FACADE IN PIXELS

Büro Ole Scheeren’s design for MahaNakhon Tower rises above Bangkok with its pixelated and carved form. 

As the capital of Thailand, Bangkok is home to numerous skyscrapers. The recent design by Büro Ole Scheeren adds to this silhouette with its mix-use program of residences, hotels, and retail areas. The tower is designed as the extension of urban life by introducing public functions in various parts of the building, such as the marketplace, terraces, and the observation deck.

The building’s glass facade is a reference to the contemporary urban fabric and surrounding mountains with its stacked and carved forms giving the impression of pixels. Indoor terraces and balconies expand over the city, giving the tower an unfinished look. The observation deck at the 314 meters-high top floor has a glass floor giving the deck a floating image. With bird's-eye views of the city and the Chaophraya River, the observation deck also houses a bar and a restaurant. 

Photography: © Wison Tungthunya, Srirath Somsawat, Maxx Nikonov