D|D&C - Issue 8 by Tha Lia

Development Design & Construction issue 8 | November 2011

PROFILE

Mai Khao Dream Villa Resort & Spa D|D&C | 1

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Development Design & Construction

Summary News from around Asia

Profile : Mai Khao Dream Villa Resort & Spa

We love designers and this week has been all about design! In the coming weeks we will feature some iconic designers from all over the world. But this week catch the latest in hospitality development news and the stunning feature of Mai Khao Dream Villa Resort & Spa. hƩp://development-design-construcƟon.com/

Front Cover : Courtesy of DWP Mai Khao Dream Villa Resort & Spa

PRESENTER Thalia Andrews Editor Paul Snowdon editor@qube-3.com ADVERTISING accounts@qube-3.com

QUBE ConsulƟng (Thailand) Co., Ltd 973 President Tower, 11th Floor, Ploenchit Road, Lumpini Pathumwan, Bangkok Thailand 10330 Tel: +66 2 656 0500 ext 110 Tel: +66 8 0589 8479

ADMINISTRATION Silailuk@qube-3.com D|D&C | 3

THAILAND’S PROPERTY DEVELOPERS LAUNCH FLOOD-FREE PROJECTS

ith the Thai property market predicted to fall by as much as 20% due to widespread flooding this year, the country’s major developers are a empting to drive up their sales in the final month of the year by launching proper es in floodfree zones, such as inner Bangkok, Pa aya, and Phuket. LPN Development has opened pre-sales of its 4 billion baht Lumpini Park Beach Jom en development, with unit prices star ng from 1.49 million baht. Also in Pa aya, Raimon Land is

launching its 2.95 billion baht Unixx South Pa aya condominium project with prices star ng from as li le as 880,000 baht per unit. Meanwhile, Pruksa Real Estate will launch three residen al projects this month. With a combined value of 2.4 billion baht, the projects are located in Chaeng Wa ana Road, Khon Kaen province, and Phuket—three areas that were spared from this year’s flooding. 

SILVERNEEDLE TAKES ITS NEXT STEP With the re-launch of the recently acquired Constella on Hotels under the SilverNeedle Hospitality corporate brand in Australia, SilverNeedle Hospitality has taken the next step towards achieving its long-term goal of becoming one of the Asia Pacific Region’s leading hotel brands. Having set itself a 5-year target of operating 10,000 hotel rooms across the Asia Pacific region, with up to 60% of that total planned for Australia, SilverNeedle has taken a massive step towards achieving that goal with the acquisi on of Constella on Hotels. In addi on to helping SilverNeedle break into the Australia and New Zealand markets, the acquisi on of Constella on Hotels will also allow SilverNeedle to

take advantage of the Australian company’s experience and management systems. SilverNeedle will use this exper se to help it expand in Asia, with a par cular focus on Sri Lanka, China, India, and Southeast Asia. The company recently launched its NEXT brand of hotels aimed specifically at the Asian market. 

DISCOVERY HOTELS & RESORTS TO GO INTERNATIONAL Indonesian hotel management company Discovery Hotels & Resorts has announced its latest expansion plans. In addi on to opening new hotels in Indonesia, the company is also set to launch

adver se your product here? contact Sa ta at accounts@qube-3.com its first overseas property. Discovery recently expanded its por olio of hotels from two to five with the opening of the LJ Discovery Hotel in Surabaya, the 72-room Home@36 in Bali, and the 3-star Palace Hotel Cipanas in West Java. Discovery, which already operates Hotel Borobudur in Jakarta and the Discovery Kar ka Plaza Hotel in Bali, has also announced plans for two more 4-star hotels in Jakarta and Kendari (Southeast Sulawesi), as well as a 3-star property in Papua. The company also confirmed that it is set to open its first hotel outside of Indonesia in the near future, although no specific loca on has yet been announced. D|D&C | 4

DOWNTOWN HANOI SET FOR A GREEN BOOST Downtown Hanoi is set to become a greener place a er local authori es announced they would no longer grant licenses for high-rise buildings and would instead give priority to developing public spaces and restoring important cultural works. Speaking at a conference to launch the master plan for the social and economic development of Hanoi, Nguyen The Thao, chairman of the Hanoi People’s Commi ee, outlined the city’s vision for 2030 and beyond. Hospitals, schools, and polluting plants will be relocated to the city’s outskirts in order to make way for more green, public spaces. The city’s suburban areas are also to be developed to encourage more people to move out of the city centre. No more permits will be granted for high-rise structures in inner Hanoi, while licenses that have

already been granted will be adjusted to fit in with the master plan. The city’s culturally important buildings are also set to be restored. 

