Nine selected high-rise buildings demonstrating structural design strategies in Thailand and international contexts
Mario Kleff’s high-rise architecture emphasizes Signature Architecture (Trademark), a design methodology based on long-span structures and oversized structural components that make his buildings immediately recognizable. The nine selected buildings presented in this overview include both individual towers and multi-tower complexes, such as the five towers of Thakhek Dream World City, reflecting the breadth and diversity of Kleff’s high-rise portfolio.
Kleff defines architectural form in high-rise projects through his philosophy in structural architecture. Engineering systems are articulated as architectural elements, resulting in a synthesis of structural performance and spatial expression.
Focusing on high-rise residential and mixed-use developments, the work demonstrates a rigorous application of structural logic within a materially efficient architectural framework. It corresponds with contemporary research in tall building systems, including peer-reviewed studies such as Structural Systems for Tall Buildings and Performance-based wind design for tall buildings, as well as international guidelines published by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).
The work is positioned at the intersection of architectural design, structural engineering, and applied building research, with documented project data and contractual records supporting authorship and execution.
High-rise architecture poses unique challenges in structural engineering, spatial organization, and urban impact. In his projects, Mario Kleff synthesizes structural performance with architectural expression, demonstrating how engineering systems can define the visual character of tall residential and mixed-use buildings.
Location: Pattaya, Thailand
Height: 38 storeys
Status: Completed (2015)
Wongamat Tower is a beachfront residential high-rise defined by a trapezoidal plan and a structurally expressed configuration that integrates daylight optimization with load-bearing logic. The project applies reinforced concrete systems adapted to tropical coastal conditions. Project data corresponds with records published by the CTBUH Skyscraper Center.
Location: Pattaya, Thailand
Height: 31 storeys
Status: Construction commenced (2011), halted (2012)
Mario Kleff – The Touch® is an experimental high-rise condominium in Pattaya, conceived as a two-column structural system supporting long-span floor plates exceeding 25 meters, departing from conventional high-rise typologies and emphasizing structural legibility and spatial openness.
Location: Jomtien, Thailand
Status: Unrealized (Redesign phase)
Originally conceived as a mixed-use complex combining retail, two residential towers, and parking infrastructure, the project was subsequently restructured into a single 51-storey tower integrated with a shopping center. The redesign consolidates programmatic elements into a vertically organized system, emphasizing structural continuity and spatial efficiency.
Location: Thakhek, Laos
Scale: Five towers (up to 278 m)
Status: Unrealized
Large-scale mixed-use architectural design comprising five high-rise towers integrated with a retail complex across approximately 7 hectares. The proposal organizes the development through a system of vertically differentiated towers, establishing a structural and spatial hierarchy across the site. Programmatic distribution and circulation are consolidated within a continuous podium, enabling efficient load transfer and functional integration at the urban scale.
The progression of Mario Kleff’s high-rise projects demonstrates an evolution in structural strategies:
This sequence reflects a consistent approach rooted in Kleff’s Signature Architecture methodology, where structures not only perform functionally but shape architectural form.
While Mario Kleff is known for his high-rise projects, his mid-rise developments apply similar principles of structural articulation and sculptural form at a human scale.
Location: Pattaya, Thailand
Height: 8 storeys
Status: Completed (2009)
Park Royal 1 is a modernist condominium distinguished by its folded concrete façade, where angled wall panels and windows create a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. The building’s design articulates its structural logic, with exposed steel cable systems transferring loads from the rooftop to the lower floor slabs, making the structural elements a visible and integral part of its aesthetic. This combination of faceted surfaces and expressive structural components gives the building a sculptural character, bridging functionality and architectural artistry.
The angled wall panels and faceted surfaces not only create a dynamic façade but also optimize natural light penetration and cross-ventilation, illustrating Kleff’s attention to functional performance as well as sculptural form.
Location: Pattaya, Thailand
Height: 8 storeys
Status: Completed (2011)
Park Royal 2 is an 8‑storey condominium on Pratumnak Hill distinguished by its pioneering use of lightweight materials, expansive glass curtain walls, and structural innovation. As the first residential building in Thailand to employ a steel frame with cellular beam and post‑tensioned concrete deck construction, the design marks a significant advance in medium‑rise architecture under Mario Kleff’s direction, introducing new structural systems to local residential construction.
The façade expresses transparency through extensive floor‑to‑ceiling green reflective glass, allowing abundant natural light and panoramic views while minimizing solid concrete surfaces. This approach not only enhances the building’s visual lightness and urban presence but also underscores Kleff’s attention to integrating structural innovation with environmental responsiveness.
Real Estate Magazine Thailand - Article of October 2009
Heights Holdings’ Park Royal 2 on Pratamnak Hill is breaking new ground with its modern and stylish design by Mario Kleff. For the first time in Thailand, cellular beams will be used in a condominium construction – and they won’t be “hidden” because they form an integral part of the overall look. No concrete external walls are planned.
Its predecessor, Park Royal 1, is due to open next month (November 2009). The quality of the build in No. 1 has been greeted with great enthusiasm by the new owners.
