One Bangkok, Thailand's largest private property development project, is ready to evolve with Bangkok to the future with its Urbanverse concept, offering a seamless blend of urban living experiences.
Panote Sirivadhanabhakdi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Frasers Property Limited (Frasers Property), joint developer of One Bangkok, said the project aimed to revolutionize urban living by offering multiple experiences in one district, combining the city's rich heritage with a global perspective.
“The project will transform the Rama IV area to become the city’s prime central business district,” he said. “Rama IV Road where the project is located has been an important trading artery with a long history of great commercial and cultural significance.”
With unprecedented private and public sector participation in recent years, Rama IV Road is regaining vitality and economic potential, poised to become Bangkok’s new urban hub.
Frasers Property is committed to bring this vision to life and is involved in the development of several projects, from Samyan Mitrtown at Samyan MRT station, Silom Edge at Silom MRT station, and The PARQ, FYI Center and the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center MRT station.
With an investment value of over 120 billion baht, One Bangkok is being jointly developed by TCC Assets (Thailand) Co, Ltd and Frasers Property Holdings (Thailand) Co, Ltd., which is a subsidiary of FPL.
“We leverage TCC Group’s potential to invest in Frasers Property and utilize its network and experience from previous large-scale mixed-use developments in Singapore, Australia, UK, and China for One Bangkok,” said Mr Panote.
FOUR PILLARS FOR QUALITY OF LIFE
To evolve Bangkok, One Bangkok is developed under four pillars. The first is being the movement – focused on enhancing mobility and improving the quality of life for residents, positioning the district as a model for forward-thinking urban planning and complete community development.
“We will synergise with the city through connection, collaboration and complementary development,” he said.
“The project aims to enhance the city's infrastructure by working closely with both private and public partners, connecting with the city and complementing surrounding districts to create a unified, thriving metropolis.”
One Bangkok worked with world-class architectural firms including Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and A49 on the district masterplan. It also collaborates with industry leaders in various fields like SCG, Tokyo Gas, Gulf, Mitsui, and Huawei to create a world-class destination in the heart of Bangkok.
“We completed the longest continuous concrete mat foundation pour, ever, in southeast Asia with partners. It took 33 hours to do the single pour,” he said.
“Another sustainability initiative that we collaborated with SCG on was to recycle some 2,600 concrete pile heads, which would typically go to waste, into precast panels for our multi-purpose hall.”
The second pillar is to amplify Bangkok’s values by capturing them to inspire designs and experiences within the district.
One of them will be to reconstruct the historic Saladaeng radio telegraph station – Thailand’s first radio station dating back to 1913 – which was situated within One Bangkok’s land plot for the public to enjoy and learn about this important chapter of the country’s history.
The project will also introduce an immersive art loop, a two-kilometre journey which will be a first-of-its-kind in the city, offering a unique cultural experience for office workers, residents and visitors alike.
The development will feature a comprehensive new-to-market retail component that promises to be a shopping, lifestyle and dining destination like no other, with a vibrant atmosphere that will appeal to visitors of all ages.
With its prime location, distinct precincts, and commitment to providing a top-notch shopping and dining experience, One Bangkok is poised to become one of Bangkok's premier retail destinations that also promotes the city's burgeoning class of young designers, entrepreneurs, chefs, and retailers.
The third pillar is to redefine the cityscape by creating critical mass, unifying networks and shifting the gravity of Bangkok.
“The project will bring significant scale across all commercial real estate components, from 60,000 captive workforce, to the largest continuous retail floor plate, create network effects across multiple dimensions, from transport infrastructure to green network, to myriad communities and society.”
The fourth pillar of One Bangkok emphasises smart, sustainable living with a focus on empowering residents and occupants through a smart and sustainable ecosystem. With 108 rai of total land, the project includes some 50 rai of green and open space for the all to enjoy.
“Unlike traditional single-use buildings, One Bangkok does not feature individual cooling tower structures or ducts to release heat from air conditioners in each building,” he said
Instead, heat is managed at a centralised location, freeing up roof and balcony spaces for use as green, usable spaces, resulting in over 50% open space and maximising the usable square footage within the building.
Mr Panote added that One Bangkok aimed to be the first in Thailand to achieve LEED for Neighborhood Development Platinum certification and several of its buildings would be constructed to WELL Platinum standards.”
“This will highlight our commitment to promoting human health and wellness in sustainable, environmentally-friendly surroundings,” he said.
EIGHT URBANVERSE MEMBERS
One Bangkok will be conceived as an Urbanverse that encompasses a multitude of urban living experiences in one holistic development. The Urbanverse members comprise eight components.
Workplace across five grade-A office towers will be a mix of core, flexible and co-working spaces with a total lettable area of 500,000 sq m for more than 50,000 decision makers and professionals.
Retail space at four precincts comprising a lifestyle mall, a multi-concept square, a retail arcade, and a cultural hub and retail will offer new lifestyle experience with a total lettable space of 190,000 sq m housing over 450 stores.
Live entertainment arena with a 6,000-person capacity will be a world-class stage for all entertainment activities, exhibitions, conferences and symposiums.
There will be five hotels in One Bangkok which will comprise The Ritz-Carlton, Andaz, a super luxury hotel, an upscale lifestyle hotel and a serviced residence with a combined 1,100 keys across the district.
One Bangkok will also house three residential projects in three segments including ultra luxury, super luxury and luxury with a leasehold contract of 60 years.
Besides the 2-km art loop and the rebuilt heritage radio telegraph station, the project will feature ongoing art events and programs throughout the year.
One Bangkok also dedicates 50 rai to be used as public spaces including a linear park along Wireless Road and Rama IV Road and a civic plaza in the heart of the project.
“It will be a smart city with sustainable infrastructure,” said Mr Panote. “It is well equipped with the latest technologies and innovations for convenient lifestyles, serving as a model of social, economic and environmental sustainability.”
