Gaysorn Amarin

Gaysorn Amarin is a shopping mall and office complex in Bangkok's central Pathum Wan District, positioned on Phloen Chit Road near the Ratchaprasong intersection. The property consists of a five-storey retail podium and the adjoining Amarin Tower, a 22-storey office building. It is part of the wider Gaysorn Village retail and mixed-use complex and is connected to the surrounding commercial district by pedestrian skywalks. The complex opened in 1985 under the name Amarin Plaza. It was the first major real-estate project of the Amarin Plaza Company, an enterprise established by members of the Vongkusolkit, Srivikorn and Wattanavekin families. The Vongkusolkit family was better known for its sugar-industry interests through Mitr Phol, making the project an important diversification into property development. The building was designed by architect Rangsan Torsuwan and became notable for combining classical Greco-Roman motifs, including Ionic columns and decorative cornices, with a modernist glass curtain wall. Its appearance was commercially influential and attracted attention from developers, although many architects criticized the design as an unsuitable or superficial application of classical elements in a Thai urban context. Amarin Plaza initially gained visibility through its anchor tenant, Sogo, whose store represented the Japanese department-store chain's first international branch. The complex also hosted Thailand's first McDonald's restaurant, giving it an additional landmark tenant and helping establish the property as a prominent destination during Bangkok's rapid retail expansion in the 1980s. Competition intensified as other large shopping centres and department stores opened in the same period. Sogo struggled financially and ultimately closed after the Japanese chain reduced its international operations around 2000. The property remained associated with the Amarin Plaza Company, which later became The Erawan Group, until 2007. In that year it was sold to the Srivikorn-owned Gaysorn Group. The transaction reflected the limitations created by the approaching end of the property's original 30-year lease, which constrained the previous owner's ability to undertake a major renovation. After the acquisition, the mall became part of the Gaysorn Village development, a cluster of retail and mixed-use properties surrounding the Ratchaprasong area. The former Amarin Plaza identity was subsequently replaced by the Gaysorn Amarin name. The retail component has been described as containing more than 300 shops and approximately 55,000 square metres of gross retail area, while Amarin Tower provides about 21,000 square metres of office space. The mall has been particularly associated with Thai arts and crafts retailers, alongside fashion, lifestyle, food and other urban shopping categories. Its food court was another established feature. The complex is linked by skywalk to Chit Lom BTS station, nearby Gaysorn Village buildings and other major shopping destinations, and has a pedestrian connection to the Grand Hyatt Erawan. A major renovation was carried out between 2022 and 2024. Following the redevelopment, the property was scheduled to reopen under the Gaysorn Amarin identity, reinforcing its role within the Gaysorn Village ecosystem. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate current corporate entity, a named chief executive for the property, or audited financial results specifically attributable to the mall.

Gaysorn Amarin began as Amarin Plaza, the first property venture of the Amarin Plaza Company. The project emerged from a partnership involving the Vongkusolkit, Srivikorn and Wattanavekin families. Isara Vongkusolkit conceived the development after an opportunity arose involving land controlled by the Srivikorn family. The Vongkusolkit family's principal business was sugar production through Mitr Phol, so the project represented an early expansion into Bangkok property development. Architect Rangsan Torsuwan designed the complex. Its visual language juxtaposed Greco-Roman features—such as Ionic columns, a frieze and cornices—with a glass curtain wall and modern commercial structure. Torsuwan later explained that the design was shaped by his expectations of what prospective tenants would find attractive rather than by an intention to create a formal postmodern statement. Some project owners initially opposed the proposal, but the architect defended it and reportedly accepted the risk of losing his fees and redesigning the building if it failed commercially. The project attracted strong market interest, with much of its space committed before construction began. Construction started in 1983 and encountered several technical and legal obstacles. Difficulties with the original piling method led the developers to change from concrete drilled piles to bored piles and later to steel drilled piles. Progress was slowed by the site's soil conditions. Work was also interrupted by a court order following a noise-pollution complaint from the neighbouring Erawan Hotel. Advance payments from purchasers nevertheless gave the project financial security and allowed the developers to reduce their borrowing from Siam Commercial Bank. The development therefore retained a stronger financial position than might have been expected from the construction delays. Amarin Plaza opened in 1985 in a rapidly expanding Bangkok retail market. Sogo served as the main anchor and its presence made the building widely associated with the department-store brand. The Japanese retailer's arrival was significant because the branch was its first outside Japan. The mall also gained national visibility from hosting Thailand's first McDonald's location. The opening contributed to competition among Bangkok's new shopping centres: Mahboonkrong Center, which also opened in 1985, responded with a Tokyu Department Store, while other large retail developments competed for department-store customers. Sogo suffered substantial losses during its early years as new department stores multiplied. It later operated another Bangkok location at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, but the chain's international retrenchment led to the closure of its overseas operations, including its Amarin Plaza presence. The mall continued operating with a broader tenant mix, including Thai arts and crafts shops, food outlets and a large food court. The Amarin Plaza Company eventually became The Erawan Group. In 2007, The Erawan Group sold Amarin Plaza to the Srivikorn-owned Gaysorn Group. The sale was associated with the approaching expiration of the property's 30-year lease and the resulting limits on the former owner's ability to renovate or reposition the complex. Under Gaysorn ownership, Amarin Plaza became part of the broader Gaysorn Village retail development in 2017. The property occupies a strategically connected site on Phloen Chit Road near the southeast corner of the Ratchaprasong intersection. It is connected to Chit Lom BTS station and neighbouring shopping destinations through Bangkok's elevated pedestrian network, including the other Gaysorn Village buildings across the road. A footbridge also links it with the Grand Hyatt Erawan. The five-storey retail podium has been described as containing more than 300 shops and approximately 55,000 square metres of gross retail space. Amarin Tower rises above it with 22 storeys and approximately 21,000 square metres of office area. A major renovation program ran from 2022 through 2024. The redevelopment was intended to support the property's reopening as Gaysorn Amarin and to strengthen its integration with Gaysorn Village. Available reference material does not provide a confirmed reopening date, detailed renovation budget, current tenant roster or separately reported financial performance.

