

supermachine studio crafts the concrete labyrinthine 10-cal tower

image © wison tunthunya

all images courtesy of supermachine studio

supermachine studio and two other local architecture firms were chosen to build a public facility in a seaside park in bangsaen, thailand, to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the siam cement group (SCG), thailand’s largest building material fabricator. supermachine studio created the labyrinthine 10-cal tower in the playground of the same area where the other two projects are located. stemming from a questioning of playground dynamics — that is to say a place meant for children to spend energy while the parents sit awkwardly aside — they redefined it with a playful concrete structure that serves parents and children alike, forming a three dimensional maze that all age groups can play on. the name, 10-cal, comes from the number of calories that a person will burn by walking from the bottom to the top. the structure also serves as a lookout/observation point to the landscape and adjacent sports fields. being a porous structure, the newly planted vegetation in its proximity will eventually overtake the structure, filling its voids and adding a new layer of exploration to the concept.



flexible paths allow visitors to make their own trajectories throughout the structure

image © wison tunthunya



view from atop

image © wison tunthunya



image © wison tunthunya



image © wison tunthunya



image © wison tunthunya



image © wison tunthunya



image © wison tunthunya



view from the sidewalk

image © wison tunthunya



image © wison tunthunya



image © wison tunthunya



image © wison tunthunya



image © wison tunthunya



axon showing the various paths



3d printed model



construction

project info:

design: supermachine studio

design team: pitupong chaowakul with sujinda khawkam, kasidis peuktes and mint mintly

client: siam cement group (scg)

location: bangsaen, cholburi, thailand

design period: 2013

completion: q3 2014

photographs: wison tungthunya