“We are becoming a smart living solutions provider to offer our customers more convenience since we developed our San Dee robot. We are also developing an intelligence box service for our customers so that they can have parcels delivered when they are not staying in their rooms,” Sansiri Plc’s chief technology officer , Tawicha Trakulyingyong, said recently.

“Recently, we joined hands with Honda, Uber, ofo, Haupcar, SHARGE and EA Anywhere to launch Smart Move, a ride-sharing service platform for customers who own our residential projects,” said Tawicha.

AP (Thailand) Plc also is also offering smart living solutions to its customers by providing intelligence box, heart pump, and electric chargers to owners of its residential projects.

“We never stop growing and developing, to catch up with and get ahead of future lifestyle trends, as we are committed to elevating the quality of life of Thai people to international standards,” said Vittakarn Chandavimol, the company’s chief for the condominium business group, recently.

“That’s why we offer AP charging POD by putting together advanced innovation like the technology used in EV and PHEV charger, and our expertise in space utilisation as well as our attention to a convenient urban lifestyle.”

Land and Houses Plc is setting up intelligent securities systems at all of its residential projects.

“We learn what our customers want and have developed intelligent securities systems at all our residential projects to serve their demand, including designing all residential units with facilities that serve their current lifestyle,” said Land and Houses Plc chairman of the board of directors, Naporn Sunthornchitcharoen, recently.

SC Asset’s chief executive officer Nuttaphong Kunakornwong said the company is working with various partners in the ecosystem to better respond to people’s evolving lifestyle by working with business partners to develop Living Solutions for our customers and nearby communities.

Its living solutions platform is called “Rue Jai”.

Most leading property firms who want to be market leaders are striving to make themselves a living solutions provider platform by creating a new business model under the digฌital economy concept. In particular, they are collaborating with startups to create application platforms to get more big data so that they can cater to people’s lifestyle by adding value to their residential projects at a time when location and price are the normal yardsticks of market competition.

“We believe that where you stay is not just your residence but it defines your lifestyle,” Sansiri president Srettha Thavisin said earlier.

Two new phases are underway. Marvel Experience, an interactive entertainment park, will open in May, followed in August by the Didyasarin international preparatory school, affiliated with American School of Bangkok.

A new extension focusing on children’s education and with fun activities will be added to the existing Mega kids zone.

Megabangna will also add a new customer touch point, Mega Park, ideal for families and friends, and has expanded its Ring Road to handle an anticipated increase in car traffic.

“We envision the shopping centre as a centrepiece of a modern community in the future, a city where people work and live close to the place they shop, eat, meet with friends and spend time with their family,” said Christian Olofsson of Ikea Southeast Asia.

“The transformation from today’s retail destination will of course happen over a series of phases, but we see Megacity hosting an even larger commercial offer, while also including experience venues, hotels, office buildings, residential properties, park and leisure components on the 400 rai we have at our disposal.

“With a capacity to cater to over 250,000 people per day, it will be a sustainable development equivalent of a city, which is why we call it Megacity.”

Bang Na is one of Bangkok’s fast-growing suburban areas, with high spending power, great quality-education opportunities and close proximity to the airport and eastern seaboard.

“Investment in new mass-transport projects, such as the MRT line and future light monorail, provides additional benefits for developers and investors who want to join hands with us in realising our vision for Megabangna and Megacity,” Olofsson said.

Megabangna president Paphitchaya Suwandee said Mega FoodWalk strengthens the shopping centre’s total food offerings by providing more than 160 restaurants.

“In 2018, we will welcome 100 more tenants and offer a better customer experience through the refurbishment programme,” she said. “Our ambition is to develop Megabangna as a true meeting place that offers more than just shopping. The opening of Marvel Experience and Didyasarin school is another step we are taking to realise our ambition.”

Megabangna’s 2018 marketing budget represents a 20-per-cent increase over last year, with the main focus being to reach a wider group of customers, including overseas. The centre expects to see 10 per cent more visitors this year.

“We will continue to deliver memorable experiences,” said Paphitchaya. “The Mega Countdown 2018 has earned us the title ‘best countdown destination in eastern Bangkok’, with an impressive audience of over 350,000 on New Year’s Eve. We are currently working with the Walt Disney company to bring the ‘Dream Big Princess’ event for our juvenile customers.

