One City Centre

Bangkok, Thailand

A Green Urban Terrace in the Heart of Bangkok

One City Centre transforms dense city fabric into a green urban stage. Former car parks become sunken plazas and green floors that connect the building to the city. This oasis invites people to gather and breathe. Here, modern office life meets a living public ecosystem in the heart of Bangkok.

Project Information ↘︎

Client & Developer

Raimon Land

Architect

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

Status

Completed

Landscape Area

8,248 Sq.m.

Year

2024

Award

Design Director

Namchai Saensupha

Landscape Architect

Pat Wongkittipat
Nattamon Chamnanvit

Construction Manager

Anongnard Jungmongkolsawat

Horticulturist

Panita Onsaeng
Jakkrapan Kongklum

Collaborator

Interior: DWP (Thailand)
M&E : Aurecon Consulting – Thailand.Co., Ltd.
C&S Engineering: Beca (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

One City Centre (OCC) is Thailand’s tallest Grade A office tower, a striking landmark in the heart of Ploen Chit—Bangkok’s most sought-after Central Business District, where land prices soar as high as $28,000 per square meter. This premium district, dominated by office towers, luxury condominiums, and high-end retail complexes, has traditionally prioritized commercial and private developments. While green spaces exist, they are largely confined within private estates, reserved for an exclusive handful.

One City Centre dares to challenge this norm. While Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPs) are embraced worldwide, they remain a rarity in Thailand. OCC pioneers this movement by strategically positioning its tower to maximize open views and seamlessly integrate public spaces.

Reimagining the parking structure’s rooftop transforms an overlooked space into an expansive green public realm—an urban oasis that is open to all.

This design increases green space and strengthens connectivity between the ground and above-ground levels, fostering a continuous flow between nature and the built environment. It creates a dynamic sanctuary, infusing the district with vitality and offering a peaceful refuge amid the city’s fast-paced rhythm. Here, visitors can pause, reflect, and embrace the delicate harmony between greenery and the city, where the boundaries of modern living dissolve into the tranquility of the landscape.

While rooftops elsewhere may serve merely as overhead covers, we envisioned something far greater. This space provides a lush, 8,248 sq.m green haven where the public can relax, connect with nature, and enjoy panoramic city views. Thoughtfully designed to integrate with Bangkok’s urban landscape and skyline, OCC’s green space serves as a dynamic urban stage—hosting art exhibitions, live performances, and community-driven activities that enliven the cityscape. More than a park, it is a catalyst for well-being, fostering both physical and mental wellness through an inviting design that encourages people to linger, interact, and immerse themselves in nature.

At the ground level, the plaza at OCC’s entrance redefines Bangkok’s streetscape. Seamlessly connected to BTS Ploenchit station via a grand spiral staircase, the space is designed as a welcoming urban threshold. This green-carpeted entryway is surrounded by trees that we preserve, with a cascading water feature creating a soothing ambiance. The open-air plaza, enhanced by an amphitheater, transforms the tower’s frontage into a lively communal space, inviting passersby to pause, gather, and engage in spontaneous city life.

This vertical circulation flow guides movement upward—from the ground level to the skywalk, then further to the lobby level, where expansive views unfold, seamlessly linking the open plaza with the lush greenery beyond. Designed for multi-use activities, this interconnected spatial experience enhances accessibility while blurring the boundaries between architecture and landscape.

Ascending to the podium, visitors discover a multi-layered green retreat. The Podium Plaza, flanked by a continuous canopy of trees, offers shaded seating for relaxation and social interaction. Integrated within this elevated realm is the Skywalk Access, positioned at the podium level, seamlessly connecting pedestrians from the street to the Stepped Terrace and spiral staircase.

On the third level, a seamless blend of retail and greenery creates an immersive urban retreat. Here, the secret Sunken Garden provides a secluded sanctuary, where cascading stairways and gentle waterfalls guide visitors into the tranquil White Garden—a curated collection of white-flowering plants, designed to evoke a sense of purity and serenity amid the bustling metropolis.

During the blooming season, the landscape transforms into a breathtaking spectacle as pink-hued Cassia trees frame the plaza, guiding visitors toward the third-floor garden. In this serene haven, an existing mature tree stands as a symbolic anchor, visible from afar. Enhancing this immersive experience, The sculpture within the water feature catches the light and echoes the surrounding skyline, adding a poetic dimension to the space and deepening the connection between nature and the urban landscape.

More than just an observation deck, it is a landmark in its own right—a symbolic gesture that frames the skyline while integrating borrowed scenery from otherwise inaccessible green spaces. The planting palette here is curated with deep-hued foliage, creating a distinct character that sets this space apart.

A defining architectural statement of OCC is the Overlooking Bridge on the fourth floor. This sky bridge offers an elevated vantage point, extending outward from the main structure, providing sweeping views of OCC’s verdant landscape and the surrounding city.

One City Centre is a paradigm of urban integration—where architecture, landscape, and community converge in harmony. As a LEED Gold and Fitwel-certified development, OCC exemplifies a commitment to sustainability, enhancing air quality, mitigating urban heat, and fostering ecological connectivity within Bangkok’s dense commercial core. It redefines the role of green spaces in high-value urban districts, demonstrating that nature can be woven seamlessly into daily life.

Located in the heart of Bangkok’s most exclusive district, OCC not only redefines what it means to build but also reimagines value—showing that true worth is not measured in value but in virtue. Through its lasting impact on the environment and the community, OCC builds not just for today, but for generations to come

In a city where land is a commodity, One City Centre proves that the most extraordinary developments are not those that maximize profit, but those that maximize possibility.

One City Centre

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