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Ole Scheeren creates Thailand's tallest tower with twisting, 'pixellated' MahaNakhon
POSTED 01 Sep 2016 . BY Kim Megson
At 314m, the tower is Thailand's tallest Credit: Alexander Roan, courtesy of PACE

Credit: Epizentrum
The design of MahaNakhon dismantles the typical tower and podium typology, creating a skyscraper that melds with the city by gradually ‘dissolving’ as it flows downward to meet the ground
– Ole Scheeren
German architect Ole Scheeren has completed one of his highest profile projects since leaving OMA and setting up his own studio: Thailand’s tallest building.

MahaNakhon is a 77-storey, 314m (1,030ft) tall ‘pixelated’ skyscraper located in Bangkok’s Central Business District.

The dramatic addition to the city’s skyline opened to the public this week with a spectacular light show. The multi-coloured LED display highlighted the three-dimensional ribbon of architectural pixels that coil up the tower, giving a glimpse into the interior life of the building.

The 150,000sq m (1.6 million sq ft) development features a 150 room boutique hotel operated by Marriott International and Ian Schrager; 200 luxury apartments run by Ritz-Carlton; a multi-level retail centre with restaurants and cafes; a 24-hour marketplace; a rooftop Sky Bar and restaurant; and a landscaped public plaza at its base.

A series of cascading indoor/outdoor terraces at the base of the tower accommodate most of the public leisure facilities and are designed to evoke the shifting protrusions of a mountain landscape.

An adjacent freestanding seven-storey building called The Cube has corresponding terraces and forms an atrium space between the structures.

“The design of MahaNakhon dismantles the typical tower and podium typology, creating a skyscraper that melds with the city by gradually ‘dissolving’ as it flows downward to meet the ground,” said Scheeren in a statement.

The architect is a former partner of OMA, where he led the design of the China Central Television Station building. He set up his new practice, Büro Ole Scheeren, in 2010, but a team of Thai architects at OMA collaborated with him on the MahaNakhon project.

His new studio won the 2015 Building of the Year prize at the World Architecture Festival for their Singapore housing development Interlace. They are currently developing the Guardian Art Centre in Beijing, which will feature a museum, auction house, event space, 120-room hotel and several restaurants.
MahaNakhon features a three-dimensional ribbon of architectural pixels that coil around the building Credit: Alexander Roan, courtesy of PACE
The tower is a dramatic addition to Bangkok's Central Business District Credit: Alexander Roan, courtesy of PACE
The building opened to the public this week Credit: Alexander Roan, courtesy of PACE
Residences are housed in the extended glass skyboxes Credit: Buro Ole Scheeren/OMA
An adjacent freestanding seven-storey building called The Cube has corresponding terraces and forms an atrium space between the structures Credit: Buro Ole Scheeren/OMA
RELATED STORIES
  Diverse buildings recognised at World Architecture Festival


The industry’s most prestigious awards have been handed out at the World Architecture Festival, held at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, with OMA and Buro Ole Scheeren's Interlace housing development in Singapore scooping the top prize of Building of the Year.
  Büro Ole Scheeren's Beijing Guardian Art Centre to receive Remedios Studio-designed spa


Hong Kong-based design firm Remedios Studio is working in collaboration with wellness hospitality and spa design firm A.W. Lake on a new spa to be located in the Guardian Art Centre Beijing, China – the project that has been masterplanned by Büro Ole Scheeren.
  Büro Ole Scheeren design mixed-use cultural complex for Beijing auction house China Guardian


Auction house China Guardian has commissioned architects Buro Ole Scheeren to design its new home. Far from being simply a headquarters, the Guardian Art Centre will also include a museum and 120-room hotel alongside the auction house. Restaurants, an event space and courtyard complete the mix.
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Uniting the world of spa & wellness
Get Spa Business and Spa Business insider digital magazines FREE
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News   Products   Magazine   Subscribe
NEWS
Ole Scheeren creates Thailand's tallest tower with twisting, 'pixellated' MahaNakhon
POSTED 01 Sep 2016 . BY Kim Megson
At 314m, the tower is Thailand's tallest Credit: Alexander Roan, courtesy of PACE
Credit: Epizentrum
The design of MahaNakhon dismantles the typical tower and podium typology, creating a skyscraper that melds with the city by gradually ‘dissolving’ as it flows downward to meet the ground
– Ole Scheeren
German architect Ole Scheeren has completed one of his highest profile projects since leaving OMA and setting up his own studio: Thailand’s tallest building.

MahaNakhon is a 77-storey, 314m (1,030ft) tall ‘pixelated’ skyscraper located in Bangkok’s Central Business District.

