How often does a city get a skyscraper only to have it abandoned? Right now, you’re staring at just that. This is the Sathorn Unique Tower. It’s a hulking reminder of the dreams Bangkok chased and the crash that followed. The Sathorn Unique Tower was supposed to be a statement of luxury, a 47-story testament to Thailand’s economic boom in the 1990s. Si Phraya Co., Ltd. started building this dream in 1990. Imagine 600 luxury condos, all designed by the famed architect Rangsan Torsuwan. He also designed Sathorn Unique Tower’s sister building, the State Tower, which, unlike the Sathorn Unique Tower, stands finished and impressive. Everything about the Sathorn Unique Tower was meant to scream opulence, from its neo-Grecian columns to the sheer scale of the project. Then came 1997 and the Asian financial crisis. Investors vanished. Construction stopped. The Sathorn Unique Tower, about 80 percent complete, became a silent giant. It’s been that way ever since. The Sathorn Unique Tower isn’t just a building; it’s a story frozen in time.
Wat Kan Matuyaram
Did Mr. Kan’s mother ever imagine that a simple flower garden would one day become Wat Kan Matuyaram, a tranquil