“We never stop listening to our customers because we learn so much from them about what they want and how we can improve.”

The company’s chief business group/condominium Vittakarn Chandavimol said AP has decided to build on its collaboration with visionary leading companies who share the same business direction – the focus on elevating life quality in Thailand up to international standards. These companies include BMW Group Thailand, GLT Green Thailand and Central Group. The companies formed a partnership to kick off a revolution of EV charging network through the ChargeNow initiative.

ChargeNow realised the largest comprehensive network in Thailand. By joining ChargeNow, AP shows its willingness to take responsibility for society and the environment in line with good corporate governance while paying attention to living and social quality as evidenced in its efforts to improve living standards of Thai people.

ChargeNow currently covers over 65,000 public charging outlets for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 27 countries around the world. In Thailand, ChargeNow stations will be displayed through mobile application Greenlots which allows customers to see whether the charging station is free or in use , all in one application making recharging the batteries of their vehicles easier, faster and more convenient.

He added that “Smart Move” is Sansiri’s comprehensive residential car-sharing service platform, introduced for the first time in residentials project in Thailand. It is developed as part of Sansiri’s commitment to the concept “Complete Your Living Experience” as well as our move towards the ongoing sharing economy that is transforming the way people live and access resources. The service will be integrated into Sansiri Home Service application, a property management mobile application for Sansiri residents, and will be available in full service in 2018 for residents in Sansiri’s condominium, single house and townhouse projects.

Smart Move is first introduced for residents of THE LINE Jatujak – Mochit, with two units of BMWi3, the first fully electric vehicle from BMW, available for car-sharing service.

In the first phase, pods will be installed at Vittorio, Rhythm Rangnam, Rhythm Ekkamai, Life Pinklao, Life Asoke and Life Sukhumvit 48.

AP homeowners will also benefit from a nationwide ChargeNow network of more than 50 charging stations. The locations are listed on the phone application Greenlots and at http://chargenow-th.greenlots.com.

“This year AP has decided to build on its collaboration with visionary leading companies who share the same business direction – the focus on elevating life quality in Thailand up to international standards,” said Vittakarn Chandavimol of AP.

“BMW Group Thailand, GLT Green Thailand and Central Group formed a partnership that kicked off a revolution with an EV charging network through the ChargeNow initiative, the largest comprehensive network in Thailand.

“By joining ChargeNow, AP shows its willingness to take responsibility for society and the environment, in line with good corporate governance, while paying attention to living and social quality as evidenced in its efforts to improve living standards of Thai people.”

“ChargeNow connects all charging stations of the alliance on the same platform to give service users extra convenience,” Sethipong Anutarasoti of BMW Thailand pointed out.

“This programme is very successful overseas and equally successful in Thailand. We are extremely focused to work with our partners in expanding public charging stations to cover the whole country. Big thanks to AP for realising the importance of the programme and for supporting charging locations all along.”

“We are honoured to be a part of a good initiative like this,” added Narratchai Leeraphante of Polytechnology and GLT Green Thailand.

“We also see further opportunity to make public charging stations more easily accessible, thanks to AP for the convenient stations downtown and in central business districts, and also thanks to the other partners for sharing their expertise in different areas to make this good social cause possible.”

ChargeNow currently has more than 65,000 public charging outlets for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 27 countries around the world.

ChargeNow will be open for pre-registration to any PHEV or EV owner of any make and model with AC Type 1 (SAE J1772) or Type 2 (IEC 62196) charging socket.

The location will also become a new business centre in Bangkok, especially as it has connected the MRT Blue Line at Bang Sue station with the Purple Line at Tao Poon station since the end of last year, he said.

This has greatly boosted the attractiveness of the residential area in Tao Poon-Bang Sue, which has been further augmented with plans to develop over 300 rai (48 hectares) of land around the stations into a transit-oriented development that encompasses mixed-use projects, the MD added.

In terms of the development of condominiums in Tao Poon-Bang Sue, from 2009 to the end of last year, there were 30,200 units in the total accumulated supply, which had an accumulated take-up rate of 90 per cent.

