Mahanakhon Tower

Bouygues Thai, the Thai subsidiary of Bouygues Bâtiment International, brought architect Ole Scheeren’s vision to life by delivering the structure and façade of the MahaNakhon Tower, a landmark mixed-use development located in Bangkok’s Silom business district.

Rising 314 metres over 77 storeys, Mahanakhon is one of the most distinctive towers ever built in Southeast Asia. The building combines multiple functions within a single vertical landmark:

• 209 high-end residential apartments
• A 154-room luxury hotel
• A retail podium connected to an adjoining structure

Completed in 2015 and inaugurated in 2016, Mahanakhon became the tallest skyscraper ever built by Bouygues Construction. Its striking identity is defined by a dramatic three-dimensional irregular pixel ribbon that wraps around the tower, creating voids and terraces that break away from conventional high-rise geometry.

This bold architectural concept transforms the tower into a true urban sculpture, redefining the skyline of Bangkok while offering residents and guests panoramic views over the city.

Delivering Mahanakhon represented a major engineering and construction challenge. The tower’s pixelated form required that every storey be structurally unique, with nearly 30% of the floor slabs cantilevering without direct vertical support.

To address this complexity, Bouygues Thai and its partner VSL (Post-tension), a member of Bouygues Construction, relied on advanced construction methods and digital tools, including 3D modelling and automated clash detection.

Key technical solutions included:

• Highly specific formwork and execution methods adapted to each level
• 130 barrette panels, each extending 65 metres underground, designed to prevent long-term settlement
• Post-tensioning techniques applied to selected columns using tension cables, drawing on expertise traditionally used in bridge construction

This combination of architectural ambition and structural precision enabled the successful delivery of a tower where geometry, stability and constructability were pushed to new limits.

Mahanakhon now stands as a reference project showcasing Bouygues Construction’s ability to deliver complex, high-rise landmarks at the highest level of technical excellence.