The Glass Fortress / Archismith Architects

Architects: Archismith Architects
Area: 457 m²
Year: 2018
Photography: Spaceshift Studio, SKY|GROUND
Structural Engineering: 2-R Engineering
Landscape: Arsomsilp
Mechanical Engineering: V.Group Engineer
Clients: Sansiri PCL
Interior Designer: Six.Seven.S
Design Team: Jirawit Yamkleeb, Sukonthip Sa-ngiamvongse, Takol Pattanopas, Thanaphon Phumipanchaphak
City: Khet Chatuchak
Country: Thailand

The Glass Fortress, designed by Archismith Architects in Khet Chatuchak, Thailand, serves as the sales gallery for a condominium project. Completed in 2018, the project uses 20,000 glass blocks to create a striking facade that changes with the light and includes a serene hidden garden, providing a peaceful microcosm in a bustling urban environment.

The glass fortress / archismith architects

The building’s orientation was angled away from the main road to distinguish it from a nearby competitor’s gallery, addressing one of the client’s key requirements.

The glass fortress / archismith architects

This design choice also creates a visual break in the dense urban fabric and introduces a green space for passersby. A simple box facing the incoming traffic was incorporated to balance the architectural composition and serve as a focal point.

The glass fortress / archismith architects

Featuring about 20,000 glass blocks, the building’s facade changes its appearance with the sunlight and shifting shadows. At night, it transforms into a giant glass lantern. The glass blocks used are rectangular, with extended edges to cover most of the grouting, reducing the joint width to 2 mm from the usual 10 mm.

The glass fortress / archismith architects

This special detail minimizes the visual perception of joints, creating a continuous glass effect on the walls. The horizontal mortar joints help reduce light transmission from the higher summer sun, while the rectangular blocks cut down light transmission more effectively than conventional square blocks. Additionally, the glass blocks provide more than double the thermal resistance (R-Value) of single-glaze 1/8” thick plate glass, reducing heat transmission into the building.

To create a peaceful environment for visitors despite the heavy traffic, 8-meter-tall walls enclose the garden, blocking noise and unpleasant views. Glass blocks were chosen to allow natural light to filter through while providing natural ventilation through the stack effect. The base of the glass block enclosure is lifted to allow cool air in, and hot air escapes through the top opening.

The glass fortress / archismith architects

A water misting system helps control the temperature inside the courtyard on sunny days. Through contextual design, material selection, and technology integration, Archismith Architects have created a serene microcosm within a chaotic city in this glass fortress.

We love glass materials for their various appearances and effects. Though a bit delicate to handle but for a place with extreme heat and humidity like Thailand, glass is probably the only material that maintains its consistent look over time.

Interview with Sukonthip Sa-ngiamvongse and Jirawit Yamkleeb of Archismith
The glass fortress / archismith architects
Project Gallery
Project Location

Address: 988 Phahonyothin Road, Chom Phon Neighborhood, Chatuchak District, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.

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