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A pearl of a view
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The first thing that strikes you about Ao Yon is the quiet. Hardly a car passes or a dog barks in the vicinity. In the distance you can hear the faint sound of birds, but this is almost drowned by the murmur of the sea rippling on the beach in the sheltered bay. |
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It is here that Robert and Rhoda Warnes decided to build their exclusive residential development. As Robert Warnes says, "This area really is Phuket's undiscovered pearl. You've got seclusion and privacy right here but with the convenience of Phuket Town only 15 minutes away. "Hence, Robert and Rhoda called their development, Oyster Cove. Nestling on the bottom slopes of the wooded green hills of Ao Yon's secluded white beach, Oyster Cove began life as 4 villas, each over 780 square metres in ground area with their own swimming pools. Construction began in 1999 and one villa has been completed, while another two should be completed by January 2003. The project so far has been very successful - an outcome never in doubt considering the fantastic views each of the villas commands over Ao Yon Bay. The remaining plot is set further up the hillside above the others and commands unmarred panoramic views of the oyster beds of Ao Yon, Mai Thon Island and the seas beyond. "We consider this the premier plot, "says Robert, "and since we've had a lot of inquiries for smaller units, we decided to create apartments instead of a villa. " To maintain the exclusive character and aesthetic integrity of the development, the remit they gave their architects was to create a group of apartments that look like a villa. The team surpassed the challenge. Set around the shared pool, 3 duplexes and 1 single story apartment will be constructed as a villa that complements the other villas and the beautiful green surroundings. All of the apartments will have between 2 to 4 terraces that overlook the pool and all of them, of course, will enjoy the unsurpassed view over the bay.
The Warnes are very proud of their dynamic young Thai design team and their team of contractors. Their pride is totally justified, as the quality, sturdy construction and detailing are superb. The Warnes have chosen quality local materials. The senior architect is there 4 hours a day, 6 days a week to ensure quality control. In keeping with the other villas, the Warnes have focussed on a light airy Mediterranean feel with large rooms, surrounded by expansive picture windows. "We wanted nothing poky; rather a Mediterranean feeling of space, but with a tropical touch to it. . " Space is certainly a major theme. Three of the apartments will have a central open-plan living area of 45 square metres, with large sliding French windows accessing the pool. The piece de resistance will be the penthouse duplex. The top floor will have panorama windows all round and will house an incredible 67 square metre open-plan living area and an expansive terrace, overlooking beautiful Ao Yon. In addition to the large living area, most of the units will feature a family room, another living area "for that extra television, so the kids won't fight over which channel to watch. "The units will have between two to three bedrooms, all with ensuite bath/shower rooms, a fitted kitchen and full air-conditioning throughout. The units will range in size from 100 to 185 square metres, not including the terrace areas. As with the villas, the designs are flexible, so that owners, in conjunction with the architects, can commission extensive changes to their apartment.
Around the villa, the gardens will be landscaped in a similar fashion to the other villas, using native tropical plants that attract wildlife. Their success can already be seen; the hibiscus and bougainvillea that already bloom summon lots of butterflies and Robert says he sees kingfishers and sun-birds on a regular basis. The Warnes will offer the apartments as a bare shell to those who enjoy filling their space with beloved objects. However, they will offer furnishing packages for the holiday homer who would also be looking for rental income. At the owner's choice, a professional interior decorator will furnish the homes on either a Mediterranean or a Tropical theme, in keeping with the ambience of the architecture. A Management service will take care of the administration of letting apartments, maid services and security. Oyster Cove is an ideal location for the holiday-goer who wants tranquility and rustic authenticity. The sheltered bay of Ao Yon is also the perfect place to anchor a yacht. This peaceful environment would also be ideal to raise a family - at one with nature but with the convenience of town and the other amenities of Phuket only a short car ride away. The popular price bracket of these exclusive apartments means owning part of the Ao Yon pearl is well within reach. |
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Tropical Living: Nov 2002, Volume 2 Issue 6 |
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