What does Sathorn Tower, the largest abandoned skyscraper in the world, look like (28 photos)

In Bangkok's Sathorn district, one of the city's most famous abandoned buildings, the Sathorn Unique Tower, rises 49 stories and 185 meters. In the early 1990s, Thailand experienced the greatest economic boom in its history. During this time of abundance, Bangkok began to demonstrate its stability by constructing high-rise buildings.





Then came the Asian financial crisis of 1997, and Thailand's economic success came to an end: the currency devalued literally overnight. While the onset of the crisis could explain why such a grand building was abandoned, the story of the Sathorn Unique Tower's construction and oblivion is a bit more complex.



The 49-story residential complex was originally designed to house 600 apartments. Now, the crumbling building stands alone, silently overlooking the Chao Phraya River. Despite the fact that entry is prohibited and dangerous, the skyscraper has been a favorite destination for industrial tourism and base jumping for the past 20 years.





The building was originally planned to house luxury residential apartments and offices for Thai and foreign companies.

Furthermore, several casinos and expensive restaurants were planned for the upper floors of this prestigious complex. The most intriguing project, however, was a swimming pool, originally planned for the 49th floor of the skyscraper. The pool would have offered a magnificent panoramic view of the streets of Thailand's capital.

Unfortunately, no one has attempted to reconstruct the building to this day.



The building was designed by renowned architect and real estate developer Rangsan Torsuwan, who also designed the similar State Tower. The project, launched in 1990, was owned by Sathorn Unique Co. Ltd. and primarily financed by Thai Mex Finance and Securities Company. Construction began the same year that Si Phraya Co. Ltd. became the main contractor.



In 1993, following a dispute that dragged on for fifteen years, Rangsan was arrested on charges of plotting to assassinate Supreme Court President Praman Chansue (the assassination failed). Rangsan was found guilty in 2008 but acquitted by an appeals court in 2010. However, the case significantly undermined Rangsan's ability to secure financial support for his projects, and construction of the State Tower was delayed due to a lack of funds.



When the Asian financial crisis erupted in 1997, Bangkok's real estate market collapsed, and the companies that financed the project went bankrupt and were subsequently liquidated. Construction projects across the city ground to a halt, leaving Bangkok with over 300 unfinished high-rise projects.



Most of these buildings (including the State Tower) were gradually completed as the economy recovered, but the Unique Sathorn Tower remains among just over a dozen unfinished "ghost towers" in Bangkok, despite negotiations and refinancing handled by Rangsan's son, Pansit Torsuwan, who joined Rangsan's firm in 2004. This was largely due to Rangsan's insistence that the project, rather than declare bankruptcy and dissolve the company, would only be sold at a price that would fully refund the building's original purchasers.



Rangsan's style has been described as "jubilant postmodernism, an architectural pastiche in which styles and eras are fused without any sign of restraint."



Like its sister building, the State Tower, the design of the Sathorn Unique Tower is distinguished by its use of Neo-Grecian elements, particularly in the columns and balconies. While construction of the building's main frame has been largely completed (estimated at 80-90 percent complete) and the overall structure is considered safe, interior finishing and infrastructure work had barely begun just before construction ceased, and walls and structural details, particularly on the upper levels, also remain unfinished.



Local Thai children sometimes sneak into the abandoned house to see ghosts, but many children are afraid of the house due to the frightening stories told by locals.

To get to the building, get off at Saphan Taksin BTS station and walk for about five minutes. You'll see the Sathorn Unique building directly from the BTS, so you won't get lost.



Bangkok probably has more abandoned buildings than any other city in the world today. The financial crisis took its toll. But today, 15 years later, the Thai economy has recovered, and many beautiful and dazzling skyscrapers have been built, and are still being built.



Skyscrapers like the Unique Sathorn Tower are more like monuments, reminiscent of the late 20th century, marked by economic boom and bust, and part of the city's history.