Christmas Eve in One Bangkok

Bangkok, Day 35

So it's Christmas Eve today, and it feels quite weird as it's not like any Christmas Eve I have ever experienced before. Normally, this is a very busy day for me and I usually start it pretty early by banning everyone from the kitchen (either just R or R and the kids if they are over at this point) as I start preparing all my Christmas vegetables and dishes as much as possible for tomorrow, start to set up the dinner table and trying to keep everything as tidy as possible as I go. Of course, everyone normally complains and stays out of the kitchen anyway, as I have either Shania Twain or Tony Christie CDs (yes, I still have a small Denon CD player in the kitchen!) on repeat and at a high volume...it's just my Christmas thing!

But today I don't have any of that as I'm not at 'home' in Glasgow, but in a location that, although it is decorated for Christmas, the heat is not quite computing that it's Christmas and it's definitely not the weather for Christmas Jumpers!

So what shall we do today??? Well, it seems R has come up with another idea (he's been busy lately!), and today he suggests that we do a bit of a loop in the area where we are based that will take in yet another new shopping mall and a park.

One Bangkok Mall

So after breakfast we headed off towards Lumpini Park as the new mall One Bangkok was not far from here. Little did we know when we set off that we would not make it to park as we had no idea just how massive this mall, or more accurately, the number of buildings that make up the One Bangkok complex was - it's absolutely HUMUNGOUS!!!

See the rough layout of the buildings that make it up below. When I say we got lost, I really mean we got lost a number of times, and it felt like a bit of a maze, but in a good way!

The following is information about the overall Project interspersed with some of my photos from the day:

One Bangkok is preparing for a revolutionary transformation in the Thai real estate landscape, aiming to redefine urban living. One Bangkok aspires to be "The Heart of Bangkok”, a district created to hold a place in people’s hearts, offering unparalleled lifestyle experiences. With a vision to evolve Bangkok into a “New Influential Global City”, One Bangkok will become a landmark that enhances Thailand's stature on the world stage and plays a pivotal part in driving Thailand’s economic development.

“With our collective experiences in developing leading real estate projects in over 20 countries, we now bring our knowledge and experience together with a world-class multi-disciplinary team to create One Bangkok, a fully integrated smart and sustainable district on an area of over 108 rai,” said Panote Sirivadhanabhakdi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Frasers Property Limited.

“By paying meticulous attention to every detail, from master planning and design to construction and business operations, we are crafting ‘The Heart of Bangkok’ to be a unique wonder in everyone’s heart, a place that will provide extensive green and open spaces to Bangkok, inspire every individual with art and cultural programmes, and enhance people’s quality of life with sustainable urban development. Of equal importance is that this project will bring Bangkok to the fore as an international city economically and culturally in terms of being an unequalled lifestyle destination, which will attract top-level business people, investors, and tourists, both local and international alike.”

The office towers are seamlessly integrated into One Bangkok, and each building has been designed to respond to the changing demands of the workplace as places where people want to spend time before, during, and after working hours. Tenants and their employees can seamlessly live, work, shop, and stay in one convenient location, encouraging a harmonious work-life environment. One Bangkok’s holistic approach to the well-being of its occupants also includes 80,000 square metres of green and open spaces that integrate expansive tree-lined pedestrian walkways stretching 5 kilometres throughout the entire district and a comprehensive art and culture programme via a multi-sensory 2-kilometre Art Loop.

Strategic Location in the Heart of Bangkok

Located at the corner of Wireless Road and Rama IV Road on the last piece of land in the city’s most highly sought-after location, One Bangkok unites major business districts such as Sathorn, Silom and Samyan and enjoys direct access to the integrated public transport system in addition to six access points around the district. This is complemented by the district’s green and open spaces of over 50 rai that connect Lumphini Park and Benjakitti Park to form a larger green canopy spread of over 700 rai, serving as a large green lung of Bangkok.

Setting a New Standard for Smart & Sustainable Living

One Bangkok is the first project in Thailand to receive the highest certified LEED platinum for Neighbourhood Development for remarkable sustainable development, and the Platinum WiredScore and Platinum SmartScore certifications to ensure excellent digital connectivity. The project is currently striving to obtain the WELL Building Standard for enhanced quality of life, convenience and safety of all occupants and visitors.

Curated experiences with community spirit: A place where people can find a multitude of urban living experiences catering to diverse needs, creating a vibrant community where urban dwellers can work, live, and play, with learning spaces and creative venues, world-class arts, and cultural programs to inspire people and redefine a more fulfilling and comprehensive lifestyle.

One Bangkok comprises five premium office towers, five luxury and lifestyle hotels, and three luxury residential towers. ”Spanning a total lettable space of over 160,000 square metres, One Bangkok Retail stands out and stands apart with three key attributes:

Interconnected Three Retail Experiences: Uniquely different concepts and designs seamlessly connected to one another.

Retail Loop: A long strip of over 900 stores of fashion and lifestyle brands and a wide variety of entertainment venues in a space that seamlessly connects both indoor and outdoor atmospheres.

Food Loop: Using the concept of “All Day, Everyday Dining Journey”, for the first time in Thailand, with a collection of over 250 legendary fine dining restaurants, top-notch restaurants, roof-top bars, hangout spots, as well as street food from both Thailand and around the world in an area of over 1.5 kilometres in length for all day enjoyment.

Art Loop: A space to gain daily inspiration while shopping at One Bangkok Retail, bringing together world-class art and cultural works and programs, for the first time in Thailand, on a stretch of over 2 kilometres across the district to serve as learning spaces and creative venues, integrating art into everyday life.

My Summary

I think I may have already mentioned in some previous ramblings how impressive the malls are, especially the newer ones and just when I don't think I can be impressed anymore, yet another one comes along and just hits the ball out of the ballpark. This mall had absolutely everything. It was so beautiful, so big, and so well thought out. It's the first mall I have seen that has a UV cleaner on the escalator handrail - no more having a cleaning member of staff having to clean these with a cloth, which in the size of this building and the number of escalators would be another massive task. The escalators are 'smart' and by that I mean, they do not operate continuously, but as soon as you get near one, it starts up - so it saves energy and is more efficient.

We must have spent about 5hrs in this 'mall' - we were both absolutely knackered by the time we finally got home (although I did get a good step count for my efforts, so that was a bonus!), and that was us not really going into many of the actual retail shops but just walking around the place. They even have a museum and art gallery areas, as well as lots of outside and green spaces. In addition, it is an 'Instagrammer's dream' location as there were so many places to take great photos.

Back home, it was shower, rest, a swim, then dinner as we all settled in for the evening's entertainment - a video catch-up with the kids (to open their presents from us - wrapped and passed before we left home) and then a night in front of the telly.

All in all, quite an unusual Christmas Eve for us (and the kids), but I think we all managed fine. It will be interesting to see how it feels tomorrow, being so far from home and our normal routine.

24 December 2024

Bangkok, Thailand