MahaNakhon, Bangkok
See the rest of the Unusual building of the week series here.
On 29 August 2016, MahaNakhon officially opened with a spectacular lightshow in Bangkok, Thailand. With 77 storeys reaching a height of 314.2 m (1,031 ft), the luxury mixed-use skyscraper is the tallest building in Thailand.
MahaNakhon houses multiple levels of restaurants, cafes and retail space, as well as a luxury hotel, 200 condominium units, a multi-level roof-top Terrace Bar and an observation deck.
The tower had to adhere to a setback line that angles inward as the elevation increases. This meant that the top of the tower had to be cut away on the east side. This planning requirement inspired the architect Buro Ole Scheeren to design the ‘pixelated’ façade, with 30% of the tower’s floor plates in cantilever.
The building has the appearance of a rough spiral with cuboidal surfaces cut into the side in a ‘ribbon’ that wraps around the exterior. Adding to the ‘pixelated’ aesthetic, the glazing is divided horizontally and vertically.
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