Presently, the average selling price per square metre for grade-A condominiums launched in the Tao Poon-Bang Sue area is about Bt117,000 per square metre, Phanom said.

The highest average selling price is Bt134,000 per square metre, according to Knight Frank Thailand’s survey.

Phi Suea house is an off-grid, solar-hydrogen micro grid residential project, the first of its kind in the world. The technology uses excess solar energy to produce hydrogen from electrolysers, which split water into its components, hydrogen and oxygen.

The highlight of the summit was the symbolic laying of the foundation stone for the first green hydrogen refueling station in Southeast Asia, which is to be jointly developed in collaboration with local universities.

Phi Suea House project owner, Sebastian-Justus Schmidt, announced the initiative and invited all institutes and universities to “join together, gain knowledge and participate in the planning and deployment of this future technology, which is fast developing in Europe, US and Japan”.

More than 200 professionals from industry, academia and government converged for the event to discuss the latest developments in the field of hydrogen energy technology around the world. The summit was organized by the Phi Suea House and supported by hydrogen energy technology company Enapter.

The event also discussed in depth Thailand 4.0 and the path to sustainability and a new energy future – the green hydrogen refueling initiative ties into this theme and aims to develop the knowledge and framework necessary for Thailand to become a leader in hydrogen energy technology.

Country Croup Development (CGD) now aims to hand over units to buyers this October.

“Top executives from US-based Four Seasons, Beijing Construction Engineering Group and Ping An Bank honoured us by attending the event,” said CGD chief executive officer, Ben Taechaubol. These key stakeholders were “all very pleased with our progress”.

“Ping An provided the project financing worth US$375 million (Bt11.87 billion),” he noted in an interview with The Nation. The China-based lender is also expected to serve many Mainland Chinese buyers with mortgage facilities.

Some “55 per cent of the buyers are from overseas,” said Ben.

“To date we have sold 70 per cent of 355 units that have a leasehold period of 75 years, comprising three contracts, with each running 25 years.”

Owners will enjoy spectacular views of the river near Sathorn Bridge as well as landmarks such as the Shangri La, Peninsula and Oriental.

At Bt350,000 per square metre, the units start at about Bt40 million and they have Global construction giant Beijing Construction completed a floor every six days, to deliver a timely finish, said Ben of the engineering feat that took less than two years.

The four-bedroom units on the lower floors are already completed and fitted out, said Ben.

The smallest one-bedroom units are 137 sq m, while a five-bedroom unit spans about 500 sq m.

Of the outlook for business, Ben said he saw “greater stability that has led to investment gathering pace”.

Four Seasons Bangkok will open at the same time as the residences, he said. The second hotel Capella is expected to open a few months later.

Ben also said the company will later this year announce a new mixed-use project by the waterfront, on Rama III Road. “It will not be super luxury, but a middle- to high-end product.”

The company, which also has an investment company in the UK, last year acquired a school In Brighton for more than Bt880 million.

The company, which she set up in 2014, provides design consultancy and technical analysis to assist local and international project teams and companies in designing green buildings.

Le Bihan said most people have an exaggerated idea of the premium costs associated with green buildings compared to conventional sites. Perceptions, which range from an additional 20 per cent to 100 per cent increased costs, are very far from the reality.

According to the United Nations (and the World Green Building Council), the average additional construction cost for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building is less than 2 per cent, she said.

LEED is a rating system devised by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to evaluate the environmental performance of a building.

“In addition, green buildings translate into added value as they benefit from a minimum 21 per cent lower operational costs, enjoy a 7 per cent increased asset value, 30 per cent higher occupancy rate, see their ROI [return of investment] jump to 14 per cent and in Asia, are paid back for in less than seven years,” detailed Le Bihan.

“Stating costs as a no-go argument is clearly an uninformed decision and a missed opportunity,” she said. “With buildings potentially holding a lifespan of at least 25 years, real estate investors and corporations are seeing a clear correlation between decreased operational costs, improved efficiency, users’ satisfaction and asset value and are subsequently vouching for green buildings as a sound investment strategy.”

“The green buildings are a win-win for all stakeholders and across the supply chain, from the investor, to the building owner, to the building manager, to the users,” she said.

