Thailand's Tallest (Proposed) Highrise

Majestic Tower

Majestic Tower

Majestic Tower

If I've got the story correct, the proposed Majestic Tower in South Pattaya has been renamed Ocean 1 Tower and construction of Thailand's tallest highrise may begin later this year. If you're looking for a place with views of Walking Street, Cambodia, and perhaps even Australia, this might be your kind of spot. And just think of the possibilities for Pattaya's notorious Western jumpers.

Thailand’s tallest building to redefine Pattaya skyline

Construction on what will be the tallest building in Thailand is set to begin. The high-end Ocean 1 Tower, planned for the Jomtien waterfront, near Pattaya, will also be one of the tallest residential buildings in the world.

The 91 floor residential building overlooking Jomtien Beach will top out at 327 meters. Currently the Baiyoke Tower 11, at 304 meters and 84 floors, is Thailand’s tallest building.

Ocean 1 Tower is being developed by Eastern Seaboard property firm Siam Best Enterprises Co., Ltd. The building will feature 611 condominiums, ranging from studios through to three bedroom apartments, with one penthouse and two duplex penthouses. The complex will also include a shopping centre with a supermarket and specialty shops, as well as a variety of restaurants and cafes.

Asia Property Report Link

Accident Mayhem in Pattaya

Pattaya Accident


Another Pattaya Accident

Driving in Pattaya or elsewhere in Thailand can be a risky proposition, as shown by these photos published in the weekly Pattaya Mail.

Burger King delivery rider killed in collision with truck

A Burger King delivery rider died during the afternoon of March 22 when the motorcycle he was riding hit a dump truck. Burger King delivery man Wanchat Pusujarit, 23, was killed when his motorcycle slid under a dump truck.

The accident happened at the entrance to Soi 18/2 on the Pattaya-Naklua Road, outside the Sea Lodge Hotel. Police arriving at the scene found the body of Wanchat Pusujarit, 23. He had died from massive head injuries. Beside the body was a Burger King bag filled with hamburgers and fries.

An Isuzu dump truck was stopped in the soi 10 meters from the body, and under the rear of the truck was the wreckage of a Honda Wave motorcycle. The driver of the truck, Supachai Piromplad, 24, was seated in his cab in a state of shock.

Supachai told police he had been driving the truck to a hotel that is under construction in the soi. He came from the direction of the Dolphin Roundabout, and performed a normal left-turn. The motorcycle hit the side of the truck, and the bike and its rider slid underneath. When he discovered the rider was dead, Supachai got back into his cab to await the police.

Pattaya Mail Link

Bangkok Prison Tours

Lovely and Idyllic

For some reason, I now have an interest in jails and prisons and so was intrigued by a recent post by Richard about some newly opened prison tours in Bangkok, not yet covered by the mainstream media but certainly of interest to this travel writer for the next edition of his Thailand Handbook. Judging by the photo, and compared to the dreary brutalism of architecture at 850 Bryant, this one should be an easy escape: just tie some bedsheets together and throw them over the wall and waltz through the flowers.

We often talk about the top 10 attractions in Bangkok for tourists. Most of these are familiar to all of us. However, if you have already been to Thailand before, or you feel that you cannot face yet another temple, then the Corrections Museum on Mahachai Road offers a suitable distraction. Fortunately it is not yet in the Lonely Planet, so if you do decide to go there, you will find that you will get your own personal tour of the prison and museum. My tour guide was a charming Thai lady who very enthusiastically picked up a sword to demonstrate how they used to behead prisoners in the old days. I asked her if the place ever gets crowded. She said, oh yes, yesterday we had a party of four people come. Anyone else that day? No, just them.

Link

New U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh

U.S. Embassy

An old friend of mine from San Francisco packed up his bags and got a job reconstructing U.S. embassies around the world, including the incredibly dilapidated digs in Cambodia which was an architectural disgrace but now looks like a maximum security facility for the criminally insane. Still, no fault of my friend bur rather the bunker mentality of my government. Why do all foreign U.S. embassies look like war emplacements? Beats me.

Here's an edited version of his recent email:

Carl,

It's been a long time since I corresponded. I'll send this to both of the e-mails you
gave me in case one or the other isn't current.

I'm now living in Bangkok. I officially retired last summer and am now doing some xontract work for the State Department. I have a security project here, one at the consulate one more in xxx, so I'm on the road a lot. I'll be here until early 08 and then get more serious about limiting my participation to part time work. I have a huge 3 BR apartment so if you get tired of staying in the 5 star hotels when you're in Bangkok, feel free to crash here or give me a call and we'll have lunch.

The new Embassy in Phnom Penh is completed and has been occupied for about a year now. I was there until last summer finishing up the USAID building. I miss
Phnom Penh a lot and think I'll have that as my home base. I'd been thinking of Nong Khai and still may but it's a pretty quiet place and I'm not sure I'm
prepared for that yet. Lots of opportunities for volunteer work among the numerous NGOs situated in Cambodia. Bangkok is ok but feels congested. Not having a vehicle, my range of motion is largely limited by the MRT and BTS.

I was in the states for a few months after I retired but before returning to Thailand. I spent most of my time in San Francisco. It was great to be home. I'm
actually thinking of going in on a 2 unit house somewhere in the city with a friend of mine who lives there. It's a sobering reality, looking at prices, seems like around $1.3 million for a decent place in a nice neighborhood. We'll probably wait until I return. Interest rates look to be capped for awhile and I don't think prices are going to run away and hide any time soon.

Sorry I've run on but haven't corresponded in awhile. I'm enclosing a few photos of the Phnom Penh Embassy that you might be interested in.

Happy travels!!

Singapore Spacey Highrise Proposal

Proposted Scotts Tower

The latest proposed highrise housing tower in Singapore will add some variety to the otherwise mundane architecture along Scotts Road just off Orchard. We'll see if this one really flies.

Far East Organization, Singapore’s largest private development company, has commissioned the Office for Metropolitan Architecture for OMA’s first architectural project in Singapore – a 36-storey residential high-rise. The 153 meter tall tower will be located at the intersection of Scotts Road and Cairnhill Road, in close proximity to Orchard Road, Singapore’s famous shopping and lifestyle street. With 20,000m² of built floor area, the building will provide 68 high-end apartment units with panoramic views. The design strategically maneuvers within the highly regulated building environment to maximize the full potential of the site: Four individual apartment towers are vertically offset from one another and suspended from a central core. The skyline of floating towers directly relates to the surrounding building volumes and explores the most attractive views towards the city center and an extensive green zone to the north. The lifted apartment towers reduce the building’s footprint to a minimum; the liberated ground level provides communal leisure activities embedded in the tropical landscape. “We are thrilled with the opportunity to create an outstanding project in partnership with OMA.

World Architecture News Link