A city’s skyline transformation represents its development within a century and sometimes, even decades. No matter where, the spectacle of soaring buildings increases when land is scarce in the city, allowing the city to stack on top of itself. In just a short 30-year period, the skyline of Bangkok, once brimming with river-side slums in the early 1990s has dramatically been invented into a stretch of glassy designs by renowned architects and developers. Bangkok is no longer the old-world city with orange-tiled temples and wooden housing, but a modern era of architecture boom.  New architectural structures are taller, denser and more dynamic to redefine Bangkok’s identity as they shape its skyline.

New additions to the skyline of Bangkok not only include skyscrapers but infrastructures including freeways and bridges as well as its mass transit BTS system. The development of the city has offset other neighboring countries, and even trespassed that of large Asian cities. Bangkok’s skyscrapers, designed by some of the best architects in the world, have graced the skyline of the city.

Some of the most anticipated skyscrapers have just been completed in recent years. The Magnolias Ratchadamri is pillared by two layers of an architectural ‘petal’ that spirals into the sky like a ready-to-bloom Magnolia flower. On the other hand, the Mahanakhon Tower is now the tallest skyscraper in Thailand, reaching a high 77 floors with hotelier Ritz Carlton and Marriott- managed service apartments. Designed by award winning and world leading architect Ole Scheeren, modular glass boxes encircles the building creating a series of planted balconies and terraces which ‘echo the irregularity of the ancient mountain topography.’

The Central Embassy Tower, by British architect AL_L, glimmers under the sunlight with its full exterior lined with aluminum plates to create a rippling effect. The building points sharply into the sky. Inside, the 37-story high tower is a niche for lifestyle lovers and the young Thai generation. Nicknamed the open house, the leisure space is lined with bookshelves reaching up to 3 stories high. Designed by Tokyo based firm, Klein Dytham, the space is a conglomerate of an open bookstore, shops, cafes, restaurants, social space, and working space, designed to be fitted for those who wish to find ‘home’ in a compact city.

The Rama IX Super Tower by SOM and G Land is to be completed in 2020 and will replace the Mahanakhon Tower as the tallest tower in Thailand, built at 125 floors at 615 meters. It will also be the tallest skyscraper in the ASEAN region and the seventh tallest in the world. The ambitious plan will confide the Thai Economy, which has struggled the last few years due to political instability. Super Tower will be the new landmark of Thailand.

Additionally, the Bangkok Observation Deck, shaped like a burning candle, in memory of the late King, will be completed in late 2019. The project was given a ‘go-ahead’ last year by the Thai government, and will be the tallest structure in Thailand once completed. Fully funded by the government, the tower will host museums and galleries to promote Thai culture and history.

The city’s condo skyscraper scene is booming. Iconic residential buildings are now under construction around the city. The trend of the condo skyscrapers is to incorporate hotels, retail plazas as well as commercial space, to facilitate  multi-functional buildings. Revolutionary architecture building and designs now overtakes the tradition of the city and the skyscrapers will conceive the energy and vibrancy of the exotic Thai culture as Bangkok emerges as a global capital. The city will transpire into a new destination in Southeast Asia for those who want to catch a glimpse of the magnificent 21st century skyline.