“And at a country level, they drive sustainable economic growth by opening new and valuable market segments for green tech, energy services, eco-friendly products, in line with Thailand 4.0 aspirations for ‘Smart’ cities,” she added.

And there is a definite green building trend in Thailand.

The nation saw its first green building in 2007 – the LEED certified multinational carpet manufacturer InterfaceFLOR building located in Chonburi.

Since then, green buildings have been multiplying at a 54 per cent annual growth rate and now reach more than 5 million square metres nationwide, according to SCB’s Economic Intelligence Centre.

Although the adoption of green buildings worldwide is increasing, their popularity is far from universal and their proportion of new construction still too low to effectively temper the worsening trend of climate change, she added.

Misconceptions about higher upfront costs, the lack of awareness of direct and indirect benefits, and the lack of enforced regulations is slowing developer’s embrace of green buildings, Le Bihan said.

“Market demand alone is insufficient to create a shift from a brown to a green economic model. It needs to be followed through by the government, public and private sectors and addressed by educational programmes for significant change to break through current barriers”, she said.

“We need, however, for the government and industry to meet building stakeholders half way and offer incentives, either in the form of compensation such as tax rebates, preferred interest rates, or funding schemes or in the form of technical support. And we need to require stronger building codes and environmental regulations that reflect higher performance standards.”

Europe is taking the lead on green building.

“Asia is getting there at a relatively slower pace,” said Le Bihan. “If you look at green hotels for example, the density of green buildings in Asia remains the smallest in the world with only 0.9 per cent. Disparity arises regionally, though. Singapore is keen to lead the green building movement in the tropics, and has in the space of a decade increased their number by a hundred times. As a result, about a third of all of its buildings are certified green buildings.”

Thailand could have a front seat in a green and “smart” future, she acknowledged.

“But in order to, Thailand needs to develop a long-term vision backed by long-term investment strategies.”

In Thailand, office buildings dominate the green building sphere with a 40 per cent market share of all green buildings. They are followed closely by the retail, hotel and industrial sectors, which have understood the marketing and business value of eco-friendly buildings. The real-estate sector, for both condominiums and houses, is eager to gain a competitive advantage and is slowly catching up with the movement.

“Most green buildings are located in Bangkok but we are seeing an uptake in industrial parks in Rayong, in residential compounds in southeastern and northern provinces, as well as hotels from Chiang Mai to Phuket,” Le Bihan said.

“The hospitality and tourism sector, looking for a competitive advantage and responding to guests’ expectations, is greening their hotels at a building and operational level. At an individual level, people are picking up the facts and are increasingly demanding healthy safe homes to live, efficient offices to work and stimulating schools for their children to learn,” said Le Bihan.

Green Building Consulting & Engineering has been appointed consultant to work on the concept of Mongolia’s new Olympic Leisure Centre featuring a FIFA standard stadium, ice rink, swimming pool, and multifunctional gym as well as office, hotel and retail blocks.

The company has also been active in healthcare projects by participating in a design competition for a well-known healthcare facility in Bangkok.

They have been working closely with a wellness and hospitality consultant to develop a sustainability programme for wellness destination hotels in Asia. “Our collaboration has brought us to optimise the building performance and enhance the users’ comfort of hotel projects in China and Indonesia,” Le Bihan said.

In addition to work on green buildings, the company is developing new services and products across business segments such as organising green events, industry specific seminars, sustainability dedicated platforms, and the developing green products.

It made the report regarding the execution on the memorandum of understanding for the purchase with the Pace Development Group as per a reference letter, which extended the due diligence period to until February 5.

It said: “The company would like to inform that as the company has conducted the due diligence on the assets until the end of due diligence period on 5 February 2018. However, the company has not received certain information sufficient for the company to consider the purchase price and relevant risks properly.

“The company already requested to extend the due diligence period in order to obtain such pending information but the agreement to extend such period was not agreed.

“Therefore, today the Company notified Pace Development Group that the company is not satisfied by the due diligence investigation, and the company will not offer the purchase prices for the assets. Consequently, the company will receive the deposit in the amount of Bt322.82 million in full.”