Cover Multi-level residences with wrap-around floor-to-ceiling glass showcase the interior layout of the Porsche Design Tower architecture in Bangkok's Khlong Toei district, targeted for completion in late 2028
Multi-level residences with wrap-around floor-to-ceiling glass showcase the interior layout of the Porsche Design Tower architecture in Bangkok's Khlong Toei district, targeted for completion in late 2028
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When sports car engineering informs structural design, the primary objective is functional performance. In an exclusive conversation with Tatler, developer Ko Chanond explains how the architecture of Porsche Design Tower—from chassis mechanics to kinetic glass—is designed to address the physical realities of tower living
To understand the vision behind the architecture of the Porsche Design Tower in the Bangkok's Khlong Toei district , one must evaluate how developer Ko Chanond believes high-performance engineering can address the daily physical friction of urban living. In his view, traditional high-rises remain constrained by inherent structural compromises—disruptive internal load columns, static glass that traps tropical heat, street-level acoustic bleed, and clunky subterranean parking transfers. Sitting down in Thonglor during a private preview of the 22-residence landmark set for completion in December 2026, Chanond shares how applying automotive engineering principles directly to residential design allowed his team to rethink these standard architectural limitations.
"In sports car design, every line, curve, and intake exists to solve a physical problem—whether reducing drag or increasing downforce," Chanond tells Tatler. "We wanted to test that exact mindset in residential architecture. From our perspective, if an element does not improve how the building performs for the resident on a daily level, it simply does not belong on the structure."
Above Seamless indoor-outdoor living: integrated infinity pools and open-air terraces frame panoramic perspectives of the surrounding cityscape
Seamless indoor-outdoor living: integrated infinity pools and open-air terraces frame panoramic perspectives of the surrounding cityscape
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The internal column debate: an exoskeleton solution
In conventional high-rise construction, massive concrete support pillars run through the apartment footprint—a constraint Chanond argues forces interior designers into rigid room layouts and breaks natural sightlines across living areas.
To address this, Chanond's development team adapted motorsport monocoque chassis principles to high-rise scale. The defining feature of the Porsche Design Tower architecture is its exposed, steel-and-concrete X-Frame exoskeleton. By transferring the structural load-bearing capacity outward to the exterior perimeter, Chanond asserts that interior floor plates can be liberated entirely from internal support pillars.
"When you move structural columns outside the living area, you fundamentally change how a home functions," says Chanond. "In our view, giving the owner unbroken floor plates offers true layout autonomy and unimpeded sightlines across the Bangkok skyline."
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Environmental control: using active kinetic glass
Chanond points out that most modern glass curtain walls act as passive enclosures that trap solar radiation, forcing mechanical air conditioning systems to run continuously while doing little to insulate against urban noise pollution.
Borrowing from active aerodynamics in supercars—where spoilers adjust dynamically to speed and airflow—Chanond integrated automated kinetic glass facades dubbed "The Quadraslide."
"Bangkok is a vibrant tropical metropolis, but residents want total authority over their environment," Chanond explains. "In our design, pressing a button folds the glass away to create an open terrace, while closing it creates an airtight acoustic shield. From our perspective, the building should actively adapt to the microclimate rather than fight it."
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The private sky garage concept
From Chanond’s perspective, the standard high-rise homecoming routine—navigating tight subterranean parking ramps, walking through dimly lit basements, and waiting for shared elevators—is a major point of daily friction in ultra-prime living.
To test whether vertical driving could resolve this, Chanond designed "The Loop," a spiralling drive-up ramp ascending from ground level directly to the residences. Vehicles enter "Passion Spaces"—private climate-controlled sky garages situated alongside the primary living quarters.
"A homecoming should feel private and effortless," notes Chanond. "Instead of parking underground and taking a service lift, driving straight to your floor transforms arrival into a seamless private ritual."
Above Continuous book-matched stone and precision-engineered fixtures reflect Ko Chanond’s thesis: that residential spaces should be built with the physical gravity and longevity of classic machinery
Continuous book-matched stone and precision-engineered fixtures reflect Ko Chanond’s thesis: that residential spaces should be built with the physical gravity and longevity of classic machinery
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Analog versus digital: Chanond’s argument for mechanical precision
While many modern developments promote digital touchscreens and automated smartphone controls, Chanond believes over-digitisation creates unnecessary friction through software lag, interface complexity, and rapid technological obsolescence.
Throughout the residences of the Porsche Design Tower, Chanond insisted on replacing fragile touchscreens with custom-machined solid aluminium switches, heavy knurled metal door handles, and precision-engineered rotary dials.
"Digital screens age quickly and require constant updates," Chanond contends. "We believe true mechanical precision is timeless. When you adjust a solid aluminium dial, you interact with mechanical gravity built to function reliably for generations."
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Li Fan is the Editorial Director of Tatler Shangliu, overseeing coverage of luxury lifestyle, culture, leadership, and influential global profiles.
