhibition on plastic recycling, drawing inspiration from traditional temple architecture. Mega Mat was developed in collaboration with the Creative Economy Agency, PTT Global Chemicals, and the Embassy of the Netherlands. MVRDV also presented PROMT PARK, an AI-driven urban regeneration project, along with a lecture by Winy Maas at Silpakorn University.
