MahaNakhon Tower

If I have to choose the most unusual skyscraper in Southeast Asia, I've no doubt that it has to be MahaNakhon Tower in Bangkok, Thailand. Designed by star architect Ole Scheeren, this building almost looks like it belongs to the fantasy world of Anime or Gaming. The facade of the tower looks like it has been scratched by a giant monster like Godzilla when it wrecked havoc in the busy streets of Bangkok while stepping on a few Tuk Tuk along the way.

This building defies all our knowledge of a tall buildings by deliberately 'scars' its face as if it is still left standing after a meteor hit the face of the earth. Truly imaginative in the fantasy way to design such an outrageous building for a city like Bangkok which is not known for iconic modern architecture.

Angkasa Raya by Ole Scheeren

Ole Scheeren designed a skyscraper Angkasa Raya for Kuala Lumpur. The special feature: A four-story high tropical garden in the middle of the tower.

The Dutch Architect Ole Scheeren, formerly a partner at OMA, designed as a 268 m high skyscraper called Angkasa Raya for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, that will be situated next to the Petronas Twin Towers – the tallest buildings in the world between 1998 and 2004.

The Angkasa Raya is made up of three cubic volumes that are meant to appear floating above open, horizontal layers. The office of Ole Scheeren planned the ground levels to form an “interconnected spiral of both pedestrian and vehicular circulation and draw the diversity of the streetscape into the building.”

The program of the tower includes shops, cafes, car parks and prayer rooms all to be placed in the lower levels of the building will house. A restaurant, bar and an infinity swimming pool will be located amongst the garden floors. 280 apartments will occupied the stories above the garden floors, while a luxury hotel will be located inside a smaller adjoining block.

 

As the Buro Ole Scheeren explains, the quality of the Angkasa Raya lies in the garden floors and the environmentally responsible design: “Lush green gardens and terraces offer intimacies within the extreme urban density of the surrounding metropolis, while carefully shaded facades and a naturally ventilated atrium underline the environmental responsibility of the design.”

Source: Detail

MahaNakhon Bangkok

Designed by the celebrity architect Ole Scheeren who used to be partner in OMA and former boyfriend of Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung, MahaNakhon will be the tallest building in Bangkok once completed. Ole Scheeren is also the man behind the renowned Beijing's CCTV Tower that challenges people conventional perception of tall buildings and revolutionize the way we design skyscraper from then on.

The strategic location of the building makes it a transportation hub with direct linkage to Chognonsi BTS Skytrain station between Silom and Sathom Roads. Some of the other facilities in MahaNakhon includes an urban oasis, public gardens, luxury retails, high rise residences and a five star hotel created by New York's Ian Schrager.

The most unique feature of this building has to be its extraordinary form. The massing of the form is carved into with the excavated portion of the glass curtain wall revealing inner life of the building. Whenever solid is carved out to create void, protrusions are created at the same time. These protrusions become balconies and extra green areas that offer panoramic views of Bangkok city.

 

 

 

'DUO' Towers

Architect: Ole Scheeren

Location: Singapore

Comprises of: 660 units of luxurious residential, 5 star hotel, premium office and signature retail space.

Target Completion: 2017

 

Landmark Tower

Standing side by side with the magnificent Petronas Twin Towers by Ceasar Pelli.

Section shows the deliberate attempt to connect the upper levels with the street.

Landmark Tower, standing at 268 meters was designed by Ole Scheeren, the former architect of OMA who was behind the iconic CCTV headquarters building in Beijing.

To design a building right next to the Petronas Twin Towers is no easy feat; it is like trying to outrun Usain Bolt in 100m dash. However, Ole Scheeren managed to do it in a very subtle way where he challenges the extrusion of the rectangular in vertical axis, sliding the extrusion horizontally, interesting spaces are created for sky gardens and communal parks that links the different part of the tower together. The pure rectilinear form makes it in stark contrast to the intricate detailing of the Twin Towers' cylindrical form. It is indeed a very creative and subtle way to stand out from the rest.