Bangkok gets huge observation tower as new tourism landmark
Thailand is planning to construct a 459-meter-high observation tower on the banks of Bangkok’s Chao Praya River as a new city landmark and so far tallest building.
The Thai cabinet has approved the construction of the tower estimated to cost 4.6 billion baht ($135 million), but the timeline of the construction has not yet been determined, according to government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd.
The tower will not serve commercial purpose and have no shops or other commercial activities, Sansern added. Instead, it will showcase royal projects of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, among others, and the profits made from entry tickets will be donated to charity, he said.
Funding will be raised from private financial institutions and businesses and will not involve government budgets, he noted. The Bangkok Observation Tower Foundation, a private-sector organisation, has a seed fund of 500,000 baht and intends to borrow 2.5 billion baht for the project. Donations are projected to reach 2.1 billion baht.
The estimated revenue from admission fees of 1.1 billion baht annually is weighted against expenses of 892 million baht per year. The admission fee will be 750 baht for foreigners and half the price for Thai citizens in the typical two-tier pricing system in Thailand.
Interestingly, the project was approved without calling for bids from developers although this is mandatory for projects costing more than 1 billion baht in Thailand. According to spokesman Sansern, the government will select a contractor “who can prove to be best” at traffic management, environmental conservation and community development on its own.
When completed, the structure will surpass MahaNakhon tower in Bangkok, Thailand’s currently tallest building at 314 meters. It will also become Southeast Asia’s second-tallest building after Malaysia’s Petronas Towers, but topped out by Bangkok’s Rama IX Super Tower which is currently under construction and will be 615 meters tall and have 125 floors when completed as planned in 2020.
Thailand is planning to construct a 459-meter-high observation tower on the banks of Bangkok's Chao Praya River as a new city landmark and so far tallest building. The Thai cabinet has approved the construction of the tower estimated to cost 4.6 billion baht ($135 million), but the timeline of the construction has not yet been determined, according to government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd. The tower will not serve commercial purpose and have no shops or other commercial activities, Sansern added. Instead, it will showcase royal projects of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, among others, and the profits made from entry tickets...
Thailand is planning to construct a 459-meter-high observation tower on the banks of Bangkok’s Chao Praya River as a new city landmark and so far tallest building.
The Thai cabinet has approved the construction of the tower estimated to cost 4.6 billion baht ($135 million), but the timeline of the construction has not yet been determined, according to government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd.
The tower will not serve commercial purpose and have no shops or other commercial activities, Sansern added. Instead, it will showcase royal projects of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, among others, and the profits made from entry tickets will be donated to charity, he said.
Funding will be raised from private financial institutions and businesses and will not involve government budgets, he noted. The Bangkok Observation Tower Foundation, a private-sector organisation, has a seed fund of 500,000 baht and intends to borrow 2.5 billion baht for the project. Donations are projected to reach 2.1 billion baht.
The estimated revenue from admission fees of 1.1 billion baht annually is weighted against expenses of 892 million baht per year. The admission fee will be 750 baht for foreigners and half the price for Thai citizens in the typical two-tier pricing system in Thailand.
Interestingly, the project was approved without calling for bids from developers although this is mandatory for projects costing more than 1 billion baht in Thailand. According to spokesman Sansern, the government will select a contractor “who can prove to be best” at traffic management, environmental conservation and community development on its own.
When completed, the structure will surpass MahaNakhon tower in Bangkok, Thailand’s currently tallest building at 314 meters. It will also become Southeast Asia’s second-tallest building after Malaysia’s Petronas Towers, but topped out by Bangkok’s Rama IX Super Tower which is currently under construction and will be 615 meters tall and have 125 floors when completed as planned in 2020.
