A crystalline form in Bangkok’s rapidly developing skyline, the head office building for United Overseas Bank sets a new standard for modern workspace in Thailand.
The design prioritizes the well-being of the individual worker while catering to the needs of the larger organization, combining intimate-scale office suites in a slender tower with a series of large-scale spaces in a low-rise pavilion.
The complex is situated on Sukhumvit road, one of Bangkok’s prime avenues in close proximity to Phrom Phong BTS station. The building is set back from the street wall to form a large green public plaza. A transparent banking hall catering to customer services fronts the plaza and offers a welcoming presence. Following this sequence of public spaces, an intimate set of outdoor areas lead to the office lobbies and a lushly landscaped garden at the back of the site.
The design anticipates the organizational needs of the building’s future occupants: flexible workspaces that foster activity-based production complement larger spaces for assembly, education, training, and collaboration. Exterior terraces are provided at various floors of the tower.
The tower’s faceted form follows two sky planes to allow daylight to reach street level, while a side core at the southwest corner shelters the spaces from excessive solar heat gain. The façades take advantage of their northern exposure, maximizing natural light and skyline views while maintaining occupant comfort and efficient energy performance. The scheme is designed to achieve Greenmark Platinum energy performance certification.
