11th Thailand Property Awards 2016 finalists revealed: Who will bring home the gold?
11th Thailand Property Awards 2016 finalists revealed: Who will bring home the gold?
A stellar mix of boutique and large-scale luxury projects comprise this year’s official shortlist
MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation, Minor International and boutique firm Lucky Living Properties are just a few of the top contenders in the biggest real estate awards programme in the Kingdom, the 11th Thailand Property Awards 2016, presented by Hansgrohe and organised by PropertyGuru Group, Asia’s leading online property group.
More than 200 developments have entered this year – up 32 percent from 2015 – and now the independent panel of judges have whittled down the list to 36 companies who will compete in 33 award categories.
Leading with nine nominations is MQDC, which was Highly Commended in the Best Developer category in 2015, the landmark 10th anniversary of the Awards. This year, MQDC is competing in the expanded luxury condominium categories, including Best Ultra Luxury Condo Development (Bangkok) for The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok and Best Luxury Condo Development (Bangkok) for Magnolias Waterfront Residences at ICONSIAM.
With a healthy demand from Thai super prime buyers and Asia-based foreign investors, the upscale residential segment remains one of the most active in the industry. Last year’s Best Developer winner SC Asset is also competing in the luxury/high-end categories, along with big names such as Sansiri, Major Development and Menam Residences, for projects located in the Chao Phraya River, Wireless Road, Saladaeng, Phrom Phong and Ladprao areas.
More: Luxury condo demand in Bangkok in tip-top shape
In addition to the revamped condo awards, the best low-rise and high-rise condo developments in the capital will be recognised in separate categories for the high-end and affordable segments. There is also a new award waiting for the Best Community Retail Development in the country.
Elsewhere in the Kingdom, emerging and established developers are competing in the residential/housing/villa categories in the popular holiday destinations of Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Samui, Phang Nga/Krabi, and the Eastern Seaboard.
“2016 has been the most challenging year since I joined the central judging panel in 2014,” according to Suphin Mechuchep, managing director at Jones Lang LaSalle (Thailand), and chairperson of the judges.
“There were a total of 214 of entries, a significant increase from only 163 last year. All of the judges spent a lot more time and effort than previous years on entry reviews and site visits. But it has also been a great experience as we have had excellent opportunities to meet with many interesting property developers as well as designers and architects who are involved in these projects.”
In the awards programme’s 11-year history, the Thailand Property Awards have gathered the top experts in the fields of real estate development, advisory, consultancy, management, architecture and design to sit on the esteemed judging panel. Presiding the jurors this year is returning judge Dr Manop Bongsadadt, renowned professor of architecture at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University and president of the 2016 judging panel.
More: Thailand’s most illustrious real estate event returns for the 11th year
“The judging criteria covers many other major aspects such a locational advantage, design concept, marketing success, sustainability and value for money for customers. So we had a clear parameter to decide which developments deserve an award,” notes Suphin. “It is amazing to see the number of high-profile developers investing in key resort locations across the country and not just in Bangkok.”
To ensure fairness and transparency for which the Thailand Property Awards is known, BDO, one of the world’s largest accounting and auditing firms, supervised the entire nomination period, site visits, and the meticulous judging process up until the judges’ final deliberations last week.
Winners will be revealed during the exclusive, black-tie gala dinner on Thursday, 22 September, at the prestigious Plaza Athenee Bangkok, a Royal Meridien hotel. An estimated 600 industry-leading figures and top real estate executives are expected to join the event, which will be graced by VIP guest Khun Suwat Liptapanlop, former Deputy Prime Minister and executive director of Proud Real Estate.
Finalists in the Development section will seek to win in their respective categories in order to qualify for the Best of the Best awards – including Best Housing Development (Thailand), Best Condo Development (Thailand) and Best Commercial Development (Thailand) – that will allow them to move on to the ASEAN grand finale and represent Thailand at the 6th South East Asia Property Awards in Singapore this November.
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“After a slightly improved performance during the first semester especially in the luxury segment, the domestic real estate sector wishes to continue its streak at the industry’s biggest annual event, the Thailand Property Awards, which now enters its second decade” says Terry Blackburn, founder and managing director of the Asia Property Awards.
“As always we are delighted to welcome the finest boutique and up-and-coming developers in Thailand to the awards programme along with the Kingdom’s biggest and established developers, who have returned to the competition to get the industry’s stamp of approval for the 11th year,” he adds.
“We have a fantastic judging panel and a roster of outstanding finalists that symbolise the Thai property sector’s resilience. For developers to stay competitive, the quality of their projects has gotten better year after year amidst the economic and socio-political challenges facing the industry. We received a lot more entries in the design categories than previous years, and it’s quite exciting to see who will shine during the awards ceremony.”
Aside from the 33 shortlist categories, the Thailand Property Awards will recognise an individual who has contributed significantly to the local property sector in the past year. Presented by the editors of industry-leading Property Report magazine, the Real Estate Personality of Year accolade will be the only award not selected by the independent judging panel. The previous recipient of this honour was Minor International’s founder and CEO William “Bill” E. Heinecke, who accepted his award during the 10th anniversary gala.