The dramatic addition to the city’s skyline opened to the public this week with a spectacular light show. The multi-coloured LED display highlighted the three-dimensional ribbon of architectural pixels that coil up the tower, giving a glimpse into the interior life of the building.

The 150,000sq m (1.6 million sq ft) development features a 150 room boutique hotel operated by Marriott International and Ian Schrager; 200 luxury apartments run by Ritz-Carlton; a multi-level retail centre with restaurants and cafes; a 24-hour marketplace; a rooftop Sky Bar and restaurant; and a landscaped public plaza at its base.

A series of cascading indoor/outdoor terraces at the base of the tower accommodate most of the public leisure facilities and are designed to evoke the shifting protrusions of a mountain landscape.

An adjacent freestanding seven-storey building called The Cube has corresponding terraces and forms an atrium space between the structures.

“The design of MahaNakhon dismantles the typical tower and podium typology, creating a skyscraper that melds with the city by gradually ‘dissolving’ as it flows downward to meet the ground,” said Scheeren in a statement.

The architect is a former partner of OMA, where he led the design of the China Central Television Station building. He set up his new practice, Büro Ole Scheeren, in 2010, but a team of Thai architects at OMA collaborated with him on the MahaNakhon project.

His new studio won the 2015 Building of the Year prize at the World Architecture Festival for their Singapore housing development Interlace. They are currently developing the Guardian Art Centre in Beijing, which will feature a museum, auction house, event space, 120-room hotel and several restaurants.
MahaNakhon features a three-dimensional ribbon of architectural pixels that coil around the building Credit: Alexander Roan, courtesy of PACE
The tower is a dramatic addition to Bangkok's Central Business District Credit: Alexander Roan, courtesy of PACE
The building opened to the public this week Credit: Alexander Roan, courtesy of PACE
Residences are housed in the extended glass skyboxes Credit: Buro Ole Scheeren/OMA
An adjacent freestanding seven-storey building called The Cube has corresponding terraces and forms an atrium space between the structures Credit: Buro Ole Scheeren/OMA
RELATED STORIES
Diverse buildings recognised at World Architecture Festival


The industry’s most prestigious awards have been handed out at the World Architecture Festival, held at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, with OMA and Buro Ole Scheeren's Interlace housing development in Singapore scooping the top prize of Building of the Year.
Büro Ole Scheeren's Beijing Guardian Art Centre to receive Remedios Studio-designed spa


Hong Kong-based design firm Remedios Studio is working in collaboration with wellness hospitality and spa design firm A.W. Lake on a new spa to be located in the Guardian Art Centre Beijing, China – the project that has been masterplanned by Büro Ole Scheeren.
Büro Ole Scheeren design mixed-use cultural complex for Beijing auction house China Guardian


Auction house China Guardian has commissioned architects Buro Ole Scheeren to design its new home. Far from being simply a headquarters, the Guardian Art Centre will also include a museum and 120-room hotel alongside the auction house. Restaurants, an event space and courtyard complete the mix.
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The Retreat Costa Rica debuts Vida Mía Longevity Centre
Luxury wellness resort, The Retreat Costa Rica, has introduced its Vida Mía Longevity Centre at the property’s Vida Mía Healing Centre and Spa.
Almost half of spa survey respondents are unaware cancer is a disability and not adapting treatments is discrimination
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
Solmar Hotels and Resorts offers Temazcal ceremony for Global Wellness Day
Mexican operator, Solmar Hotels and Resorts, is hosting a series of events in celebration of Global Wellness Day, including a Temazcal ceremony at its Playa Grande Resort and Spa in Los Cabos.
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Longevity in spas: a strategic choice, not a default setting
Longevity has become one of the most debated concepts in contemporary wellness. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers  
COMPANY PROFILES
Voya Organic Beauty

Voya Organic Beauty, founded in 2006 in Ireland by Mark Walton and Kira Guckian Walton, is a private [more...]
+ More profiles  
CATALOGUE GALLERY
+ More catalogues  

DIRECTORY
+ More directory  
DIARY

 

09-11 Jun 2026

World Sauna Forum 2026

Savutuvan Apaja, Haapaniemi, Finland
09-12 Jun 2026

W3Spa EMEA

Hotel Cascais Miragem Health & Spa, Portugal
+ More diary  
 


ADVERTISE . CONTACT US

Leisure Media
Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385

©Cybertrek 2026

ABOUT LEISURE MEDIA
LEISURE MEDIA MAGAZINES
LEISURE MEDIA HANDBOOKS
LEISURE MEDIA WEBSITES
LEISURE MEDIA PRODUCT SEARCH
PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTIONS