181 2nd Floor Extension – STCC Office Pavilion

Office Building - Shipping container

2nd Floor Extension – Swiss Thai Chamber of Commerce Office Pavilion

Stacked with purpose—container architecture rising in a tropical embassy garden

After more than three years of use, the original STCC office pavilion on the Swiss embassy compound in Bangkok was expanded with a second floor to meet the Chamber’s growing need for additional workspace. The extension continues the original design approach—combining modular efficiency, sustainability, and architectural clarity—while doubling the usable office area with minimal disruption to the site.

The original butterfly roof was carefully dismantled and reused to cover the new second floor. Once removed, two additional decommissioned shipping containers were installed on top of the original ground floor module, following the same structural logic and sustainable principles. This upward extension preserved the compact footprint within the embassy garden while maximizing spatial efficiency.

As with the first floor, the new level uses high cube 20” containers to maintain consistency in materiality and expression. A new outdoor staircase winds elegantly around the rear corner of the building, providing independent access to the second floor offices.

Inside, the former open-plan office on the first floor has now been transformed into a meeting room. The second floor accommodates four to five new workstations, including two enclosed private offices and additional desk areas for staff or interns.

The second floor maintains the same ceiling height and thermal insulation as the original, along with high-efficiency air-conditioning and LED lighting. Large sliding windows open toward the garden, ensuring visual connection and natural light throughout the day. By stacking modules and reusing existing structural elements, the extension maintains both architectural continuity and environmental responsibility.

This compact vertical expansion highlights the flexibility of modular container construction and reaffirms the Chamber’s commitment to resource-conscious growth and thoughtful design—set within the Swiss embassy compound in Bangkok, surrounded by a beautiful tropical garden.