BANGKOK CENTRAL EMBASSY | AL_A

Located within the former gardens of the British Embassy, along Ploenchit Road - Bangkok’s primary commercial artery, the 1.5 million sq ft Bangkok Central Embassy project merges a seven storey luxury retail podium and a 36 storey five-star hotel tower into a cohesive, twisting shape.

The podium façade, which sits so distinctly against the backdrop of the city, will house a retail experience that is totally unique to the country, if not the region; one that has been inspired by the sophistication of major Western and Asian shopping malls, but that is deeply rooted in the culture and context of Thailand.

The elevated form that rises from the podium wraps around two vertical light wells, opening up internal spaces to reveal stepped terraces, and dividing hotel functions; private guest-related programmes face the gardens of Lai Nert Park, while the hotel bar, reception lounge and sky terrace face the city centre.

Drawing on motifs and patterns found in traditional Thai architecture, the external skin of the building is characterised by a range of extruded aluminium tiles, to create a dynamic pattern in response to external conditions. The distribution of tiles creates a moiré-like pattern, articulated by the play of light and reflects both the sky and the city. This rich pattern visually emphasizes the wrapping form of the building as well as providing scale and texture to the opaque frontage at podium level. All glazed areas are designed to merge seamlessly with the aluminium skin.

Bangkok Central Embassy blurs boundaries between diametrically opposing elements: tower & plinth, façade & roof, local craftsmanship & digital technology, Thai tradition & contemporary design. By embracing advanced technology as well as local heritage and culture, the building celebrates a perceptive and contemporary architectural language. It is a design that is local to its surrounding yet simultaneously redefines the location. The retail element opened in May 2014, the tower completes end of 2015 and the hotel opens 2016.

Architects: AL_A
Principal – Amanda Levete
Project Director – Diba Salam (DD to completion)
Max Arrocet, Alex Bulygin, Bruce Davison, Alice Dietsch, Peter Feldmann, David Flynn, Chris Geneste, Alvin Huang, Yoo Jin Kim, Naoki Kotaka, Cyril Manyara, Ho- Yin Ng, Jakob Pryzblo, Tanya Rainsley, Irene Shamma, Joy Natapa Sriyuksiri, Jurgen Strohmayer, Michael Wetmore, Claudia White

Consultants Architect of Record: Pi Design [Bangkok]
Project Manager: PPS
Structural Engineer: Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick [Thailand] and Arun Chalseri Consulting Service Engineers: MITR [Bangkok] Facade Consultant: Meinhardt Facade Technology Quantity Surveyor: Davis Langdon Seah [Bangkok]
Lighting: Isometrix/Inverse
Interior Design Hotel: Yabu Pushelberg
Landscape: P Landscape Co
Kitchen Consultants: Tri Arc Enterprise
Branding: Avokro
Hotel Operator: Park Hyatt
Main Contractor: Italian Thai
Facade Contractor: Permasteelisa [Thailand]