Prize(s) Winners in Exterior Architectural Illumination
Lighting Design/Product Company SEAM Design
Lead Designers Marci Song
Other Designer's names Smith, Padungruengkit, Lorton, Sadiyyah, Mendo
Completion Date Completed October 2018
Project Location Bangkok, Thailand
Entry DescriptionThe 314-metre MahaNakhon – by Buro Ole Scheeren © Buro-OS – became Bangkok's tallest building when complete. SEAM, leading the facade lighting, was tasked to create “a beautiful architectural sculpture at night”. How do we light a supertall, asymmetric facade to become Southeast Asia’s largest artwork? Discarding the typical ‘beacon’ tower approach, SEAM's lighting connects into Buro: OS’ architecture, with programmable illuminated panels that animate the signature eroded geometry, while the dynamic-white scheme follows the natural colour-temperature of the evening sky. Aligned with an astronomical clock, the animation follows the city’s day and night activity cycle, echoing the waves of the evening rush-hour before eventually receding into the night. As a fleeting spectacle – like buoyant embers, a passing cloud or flowing water – this kinetic sequence connects MahaNakhon with nature, with the moment and with the changing pulse of Bangkok. With the tower now a 24-hour landmark, a tourism icon and driving local renewal, SEAM's lighting elevates MahaNakhon to a brilliant emblem for Bangkok's emerging status as the Southeast Asia design capital.
Company DescriptionOperating globally with high-profile projects and collaborations in 30 countries, SEAM is a design practice led by Marci Song and Emory Smith, each bringing over two decades of international design experience. SEAM integrates light as a defining component of the architectural vision—shaping spatial clarity, atmosphere, and human experience. Through a research-led, collaborative approach informed by diverse cultural and geographic contexts, SEAM’s work synthesises architecture and light to reinforce spatial intent, enhance materiality, and create meaningful, memorable environments.
