Architecture studio Snøhetta has revealed its design for Cloud 11, a large glazed building with commercial, hospitality and cultural spaces that the studio says will create a "new neighbourhood" in Bangkok.
The 254,000 square-metre development, which the studio designed in collaboration with A49 Architects, will take the form of a large glazed volume raised above a central courtyard.
The building, which will be located in the upcoming CyberTech district of South Sukhumvit, was designed with large openings to create better air quality in the open spaces.
Snøhetta aimed to create plenty of public green spaces, which are rare in Bangkok, as a part of the development. As a result, Cloud 11 will feature a number of pocket parks and elevated gardens, one of which – the central lawn – will be the largest in Thailand.
The water of a nearby canal will be treated with a deep shaft cleaning system.
The project, which has already begun on site, will have a number of restaurants that operate from a central kitchen as well as a gym, stores and two hotels, all of which will be connected by "village-like" alleys, plazas, streets, stairs and escalators.
Cloud 11, which Snøhetta is designing for property developer MQDC, will also have a library, educational venues and a number of workspaces.
"We have had the opportunity to not only create a building, but a new neighborhood in the center of Bangkok," Snøhetta founding partner Kjetil Trædal Thorsen said.
"An urban artifact providing a thriving place for culture and creation, and green public spaces that will improve the quality of life for people living in the South Sukhumvit area," he added.
"With an increasing number of people moving into urban areas, it is crucial to develop communities fit to accommodate the needs of the future cities in a sustainable way, both socially and environmentally."
Cloud 11 will be located close to a BTS Skytrain station and will also have a centralized logistics system that will transport food and other products from an automated warehouse and the central kitchen. Deliveries will be managed from a centralized distribution hub.
"I am confident that Cloud 11 will set a new standard for a project that responds effectively to the needs of innovators, local communities, and future generations to come," said Cloud 11 project director Onza Janyaprasert.
The project is set to be completed by the end of 2024.
Other recent projects by Snøhetta include a quarter of wooden cabins that overlook a fjord in Norway and an urban farm in Hong Kong.
The images are by MIR.