Tropical Developments
Maan Tawan
The wow-factor behind the curtain of the sun

It is late on a glorious Sunday afternoon and a flushed, salmon-pink curtain of sunshine is projected across the floor, dappling everything in a soft pinkish glow. The curtain is luminous; a light that floods the room, making it hard to distinguish where the garden ends and the interior begins. A peaceful serenade is played in parts by children splashing in the pool and the natural lyrics of the birds, the wind and the sea just a stone's throw away. If you allowed yourself to gush, you might simply say "wow". This is the concept of luxurious family living behind Maan Tawan: curtain of the sun.

True to the real estate mantra, "location, location, location" Phuket's newest residential development offers some of the last remaining beachfront properties in the Bang-Tao area. Napawan Development, the developer of Maan Tawan is a new company with an innovative approach to development and a sincere commitment to the actualization of quality residential properties. The Maan Tawan site is located on Bang Tao beach on the northern verges of the Laguna Complex, right next to the Banyan Tree Phuket extension and access is gained actually through the Laguna complex. The road along Bang Tao beach is all that separates the site from the ocean and despite the popularity of this prime real estate, Mr. Ian Spurdle of Napawan Development highlighted that in fact the area is, if anything, under-developed. "It's a great location, there is very little development down there and there is no development allowed between the road and the beach. The land is very lush, unspoiled, very natural. Facing west there are glorious, uninterrupted ocean views and the beach is about 110m from the front perimeter of the property. "

Maan Tawan was conceived to be an exclusive address with only a limited number of homes; 28 in total. The development will constitute ten luxury villas each located on individual lots of approximately 1, 260sqm and six three-storey apartment buildings comprising of two split-level apartments and a roof-top penthouse suite.

As a result of detailed market research, Napawan has decided to go with a 'more is more approach' to design. Ian asserted that, "a knowledge of what our buyers are looking for has lead us to design these properties in a certain way. We understand the behaviours and needs of potential buyers and have proceeded in accordance to these indicators. At the moment there is a real shortage of this style of decently sized four and five bedroom villas. We are particularly looking at what is happening in Hong Kong. All the rental agencies are being bombarded by people who are trying to move here and are looking for four and five bedroom villas, so we are quite please with the show of interest. These are large villas designed specifically for families. "

Research reflects a demand for spacious family villas within close proximity to the beach, up-market shopping, dining and entertainment venues and Phuket international Airport. This keen knowledge of market demands and expectations filters through to influence all stages of development from planning and design through to construction. In a concerted effort to ensure high levels of quality, which will in turn influence the value of the properties for re-sale or rental opportunities, Napawan has appointed a professional management company to oversee all areas of development. Country Director for Projexandaman, Mr. Alan McKinnon believes, "one of the benefits of using this management strategy is that it represents someone independent appointed to manage the whole planning, design and construction process from beginning to end. We make sure that the clients' visions are attained throughout these three key areas. We are professional managers so we have no other interests, we are not designers, or contractors, builders, or suppliers we just make sure that all these areas fulfill the requirements expected from the home-buyers. "

"One of our main objectives is achieving and maintaining high quality workmanship; we will have a team of professional managers and supervisors, probably about ten people, residing on site, doing nothing else except planning and supervising workmanship. Contractors were not added to the tender list unless they could take us to a property and show us evidence of superior work. "Tandem Architects from Bangkok, Attractions International landscapers, Meinhardt Ltd mechanical engineers and Rider Hunt Levett & Bailey quantity surveyors, constitute some of the international team of design and construction consultants.

The large, family-sized villas, five of which have uninterrupted views of the sea, all include private swimming pools and are available in two designs. H-shaped villas demonstrate a more traditionally western floor-plan with four to five bedrooms. The similarly sized L-shape design is modelled from a more traditional Thai style house, with the corridor running along the outside of the house. Ian expects that, "people who have been living in Asia will prefer the L-shaped design for perhaps they are a little more accustomed to outdoor living. The overhangs on the corridors are very generous and since the rain in Phuket rarely falls any way other than vertically, there will be no problem with moving around the house during the monsoon. "

Ian enthused that one very special element of the project is the gardens. "We spent a lot of time in designing the gardens and in how people can get the best use out of these outdoor spaces. A lot of the design has been made to draw the eye naturally to the outdoor areas. We have regarded an outdoor space as a room, so a lot of attention has gone into planning the area required, what the space will look like and the landscaping, to create a more tropical feeling. Just like the Dusit Laguna and other hotels, we've spent a lot of money in getting the structure and the shape right, yet we strongly recognize the need to let the outside in. Our design team has a lot of experience in hotel and resort design, so they are very familiar with creating an indoor-outdoor balance. In my point of view, what really distinguishes a five-star property are the outdoor spaces, without that carefully planned pool corner and the lush landscaping it just doesn't have that "wow-factor"and this "wow"is what we are trying to create. "

Neglecting not those young expatriate singles and couples who do not have children and the retiring couples enthusiastic about yachting and golf, Maan Tawan will also provide for people looking for something a little smaller. Again, astute research revealed that not everybody wants to buy a villa, but they still demand the prime location, low maintenance and communal areas that a deluxe apartment can offer.

Inspired by the ambience of exclusive world class resorts, the deluxe apartments are spacious with approximately 183sqm of interior area designed within the context of contemporary Thai architectural styling. The ground floor comprises large airy reception rooms and main service areas complimented by a colonnaded terrace. Two to three bedrooms and the bathrooms are planned for the upper levels. These duplex apartments are situated on the eastern side of the property facing either the mirrored beauty of the river frontage or the lagoon-style communal swimming pool.

The prestigious penthouse apartments are roughly equal in size to the duplexes, but what sets these apart, are the magnificent views afforded from their elevation. All villas being only two-storey affairs, some of the penthouses, perched on the third floor of the apartment blocks, look over the graceful curves of the Thai roofs in front and out to the infinity of the Andaman Sea. Others command sweeping views of the surrounding countryside and the tasteful Banyan Tree Phuket resort. High ceilings and a full-length balcony accentuate the fresh sea breezes that naturally use this channel as a thoroughfare.

Ian expects "a large proportion of our buyers to be regular visitors to Laguna hotels, The Dusit Laguna Phuket, Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket, Banyan Tree, "adding that he believes "this will be a prestigious address and clients would be proud to say to their friends, "Oh I just bought a villa next to the Banyan Tree. "It would seem that prestige sells; "three of ten villas and two

penthouses have been sold, and we have reservations on a number more. We are also expecting to have another flourish during the Easter break. We've been marketing since January and we had a great Chinese New Year. I guess we are targeting the expatriate communities in Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, and Taipei. This is a small, very distinctive development and doesn't really apply to mass marketing. We expect that clients will come to us mainly through recommendation. People who know the location and have seen the designs will naturally tell their friends or colleagues. "

There is definitely plenty of property around, whether it be near the beach, or with views over surrounding hills, golf courses, or the sea. Some developers give the buyer the flexibility to choose their own dream home, while others provide completed villas, ready to move in. Whatever the size and cost, two things is certain: Phuket is coveted because of the facilities it offers, and investment in real estate is always sound and can yield profits, provided you have the right management in place. Before making up your mind, however, examine property contracts carefully either on your own or with the help of lawyer and learn more about the different ownership types available.

Tropical Living: May 2003, Volume 2 Issue 12

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