Close to Nature
‘JJ’ Jeremy Johanson
Urban ‘prisoners’ constantly yearn to unwind in the relaxing peace of the countryside’s greenery. Strong desires like this tend to be overheard, so we went to investigate what’s going-on next to the Sukhothai Hotel – the construction of the Sukhothai Residences – a new lush oasis taking form on busy Sathorn Road.
Most would agree that ‘home’ should be a safe-haven to seek refuge, regenerate and escape from the mounting external madness, a solution for which some have opted to invest in a secondary country house for rejuvenating week-end jaunts that unfortunately usually include innumerable tiring hours spent in round-trip travel.
But now, the visionary flare, teamwork and sheer experience of property developer HKR Int’l harmoniously combine the best of both worlds at the Sukhothai Residences, fusing elegant ‘resort-style’ living in the sky with a natural ‘green’ environment set amongst verdant landscaped gardens.
While we all are aware – as well as under the charm – of the mythic Sukhothai Hotel (this includes their high-percentage of returning clientele who consistently come back for the ‘Sukhothai Experience’), HKRI looked for a way to leverage the uniqueness of their brand and evolve it into an even more personal offer.
To start off, they reunited the original architectural masterminds who infused their magic to create the Sukhothai Hotel, Kerry Hill and Ed Tuttle. The reputations that precede them are so strong that some units were even sold sight-unseen, with the underlying conviction of their future perfection, including access to impeccable understated carefree service.
The HKRI team of Benjamin Cha (Project Leader), Wilson Cheung (Project Director) and Vivian Sze (Sales & Marketing Director) are doing their best to transplant their resort development experience and adapt it with a ‘human-touch’ to modern local urban requirements.
To find out what exactly was behind their concept, we met with Vivian who outlined their simple yet powerful philosophy. “Basically, we want to provide the most convenience to our buyers, especially since many of them will be using the property as their second home. We want to do our best to minimize their troubles. Eventually, you will only need to bring in your own furniture and luggage since everything else inside will already be taken care of, with all fittings and construction materials being of the highest standards that the Sukhothai brand is known for.”
No ‘bare shells’ are on sale here and the purchase price includes interior design fees. But for those who do not follow the work of Tuttle and Hill, the question then becomes; “How can I really know what I’ll be getting?”
In keeping with their ‘full-service’ philosophy – as well as the confidence they have in their product – teamwork and innovation led to the investment of 200 million baht to construct a sales gallery next to the hotel where the quality of the finished product is showcased, and can be viewed and touched. The gallery includes three show units, with the 4-bedroom handover unit being an exact replica allowing your senses to soak up the atmosphere of your future ‘back to nature’ lifestyle.
According to the marketing agency CBRE, this is the first time that actual handover conditions have been replicated for potential buyers, where ‘what you see is what you get’.
It’s a joy to run your hands over the natural stone used in the construction of the bathrooms, as well as the teakwood found in the flooring and other parts of the apartment, with kitchen and bathroom fittings and appliances selected from upscale well-known brands such as Poggenpohl, Hansgrohe and Gaggenau. They have even replicated the private lift lobby, a feature common to all of the apartments.
This fresh idea has paid off. With no advertising support, only word-of-mouth amongst global high society and those in the design field, almost 50% of the development has already been sold out, half of the buyers being long-term overseas guests of the hotel who jumped at the initial offer.
There are 18 distinct unit types to choose from, each with two or three different optional layouts. For instance, since there are no structural walls within each unit, you can change the layout of a 4-bedroom unit into a 3-bedroom unit or other, at no additional cost.
Of the total 196 units, nine are penthouses that will be luxuriously designed by Ed Tuttle, tailor-made to suit the needs of the buyer. This also is already included in the original purchase price.
But if by any chance you really want to create your own experience, two other apartments are on show that have been specially decorated by up-and-coming award-winning designer Kanika R’kul. One is the transformation of a 2-bedroom unit into a 1-bedroom, featuring cozy and trendy open spaces. It is perfect for younger people or a new couple and was so successful that they are almost all sold out.
For those who really want the traditional ‘Sukhothai Experience’, she also distilled the essence found in the hotel’s design to create a cosy romantic ambiance, full of Thai silk, as well as dark wood and marble, that will definitely be appreciated by all the Sukhothai’s long-term customers. If buyers would like to apply the same design in their own units, Kanika can provide her services at a pre-agreed package fee to individual buyers.
Another big selling point is the spacious open gardens that comprise 60% of the total site area, and will include swimming pools and other recreational/sports facilities.
With all these at your doorstep, you’ll now be yearning to come home every night, to your own urban oasis.
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sr@hkri.com
www.sukhothairesidences.com
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