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 | Apr 28, 2016

bKL Architecture proposes world’s third tallest tower for China

The mixed-use H700 Shenzhen Tower will have sky gardens, angled recesses, and an attached plaza. It will trail only the Burj Khalifa and the Jeddah Tower in terms of height.

Mixed-Use | Apr 24, 2016

Atlanta’s Tech Square is establishing The ATL’s Midtown district as a premier innovation center

A much anticipated, Portman-developed tower project will include collaborative office spaces, a data center, and a retail plaza. 

High-rise Construction | Apr 21, 2016

Ingenhoven Architects unveils plans for two Tokyo towers

The Toranomon District will add a business and a residential high-rise, both of which feature green and energy-efficient design.  

High-rise Construction | Apr 20, 2016

OMA reveals designs for its first Tokyo skyscraper

The goal is for the Toranomon Hills Station Tower to transform its neighborhood and serve as a hub for international business.

High-rise Construction | Apr 12, 2016

Santiago Calatrava tower in Dubai could be taller than the Burj Khalifa

The slender structure will have 10 observation platforms, two Hanging Gardens decks, and a illuminating flower bud at the top.

Virtual Reality | Apr 8, 2016

Skanska will use Microsoft HoloLens to lease planned Seattle high rise

The mixed reality headset will allow people to take a holographic tour of the building while keeping visual contact with the leasing representative.

BIM and Information Technology | Apr 5, 2016

Interactive 3D map shows present and future Miami skyline

The Downtown Miami Interactive 3-D Skyline Map lets users see the status of every downtown office, retail, residential, and hotel project. 

High-rise Construction | Mar 28, 2016

SOM’s Salt Lake City skyscraper uses innovative structural system to suspend itself over a neighboring building

The hat truss-supported office tower was topped off in January, rising 25 stories above the Salt Lake City streets.

High-rise Construction | Mar 18, 2016

'High-Rise' movie, based on the novel of the same name, headed to theaters

The story, which was originally thought to be a critique of London’s city planning, takes place in a high-rise divided to mimic the historical class structure of Western society.

High-rise Construction | Mar 10, 2016

Bigger, taller, wider: London’s skyline is about to have a major growth spurt

More than 100 tall buildings have been added to the plans for the capital city since this time last year, and the overall number of tall buildings planned for London is now over 400.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




Curtain Wall

7 steps to investigating curtain wall leaks

It is common for significant curtain wall leakage to involve multiple variables. Therefore, a comprehensive multi-faceted investigation is required to determine the origin of leakage, according to building enclosure consultants Richard Aeck and John A. Rudisill with Rimkus. 

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