flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Bangkok’s tallest tower is also one of its most unique

High-rise Construction

Bangkok’s tallest tower is also one of its most unique

At 1,030 feet tall, MahaNakhon Tower’s height is only outdone by its arresting design.


By David Malone, Associate Editor | September 12, 2016

Image courtesy of OMA/Ole Scheeren

Construction on The MahaNakhon Tower, Bangkok’s tallest building, may have recently been completed, but for anyone looking at the massive skyscraper, they may be left wondering, has that building finished downloading?

A unique façade of spiraling cube-shaped balconies provides the building with its eye-catching look, one that brings a pixelated aesthetic into the real world. The 1,030-foot building is the work of Büro Ole Scheeren, an international architecture firm with offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Bangkok, and Berlin.

The building’s design, according to architect Ole Scheeren, is meant to reflect the city in which it resides. In an interview with CNN, Scheeren says, “MahaNakhon is a vision of a tower that is very much about process, about becoming, about developing." And the building certainly captures that idea, as, even in its completed form, it seems unfinished and still in the building process, as if you will blink and upon opening your eyes, the jagged building will have completed its rendering process and appear crisp and clear on the Bangkok skyline.

Oddly enough, however, it is the fictional version of the “completed” MahaNakhon Tower that would appear out of place. Currently, the building fits right in with the other futuristic and architecturally unique buildings comprised in the Bangkok skyline (such as one meant to resemble a robot and another meant to mimic the appearance of an elephant).

The mixed-use building includes retail space, a hotel, and 200 condo units that are under the management of Ritz-Carlton Residences.

 

Photo courtesy of Kyle Hasegawa, Wikimedia Creative Commons

Related Stories

High-rise Construction | Jul 14, 2016

New San Francisco mixed-use tower billed as most earthquake-resistant building on the West Coast

A megabrace is a key seismic component at 181 Fremont, with offices, residences, and retail space.

High-rise Construction | Jul 14, 2016

Shigeru Ban designs tower expected to be world’s tallest hybrid timber structure

To lessen the carbon footprint, Terrace House in Vancouver will be made of wood sourced from British Columbia.

High-rise Construction | Jul 12, 2016

Three-tiered, 57-story high-rise development from Arquitectonica coming to Miami

The structure will be the tallest building in the Edgewater District

Office Buildings | Jul 11, 2016

CetraRuddy designs office tower for Manhattan’s Meatpacking district

Plans originally called for a hotel, but the architect and developers adapted their design for commercial use.

Contractors | Jul 4, 2016

A new report links infrastructure investment to commercial real estate expansion

Competitiveness and economic development are at stake for cities, says Transwestern.

High-rise Construction | Jun 29, 2016

Best Tall Buildings around the world favor unusual shapes and hybrid functions

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat selects winners in four regions.

High-rise Construction | Jun 28, 2016

CTBUH names winners and finalists for 2016 Tall Building Awards

Eight winners were named in five categories that recognized tall buildings, urban habitats, innovation, performance, and decade-long excellence.

High-rise Construction | Jun 15, 2016

WilkinsonEyre designs diamond-patterned Bay Park Centre for Toronto

A sloping plaza with trees, grass, and gardens connects the two downtown towers.

Sponsored | High-rise Construction | Jun 13, 2016

Marilyn Monroe’ tower adds curves to the Toronto skyline

Made of glass, concrete, and steel, the 56-story tower has been dubbed the "Marilyn Monroe" because of its curving lines.

High-rise Construction | Jun 7, 2016

Gensler’s Gateway Tower picks up where Calatrava's Chicago Spire left off

A new 2,000-foot tower has been proposed for a site that is currently a non-monument to an abandoned plan.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category



Great Solutions

41 Great Solutions for architects, engineers, and contractors

AI ChatBots, ambient computing, floating MRIs, low-carbon cement, sunshine on demand, next-generation top-down construction. These and 35 other innovations make up our 2024 Great Solutions Report, which highlights fresh ideas and innovations from leading architecture, engineering, and construction firms.


halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021