supermachine studio crafts the concrete labyrinthine 10-cal tower
a concrete playground structure built for parents and children alike offers various playful paths for families and friends to learn, discover, and strengthen relationships.
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.
walking one complete loop to the tune of super mario
video © pitupong chaowakul
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
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