• 2022

  Renovation program begins

  [1]Gaysorn Amarinen.wikipedia.org

  A major renovation of the property began and continued through 2024.

• 2017

  Integration into Gaysorn Village

  [1]Gaysorn Amarinen.wikipedia.org

  Amarin Plaza was incorporated into the rebranded Gaysorn Village retail complex.

• 2007

  Ownership passes to Gaysorn Group

  [1]Gaysorn Amarinen.wikipedia.org

  The Erawan Group sold Amarin Plaza to the Srivikorn-owned Gaysorn Group.

• 2000

  Sogo withdraws from international operations

  [1]Gaysorn Amarinen.wikipedia.org

  Sogo's parent company reduced its international operations, and the chain's Bangkok presence at Amarin Plaza subsequently ended.

• 1985

  Amarin Plaza opens

  [1]Gaysorn Amarinen.wikipedia.org

  The complex opened with Sogo as its main anchor and included Thailand's first McDonald's branch.

• 1983

  Construction begins

  [1]Gaysorn Amarinen.wikipedia.org

  Construction started, but piling problems, difficult soil conditions and a court-related noise dispute delayed progress.

• 1982

  Amarin Plaza Company is established

  [1]Gaysorn Amarinen.wikipedia.org

  The Vongkusolkit, Srivikorn and Wattanavekin families established the company behind the future Amarin Plaza development.

A centrally located Bangkok shopping and mixed-use destination within the Gaysorn Village network, combining retail, dining, Thai arts and crafts, office space and connections to the Ratchaprasong area's major transport and shopping facilities.

• Shopping mall · 1985

  Gaysorn Amarin retail mall

  The main five-storey retail podium offers a mixed tenant environment serving Bangkok shoppers and visitors. Historical descriptions identify more than 300 shops and approximately 55,000 square metres of gross retail area. Its tenant mix has included fashion, lifestyle businesses, food and beverage operators, and retailers focused on Thai arts and crafts. The mall's central location and skywalk connections make it part of the larger Ratchaprasong shopping circuit.

• Office building · 1985

  Amarin Tower

  Amarin Tower is the office component rising above the retail podium. The 22-storey tower has been described as providing approximately 21,000 square metres of office space for lease. Together with the mall, it forms an integrated commercial property rather than a stand-alone retail site.

• Specialty retail

  Thai arts and crafts retail

  Thai arts and crafts shops have been a distinctive part of the mall's historical tenant profile. These retailers contributed to the property's identity as a destination for locally themed products alongside more conventional fashion, lifestyle and food offerings.

• 2022

  Major renovation and repositioningStrategy

  Background

  The property required a substantial update after decades of operation and was being repositioned within the Gaysorn Village portfolio.

  Action taken

  Gaysorn Group undertook a renovation program running from 2022 through 2024, with a planned reopening as Gaysorn Amarin.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment was intended to refresh the property and reinforce its role in the Gaysorn Village complex, although publicly available material does not specify the final tenant mix or reopening date.

  Source

• 2017

  Integration into Gaysorn VillageStrategy

  Background

  Gaysorn Group operated multiple properties around the Ratchaprasong shopping district and sought to present them as a connected retail destination.

  Action taken

  Amarin Plaza was incorporated into the rebranded Gaysorn Village complex.

  Aftermath

  The mall became more closely connected to the neighbouring Gaysorn buildings, BTS access and the district's pedestrian network.

  Source

• 2007

  Sale of Amarin Plaza to Gaysorn GroupM&A

  Background

  The Erawan Group's ability to make major improvements was constrained by the approaching end of the property's original 30-year lease.

  Action taken

  The Erawan Group transferred ownership of Amarin Plaza to the Srivikorn-owned Gaysorn Group.

  Aftermath

  The property subsequently became part of the Gaysorn Village development and was later repositioned under the Gaysorn Amarin name.

  Source

1. 1Gaysorn Amarinen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Gaysorn Amarin official websiteamarinplaza.com