Samui’s newest architecture icon

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samui-property

NAPA is the Thai word for sky, an  appropriate name for Koh Samui’s newest oceanfront estate featuring 10 US$1.85-million (Bt61-million) luxury villas with lofty, wide ocean views over the Gulf of Thailand.

Renowned architect Gary Fell from Gfab has combined Thai design elements with modern open-plan living and large freeform pools to create a chic, comfortable mix of ’50s Palm Springs elegance and tropical island hideaway. Perched above Cheong Mon Beach on Koh Samui’s secluded north coast, Napa’s 10 luxury villas sit on large plots of up to 1,600 square meters.

As three- to four-bedroom bachelor pads, corporate retreats or luxury holiday homes, Napa villas showcase large entertainment areas on split levels for maximum views. Interiors are crisp and stylish using local Asian stones and hardwoods with large built-ins and customized furniture.

“Napa is a welcome addition to Indigo’s Luxury 2008 Collection,” says Tom Travers, managing partner of Indigo Real Estate, “and these villas certainly fit our criteria for luxury: great location, world-class architectural design of both inside and outside space, and a well-executed property management solution. We expect these to be very popular because the design/development team for Napa recently completed Samujana (also on Samui), which sold out quickly.”

Napa’s quiet location in Cheongmon gives easy access to the international airport and Chaweng, the island’s main tourist area.

Indigo’s 2008 Luxury Collection also includes five additional developments on Phuket including The Natai, Sava, Istana and Bluepoint condominiums. Indigo real estate enjoys a solid reputation as one of Asia’s leading luxury property specialists offering Asia’s most luxurious beachfront homes, property and private islands.

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Bt200-M renovation of Centara Samui completed

Centara Samui

Centara Samui

CENTARA Hotels & Resorts, one of Thailand’s leading hotel groups, has announced the completion of an extensive Bt200-million renovation of the Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui.

Located at Koh Samui’s finest beach, Chaweng, the five-star Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui offers first-class Thai hospitality and facilities, and a tranquil ambiance.

Designed in a colonial architectural style with its own extensive landscaped gardens and situated directly on the beachfront, the four-story hotel has 203 deluxe sea-facing rooms and suites, all with private balconies.

Some Bt20 million was spent to refurbish a central feature of the hotel, the stunning lobby with its sweeping staircase—reminiscent of a set from Gone with the Wind.
Over Bt160 million was lavished on the 203 guest rooms and suites—Bt90 million on the normal rooms and suites and a Bt70 million on the Pool Suites.

The rooms, which are particularly spacious, include multi-channel satellite television, in-room video movies, music channels, mini-bar, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and personal safe.

Starting at 60 square meters, the Pool Suites offer luxurious accommodation. All feature private plunge pools and include membership at The Club—with five complimentary food serving daily and complimentary cocktails and canapés every evening among a host of other benefits.

To complete the renovation, a further Bt20 million was spent on Spa Cenvaree, the signature spa brand of Centara Hotels & Resorts.

The hotel has several restaurants and bars including Zico’s Brazilian Grill and Bar, Spice Island, Hagi Japanese restaurant, Palm Grove, Seabreeze Beach Bar and Terrace, and The Islander.

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Aquarius Estate follows up Samui success with Bangkok condo project

AQUARIUS Estate will invest nearly Bt700 million to develop a condominium worth Bt1.2 billion on Sukhumvit Soi 49 in Bangkok after the company has sold out units of its Casavela condominium project on Koh Samui. The Bangkok project will generate income for the company next year, CEO Yongyutt Chaipromprasith said.

Yongyutt said Bt200 million of the investment budget would come from the company’s major shareholders, Bt480 million borrowed from the bank and the rest come from cash flow. Aquarius Estate succeeded in selling out its Bt600-million hotel condominium Casavela Koh Samui in the first half of this year. The project has 32 units, of which 21 were sold to foreign and local investors. The rest of the units are owned by the company.

Aquarius Estate will manage the project as a hotel, giving unit owners a return averaging six percent a year. The company was launched in 2005 and has registered capital of Bt54 million. Its strategy comprises five businesses: property development, project development management, advisory services, agency services and hotel management.

It had a revenue of Bt254 million in 2007, with Bt206 million contributed by Casavela Koh Samui and Bt48 million from project management and agency fees. The company targets a revenue of Bt300 million this year, with Bt207 million coming from Casavela Koh Samui. Aquarius Estate manages 14 property projects worth a combined Bt16.44 billion. The company will also sign three new contracts worth Bt1.5 billion for project management in the second half of this year.

“We have strong confidence in expanding our business growth, although the property market is signaled to grow only slightly this year, because we offer different concepts to meet customer demand,” Yongyutt said. Demand for residential projects close to mass-transit systems is still growing despite the economic slowdown. Home-buyers want to reduce their transport costs and buy condominiums near their workplaces.

According to the company’s research, 41 city condominiums with a total of 14,000 units were launched in the first half of this year. Some 23 projects are grade-C condos costing between Bt50,000 and Bt80,000 per square meter, 14 are priced at between Bt70,000 and Bt100,000 per square meter, three between Bt80,000 and Bt120,000 per square meter and one is priced up to Bt140,000 per square meter.

Demand for property priced between Bt1.5 million and Bt3 million is showing strong growth, Yongyutt said.—

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