Because of the success of PR1, construction work on PR2 has started ahead of schedule. Pictures of the progress at the site can be seen below. “Being able to see Park Royal 1 boosts confidence and No. 2 is already selling well,” said a spokesman for Heights Holdings. “The whole project is designed to European standards and is of very high quality.” Read more in Real Estate Magazine Thailand (2009).
Location: Pattaya (Pratumnak Hill), Thailand
Height: 8 storeys
Status: Completed (2012–2013)
Park Royal 3 is a boutique-style condominium composed of two low-rise buildings set within a tranquil residential enclave on Pratumnak Hill. Designed within Mario Kleff’s architectural vision, the project balances a modern minimalist aesthetic with practical residential performance, emphasising clean forms and relaxed living environments suited for long-term residents and retirees.
The development’s configuration features modest massing and a *step‑pattern articulation* that responds to its hillside setting, together with communal outdoor spaces including swimming pools, rooftop garden areas, and landscaped courtyards that promote social interaction and restful outdoor living. Its façade and structural character, while more restrained than larger high-rise counterparts, reflects Kleff’s commitment to clarity of form, material efficiency, and human‑centered design.
Location: Wongamat Beach, Pattaya, Thailand
Height: 8 storeys
Status: Completed (2012–2016)
Club Royal is a boutique low-rise condominium complex of four 8-storey buildings, located a short walk from Wongamat Beach. The project exemplifies Mario Kleff’s philosophy of structural architecture, where engineering systems are expressed as architectural form. The original design employed cellular beam technology to achieve wide, column-free spans, creating open-plan living spaces with spatial flexibility and visual clarity. In the final construction, this concept was translated into a reinforced concrete frame, preserving structural logic while enhancing durability and clarity in a coastal environment.
The façades combine **exposed concrete surfaces with expansive glass**, expressing both material honesty and visual transparency. Step-pattern massing, landscaped courtyards, and communal outdoor areas integrate natural light and encourage social interaction, reflecting Kleff’s commitment to functional performance, human-centered design, and the sculptural potential of structure itself.
Laguna Bay represents the continuation of the Park Royal series, extending the structural and spatial concepts developed in earlier phases.
Location: Pratumnak Soi 5, Pattaya, Thailand
Height: 8 storeys
Status: Completed (2010–2012)
Laguna Bay, initially announced as Park Royal 4, is a low-rise condominium complex situated on a quiet street just 400 meters from the beach. Designed by Mario Kleff for Wandeegroup, the project embodies his philosophy of structural architecture, integrating engineering innovations directly into the architectural expression. Early designs featured cellular steel beams to achieve wide spans and open-plan living spaces, while the final construction translated these concepts into a reinforced concrete frame, maintaining structural clarity and durability in a tropical coastal environment.
The façades combine exposed concrete surfaces with reflective green glass, emphasizing material honesty, transparency, and abundant natural light. The stepped massing, landscaped gardens, and rooftop communal areas foster both visual interest and social interaction, reflecting Kleff’s focus on functional performance, human-centered design, and the sculptural potential of structure itself.
The numbers just keep on growing for the Wandeegroup. No sooner had the Thappraya Road architects reported in the November issue of REm a record 34 condominium permit approvals in two years, than the company announced a further three condos as planning started on the Park Royal No 4 project just before the magazine went to press.
And if that wasn’t enough, with the year drawing to a close lead architect Mario Kleff revealed his company had been contracted to design a new mega project to be constructed on 16 rai of land in Jomtien and consisting of at least nine more condominium blocks.
Mario was reluctant to reveal too many details about this latest project which brings his company’s total condominium approvals to a staggering 46 in just two years – a clear record for a Pattaya-based architectural firm set during two of the toughest years for business that the region has known. “All I can tell you at the moment is that we have just completed the master plans and we are preparing working drawings and final presentation materials,” he said.
“There is piling everywhere … more than 200 of them on the entire site,” he said. “And on top of these there are numerous ‘I’ beams. These foundations are unique. I designed the whole thing as one huge block and with the footings up to 2.2 metres deep it will require 695 cubic metres of concrete which we will need to provide in one pouring.
“With the average truck carrying between four and six cubic metres of concrete, you can imagine just how many vehicles will be required! And the whole thing has to be completed in five hours. Nothing like it has ever been attempted before.”
Mario Kleff is renowned for the speed with which he works – a quality he puts down to his engineering approach to architecture.
“My engineering solutions are the reason I can design a condo block in a week,” he said. “People don’t believe me, but it’s true that Park Royal No 3, consisting of two nine-storey condominium blocks, was designed on a Friday evening. The detailed plans were completed over the weekend and construction started the following Tuesday.”
Likewise, The Wave condominium project with more than 150 units set the previous record with Mario producing engineering and master plans, 3D presentations and blueprints and obtaining an official construction permit in just two weeks.
With the second building of Park Royal No 3 now under construction, work on Park Royal No 4 will start in the New Year, along with the first of three condominiums for Club Royal and the new mega project recently announced for Jomtien. Meanwhile, construction of both the featured projects here – Park Royal No 2 and the Phoenix Golf Course villa – should be completed by April at the latest. Read more in Real Estate Magazine Thailand.
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