APPLE ONE GROWS IN THE PHILIPPINES Following the successful launch of the Apple One Tower Cebu, Filipino property developer Apple One Proper es Inc. is set to open its second residenal development in Cebu next year with projects in Mindanao and Luzon also in the pipeline. Located in an uptown area of Cebu and developed at a cost of 2 billion pesos, the company’s new condominium project will open in March 2012 with prices ranging from 1.2 million to 2.5 million pesos per unit and targeted at low- to middle-income earners. The company is also in nego a ons to acquire sites in Manila and Cagayan de Oro with the aim of developing two more residen al projects next year. 

want this space? contact Sa ta at accounts@qube-3.com

Understated Luxury www.riverbirches.co.nz

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CHLD EXPLORES TIER 3 AND 4 CITY OPPORTUNITIES At a cost of approximately US$12.9 million, China Housing & Land Development (CHLD), Inc. has acquired a site in the er-4 city of Ankang in western China. CHLD will develop middle-income residen al units on the plot with construc on due to begin in early 2012 and last for 3 years. The company hopes to generate total revenues of US$171.9 million from the project. CHLD is keen to explore the development opportuni es in ci es like Ankang, which has a popula on of 3 million and is located 200km south of Xi’an in Shanxi Province. With many property developers focusing on China’s er 1 and 2 ci es, there is less compe on in the er 3 and 4 ci es. There are also fewer building restric ons. And although the selling prices are

lower than in ci es like Shanghai, Beijing, and Xi’an, development and marke ng costs are also much lower, allowing developers to maintain healthy profit margins.

ROTANA EYES OPPORTUNITIES IN CHINA With a well-established presence in the Middle East and North Africa, Rotana Hotels of Abu Dhabi is looking to expand its opera ons into Asia. While the company is exploring opportuni es in India, it is understood to be targe ng China as its priority market. Both of these countries have been chosen because of their high volumes of domesc travel. However, China has emerged as the preferred locaon since many Middle Eastern airlines have begun increasing their flights to Chinese ci es and Rotana is keen to tap into this outbound travel market. 

CAPITALAND WINS RIGHT TO DEVELOP MIXED-USE PROJECT IN CHINA Seeing oﬀ compe on from 5 other bidders, a Singaporean consor um headed by CapitaLand has acquired a 91,783m2 plot of prime river-front land in Chongquing, China. Acquired at a cost of 6.54 billion yuan (S$1.2 billion), the site will be used for a mixed-use luxury development consis ng of residen al units, oﬃces, shops, a hotel, and serviced apartments. With a total development cost es mated at 21.1 billion yuan (S$4.3 billion), the project represents CapitaLand’s largest undertaking in China. Holding a stake of 25%, CapitaLand is joined in the consor um by CapitaMalls Asia (25%), Singbridge Holdings (30%), and various unrelated par es (20%).

feature your projects editor@qube-3.com D|D&C | 6

VISIONS IN WHITE

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he words ‘Mai Khao’, in Thai, mean ‘white wood’, the defining accent for the design concept of Mai Khao Dream Villa Resort & Spa, Phuket, nestled on the Northwest coast of the island. The client’s vision for the resort, interpreted by world-class architecture and interior design firm dwp, was for contemporary Thai-style luxury villas, aimed at a 6-star experience, emphasizing pres ge and elegance. This included the crea on of the architecture and interior design of 22 exclusive opulent villas, with pools and jacuzzis, an all-day dining restaurant, clubhouse with fitness centre and a spa.

White-washed woods and natural teak met with textured cement and hints of turquoise in furniture fabrics and gold accents. All these combined aspects evoked luxurious Thai beach villas, with a touch of upscale New England ocean-front extravagance.

Ensuring the resort a ained an authen c Thai touch, dwp created an exquisite ethereal feel, where white is a dominant feature throughout. Inspira on was primarily drawn from Thai fabrics, textures, artworks and historical drawings, as well as ocean-washed beachhouses, to e in with its seaside loca on.

Tradi onal Thai-styled fixtures and fi ngs provided authen city, including brass ligh ng equipment, teak wood furniture and iconic Thai pain ngs. Artworks chosen for living rooms reflect everyday life of ancient Thais, while bedroom pieces depict more in mate historical se ngs. Old-styled Thai art relics are presented in the lobby and public areas, to

The client’s love for Thai arts and cra s led dwp to take tradi onal pain ngs from Thai myths and legends, surrounding the theme of water, and reintroduce them with a modern twist. Scenes became pa erns on glass in bathrooms, ornately clad arched restaurant walls and ceilings and decora ve L-shaped mural panels in public areas, stretching up walls and across ceilings. Achieved with a degree of added simplicity, no space was overpowered.

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add the finishing touches for all to admire and enjoy, while the spa radiates a sense of serene calm, comfort and tranquility. This 2- and 3-bedroom villa resort exudes uns n ng grandeur in a tranquil and natural environment, blending perfectly with its loca on, just where the warm turquoise sea provoca vely caresses the golden sands of Maikhao Beach. At the recent MIPIM Asia Awards 2011 in November, an event celebra ng the very best in the property industry, dwp’s design for Mai Khao Dream Villa Resort & Spa won the award for Best Hotels & Tourism Resorts category. For more informa on on the architecture and interior design firm responsible for this resort’s look, visit www. dwp.com.  D|D&C | 9