Tropical Developments
The Villas at Pansea Samui

Nestled amidst the lush tropical landscape of Koh Samui's Northern coastline, at the foot of a hill rising gently from the smooth white sands of Maenam beach, is one of the island's newest and most unique developments of luxury oceanfront homes - The Villas at Pansea Samui.

Protected by their spectacular location along a significant stretch of private beach from future intrusion by developers, these secluded and seemingly remote residences are located surprisingly just 15 minutes from Koh Samui International Airport and within easy reach of Chaweng and Lamai.

The first private residence development by renowned international boutique hotel group, Pansea 'The Villas at Pansea Samui' are exceptional. Exceptional because not only do they represent one of the last opportunities to own a piece of truly unspoiled paradise but also because construction is already completed and they are available for prospective purchasers to actually view. Something almost unheard of in today's luxury island homes market where 'off plan' sales are the norm.

"We are perfectionists," said Bangkok-based Pansea Director, Charles Coleman. "We have a reputation for offering a particular lifestyle that appeals to discerning individuals and we were not willing to compromise their experience. Our recent strategic alliance with Orient-Express Hotels underlines this."

"No-one wants to purchase a home only to find themselves surrounded by a building site or with an inferior final product as can often be the case when, due to insufficient financing, such developments are sold off plan. We wanted everything in place before we put these properties on the market and as a well-established developer we were in a position to do just that. Apart from reflecting our commitment to potential villa owners it also alleviates any feeling of risk that prospective purchasers might have." He added.

Built in tandem with the group's recently opened fifth boutique property in Southeast Asia - the neighbouring Pansea Samui Resort and Spa, an Orient-Express Hotel, this exquisite collection of just 14 private residences exists in total harmony with what looks set to become one of Thailand's premier island getaways. As one of several distinct advantages arising from this relationship, Villa owners will not only enjoy the pleasure of their own home but also enjoy access to all the facilities offered by the resort - from cocktails and gourmet dining to a relaxing spa or, for those whose idea of relaxation is a little more active, tennis, diving and water sports.

As a company founded on the unique concept of developing small luxury properties on exceptional sites, be they World Heritage sites or sites of extraordinary natural beauty, Pansea go beyond the rhetoric espoused by many to develop properties that are in their very nature rooted in a desire for harmony with the environment - both from an aesthetic standpoint and from an ecological one. It is this very concept that has led to the company's development of some of Asia's most exclusive properties including the Pansea Angkor - an exemplary development in Cambodia's Siem Reap that surpasses all nationally and internationally recognised environmental regulations and is now used as a goal for environmental concern by future projects. The concept also governed the evolution of the Pansea Luang Prabang in Laos, praised by judges such as Conde Nast and the BBC as the best hotel in Luang Prabang.

With such a wealth of experience and understanding of world class hospitality it is no surprise that The Villas at Pansea Samui are endowed with all the benefit that such insights offer. Clearly visible from first glance and even more apparent upon entering any one of The Villas is the appreciation of detail, quality and styling. From the choice of materials and finishings to the innate sensibility of room layout, there is a very strong sense of an almost intuitive anticipation of everything that a potential owner could normally only hope to find.

To maintain the aesthetic character and integrity of the development, The Villas at Pansea have been designed by the same award winning Thai and international architects who realised the development's resort and constructed by international contractors and engineers with detailing by local craftsmen. Built in the traditional Thai style of pure white walls and peaked terra cotta tile roofs with hardwood pillars, each of the two, three and four bedroom private residences offer a spacious 900 to 1,200 square metres of living space and gardens. With spectacular ocean views from every vantage point, each of the fourteen beachfront Villas feature a series of separate rooms on two levels placed around a centre courtyard, a traditional Thai sala and generous living areas with large flowing terraces overlooking the sea, as well as a private sea front swimming pool.

Noted for their work on luxury hotel developments around South East Asia both Marseilles based architects Amedeo & Associes and Habita Architects of Thailand - whose previous projects have included Amanpuri, The Evason and The Four Seasons - truly surpassed all expectations in creating harmony between both the villa and resort elements of the development whilst at the same time reflecting their distinctness. Created in a 'village' style around a large central pavilion that is home to the resort's dramatic sunset bar and large free form swimming pool shaded by coconut palms and cashew nut trees, Pansea Samui Resort and Spa comprises fifty five individual luxury cottages, gourmet French and Thai restaurants and a unique cavern like spa that offers traditional Thai therapies as well as contemporary holistic treatments exclusively created by leading spa consultants, Ytsara.

Echoing the exact same level of meticulous attention paid to the design and construction of the development, interior designer David Lees' contribution to the project sets a new benchmark by which others will surely come to be measured. Well known throughout Asia for his work on such distinguished projects as the Mandarin Oriental Samui, Hong Kong's Aberdeen Marina Club and the Bangkok Shangri-La, David's understanding of the quality of lifestyle that Pansea offer made him a natural choice.

"With such stunning views and location, it was important to me that interiors both captured and reflected the 'indoor/ outdoor' lifestyle of villa living in Thailand," he said when asked about his brief for the project. "Through the use of natural materials such as teak, brass, cotton, silk and bamboo, the tone is definitely Asian with Thai accents giving an overall feeling that is comfortable, casual, elegant and understated."

Extending the theme of his work on the residences, David has additionally created a number of interior design scheme options in keeping with the overall ambience of the development which Villa owners may choose from.

Unlike many private villa properties, ownership of a Villa at Pansea Samui is not limited to a typical 30-year lease but may be acquired either freehold or on a 90-year lease with an option to convert to freehold. And because the developer of The Villas is also the sole owner of the adjoining resort, the two share exactly the same infrastructure that is required to operate a world-class hotel. This means that Villa owners will benefit from hidden advantages such as full back up generators, water treatment and digital telephone lines. Furthermore as a result of this relationship between both elements of the development, a major benefit to owners of a Villa is the option to enter into a letting services agreement with the resort - thereby generating additional revenue to contribute to maintenance costs.

With such a fundamental connection, owners of a Villa at Pansea Samui can rest assured that their interests in the preservation and future appreciation of their investments are unmistakably shared.

Tropical Living: April 2004, Volume 3 Issue 11

Many of the properties on this site are for sale or for rent.
If you wish to know more about them don't hesitate to CONTACT US HERE