phase one opens at bangkok central embassy by AL_A

phase one opens at bangkok central embassy by AL_A
image © AL_A

having nearly reached full height, the bangkok central embassy opened its doors in may 2014 to the retail-programmed areas on its lower floors. designed by london-based architecture office AL_A, the structure merges a seven-level luxury commercial block with a 36-story hotel through curved and twisting building forms. the 1.5 million square-foot mixed-use complex takes its name from its site, located within the former gardens of the british embassy.

construction continues on the facility’s tower and other details, with an expected overall completion date in late 2014 and a hotel opening in 2015. for previous coverage on the bangkok central embassy’s design and previous construction images, see here.

the building’s curving surfaces blend the lower ‘plinth’ form and hotel tower
image © AL_A

the design seeks to provide a retail experience unlike any other in thailand, and takes influence from major western and asian shopping malls while remaining grounded in the country’s culture. the seven-story ‘podium’ of the building features an aluminum façade, whose patterning draws on motifs found in traditional architecture of the region. this results in a dynamic skin that is distinguished from the surrounding urban context.

above, the high-rise portion rises with twisting surfaces that blend with the lower volume. the composition is arranged around two vertical light wells, which open to reveal inner spaces and stepped terraces. program is arranged with guest rooms directed toward the gardens of lai nert park, while the hotel’s bar, reception area, and sky deck face the city center.

the bangkok central embassy has opened its doors to the retail program
image © AL_A

stacked voids in the floors allow for transmittal of light and vertical circulation
images © AL_A

recessed lights follow the floor-voids’ geometries
image © AL_A

images © AL_A

irregular layouts and elevator arrangements create dynamic spatial qualities
image © AL_A

image © AL_A

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project info:

location: central embassy, bangkok, thailand
completion date: may 2014
area: 1.5 million square feet
client: central retail corporation
AL_A team: 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
executive architect: pi design
interior design (hotel): yabu pushelberg
project manager: project planning services public co.,ltd (PPS)
structural engineer: scott wilson kirkpatrick, arun chalseri consulting
service engineers: MITR technical consultant co., ltd
façade consultant: meinhardt façade technology
quantity surveyor: langdon & seah (thailand) ltd
lighting: isometrix, inverse lighting design co ltd
landscape: p landscape co
kitchen consultants: tri arc enterprise
branding: avokro
hotel operator: park hyatt
main contractor: italian thai
façade contractor: permasteelisa projects (thailand) ltd