AIA East Gateway

Bangna area which is known for highways is now being developed as an important logistic passage to Eastern Economic Corridor of Thailand. AIA East Gateway is the first workplace project which will transform the perception of Bangna from rows of typical office towers along dusty highways into an active friendly workplace. AIA East Gateway was developed & designed to challenge the perception of other typical office towers where people walk through a grand empty plaza to queue for elevators and walk into white work cubicles. Here people are greeted with water garden aka a large bioretention Pond which allows flexible water level to hold rain water to prevent flooding in the area during heavy downpours, and encourage bio diversity to prosper. Stormwater are collected and being filtered through green roof and bio swale. The water garden is especially important in this project as Bangna area is lower than sea level and very prone to floods during raining season. The proposal intends to integrate both function and aesthetic into one design. There has been a question whether high density office towers are going to be obsolete since work from home had been adopted by many especially after pandemic. Creative Crews and our client think that social interaction and community is vital to improve teamwork and productivity. As the side effects of work from home surfaces such as lack of personal space, no division of work and life, it further enhanced our firm belief that proper working environment is still a requirement in current society. In addition, higher density workplace allows for sharing of the efficient energy system implemented in the building compared to individual household energy consumption, comparable to mass transportation. Together, people reach their team mission faster than everyone working individually without communication just like each driving their own car. AIA East Gateway building envelope was designed with insulated glass. The sun shading fins were calculated and designed in difference lengths according to orientation. This also enhanced the tower massing which was shaped to express the gaps where sky gardens were inserted at interval floors, and spiral up to the top of the tower. To motivate people back to office, the workplace must be much more hospitable than before. The workstyle had been changed permanently during the pandemic. Proportion of flexible collaboration spaces are significantly increased, and healthy and active lifestyle is encouraged throughout the design. Exercises spaces, swimming pool & jogging track here integrated together with Biophilic design. Edible gardens, landscape trails for walking meetings, landscape steps where people can relax or have informal meeting are features of this new generation office building. This project is a forerunner for densification in Bangna area, setting an example of a future workplace.