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The 11th Thailand Property Awards 2016 will boosted by the support of title sponsor Hansgrohe, gold sponsors Teka and JLL Thailand, official media partner Property Report – the host of the high-level real estate networking conference Property Report Congress Thailand 2016, which debuts in Bangkok right before the annual Gala Dinner – and the country’s top media and business associations, as well as the network of 16 million real estate consumers of the PropertyGuru Group, including Thailand’s No. 1 property portal, DDproperty.com.
Early bird tickets to Thailand’s premier real estate event are offered until 1 September only. For tickets and more information, contact [email protected] or visit the official website.
The full shortlist of official nominees in the 11th Thailand Property Awards 2016:
DEVELOPER
Best Boutique Developer
- Global Top Group Co Ltd
- Lucky Living Properties Co Ltd
- Siamese Asset Co Ltd
DEVELOPMENT
Best Ultra Luxury Condo Development (Bangkok)
- 98 Wireless by Sansiri PLC
- Marque Sukhumvit by Major Residences Company Limited
- The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
Best Luxury Condo Development (Bangkok)
- Magnolias Waterfront Residences at ICONSIAM by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
- Saladeang One by SC Asset Corporation PLC
Best Low-Rise High End Condo Development (Bangkok)
- LIV@49 by Lucky Living Properties Co Ltd
Best High-Rise High End Condo Development (Bangkok)
- Menam Residences by Menam Residences Co Ltd
- Whizdom Avenue Ratchada – Ladprao by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
Best Low-Rise Affordable Condo Development (Bangkok)
- Proud III Condominium by Tri Property Co Ltd
- Villa Lasalle Sukhumvit 105 by Origin Property Public Company Limited
Best High-Rise Affordable Condo Development (Bangkok)
- Knightsbridge Sky River Ocean by Origin Property Public Company Limited
- The Stage Taopoon Interchange by Real Asset Development Co Ltd
- Whizdom Station Ratchada – Thapra by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited
Best Housing Development (Bangkok)
- 749 Residence by Pannaphat Development Co Ltd
- Setthasiri Charan – Pinklao by Sansiri PLC
- VILLAZZO 10 by A-List Development
Best Condo Development (Phuket)
- Saturdays Residence by Two Villa Tara Co Ltd
- The Beachfront Oceanfront Condos and Villas by The Beachfront Oceanfront Condos and Villas
- Twinpalms Residences MontAzure by MontAzure
Best Residential Development (Phang Nga/Krabi )
- Phu Dahla Residences by Phu Petra Development Co Ltd
- The Cleat Condominium by Save Solution Co Ltd
Best Villa Development (Eastern Seaboard)
- Baan Dusit by Dusit Group
- Nusa Chivani by Nusasiri
Best Luxury Condo Development (Eastern Seaboard)
- Aeras Condominium by The Urban Property
- One Tower Pratumnak by 1 Group Development
- The Riviera Wongamat Beach by The Riviera Group
Best Affordable Condo Development (Eastern Seaboard)
- Dusit Grand Park by Dusit Group
- The Cloud by Global Top Group
Best Residential Development (Hua Hin)
- La Bua Resort & Residence by Nordic Home Co Ltd
- Falcon Hill by Falcon Hill Development Limited
- Smart House Valley Development by Suppagarn Real Estate Service Co Ltd
Best Luxury Villa Development (Hua Hin)
- MahaSamutr by PACE Development
Best Residential Development (Chiang Mai)
- Astra Condo by North Home Co Ltd
- The Spring Condominium by NTS Property Co Ltd
Best Residential Development (Samui)
- Azur by Beach Republic Group
- UniQue by Q71 Development Co Ltd
- Villa Karpe Diem by Sea Bright View Limited
Best Hotel Development
- Avani Riverside Bangkok by Minor International
Best Community Retail Development
- theCOMMONS by The Commons Co Ltd
Best Retail Development
- Siam Discovery by Siam Piwat Co Ltd
DESIGN
Best Residential Architectural Design
- Magnolias Waterfront Residences at ICONSIAM by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
- MahaSamutr by PACE Development
- The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
- VILLAZZO 10 by A-List Development
Best Residential Interior Design
- Best Western Premier BayPhere Pattaya by Habitat Group Co Ltd
- Magnolias Waterfront Residences at ICONSIAM by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
- The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
- X2 Vibe Pattaya SeaPhere by Fifth Avenue Development Co Ltd (Under Habitat Group Co Ltd)
Best Landscape Architectural Design
- Avani Riverside Bangkok Hotel by Minor Hotels
- Hyde Sukhumvit 11 by Grande Asset Hotels & Property Public Company Limited
- LIV@49 by Lucky Living Properties Co Ltd
- VILLAZZO 10 by A-List Development
Best Hotel Architectural Design
- Avani Riverside Bangkok Hotel by Minor Hotels
Best Hotel Interior Design
- Avani Riverside Bangkok Hotel by Minor Hotels
Best Retail Architectural Design
- theCOMMONS by The Commons Co Ltd
- Whizdom 101 by MQDC Magnolia Quality Development Corporation
Note: The awards for Best Developer, Best Green Development, Special Recognition in CSR, Special Recognition in Sustainable Development, Best Housing Development (Thailand), Best Condo Development (Thailand) and Best Commercial Development (Thailand) will be revealed during the Gala Dinner.
Read next: Hansgrohe presents the 2016 Asia Property Awards series
Source: Property Report