Thaksin moots idea over national radio after a recent visit to Singapore. The Thai Foreign Ministry is studying issue

BANGKOK - Thailand's embassy in the heart of Orchard Road could be turned into a swanky mall showcasing the country's own products.

The suggestion came from Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra himself over the weekend, the Bangkok Post reported.

'The embassy compound houses an old and small building. We need to do something about it. People there may feel we spoil the scenery,' he said during his weekly radio address on Saturday.

Mr Thaksin said he had asked the Thai Foreign Ministry to look into the possibility of developing the rambling building into a shopping complex.

His suggestion came following his visit to Singapore earlier this month, and he said Thailand should utilise the property's strategic location, according to Bangkok Post.

Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, who accompanied Mr Thaksin to Singapore, said the embassy was an eyesore. 'The Prime Minister wants to build Thailand Plaza. The front part of the building will be decorated with a Thai-style pavilion,' he said.

Mr Surakiart said some people had suggested the embassy be moved, but others have said it should be developed to support a range of commercial activities - a plan first mooted in 1997.

Half of the site is zoned for commercial use and the other half for residential, said Chesterton International's research and consultancy associate director Nicholas Mak in Singapore. He said a commercial and retail complex could be built on lower floors and residential units on higher floors, with offices. The embassy could be housed there as well.

Mr Surakiart said several Singaporean business groups have expressed interest in developing the space and are expected to put forth proposals.

Mr Mak said the site could see possible interest from Hotel Properties Ltd, Far East Organization, Marco Polo (which owns Wheelock Place), CapitaLand and City Developments (which owns Palais Renaissance next door).

As far back as 1997, the Thai government's Budget Scrutiny Committee had said that Thai embassies sitting on prime land in the world's capitals should be developed for commercial purposes to raise funds.

Mr Danny Yeo, executive director of Knight Frank in Singapore, said: 'This will augur well for the whole of Orchard Road, making it a more complete stretch of shopping all the way to Tanglin. At the moment, the north side of Orchard Road's a bit quiet because it is broken off by the Thai embassy.' -- With contributions by Kelvin Wong and Wendy Tan in Singapore, The Nation/Asia News Network
http://www.straitstimes.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2003-09-17/P4_0917.jpg
THAILAND PLAZA: To better utilise the location in Orchard Road, the rambling building could be turned into one with shops on lower floors, and homes and offices on higher floors, as well as the embassy. -- WONG KWAI CHOW

that's quite a great idea. I've also read this news from a Thai newspaper.:)

anyways, i think turning the Embassy house into a commercial bldg. is fine. But i don't like it to have residential units. It would sound weird to have an embassy in a residential complex.

I thought Golden Mile Complex is Singapore's "Little Thailand"?

cool:)

COOL!!! :D

I really liked the idea.......:)

BTW....I've always been wondering - Where's the Malaysian High-Commission? :?

I don't know about the 'eyesore' part, I think it looks good, even if it doesn't really blend in - but that's also a good thing.

I worry they will give the replacement a tacky look. Overall it sounds like a great idea.

Originally posted by szehoong

BTW....I've always been wondering - Where's the Malaysian High-Commission? :?

Good question..I actually have no idea! :D

Originally posted by szehoong

COOL!!! :D

I really liked the idea.......:)

BTW....I've always been wondering - Where's the Malaysian High-Commission? :? It's tucked away in the River Valley area amongst the residential condominiums. Surprisingly low key. In fact, it dosent even face a major road! ;)

If this site is redeveloped, it certainly isnt the first. The Indonesian Embassy used to be just about 200 metres away along Orchard Road, but was redeveloped into a swanky mall cum office block called Wisma Atria back in 1986.

http://www.skyscrapers.com/files/transfer/5/2000/11/109412.jpg

The key difference thou, is that the Indonesian embassy moved out of the site. It would be interesting to see how the Thais handle their embassy! :D

No wonder the "Wisma"

The front part of the building will be decorated with a Thai-style pavilion

what does a thai-style pavilion look like? it sounds like it's already gonna be tacky... unless perhaps it's gonna be done resort style... but i really can't imagine that

Either it may give character to the place (like the Chinese pagoda-styled Marriott hotel), or it will stick out like a sore thumb. Hope they accord much needed sensitivity with regards to this building's design along Singapore's swankiest street! ;)

How about some Thai-styled roofs and pagodas? :D well....since they would be showcasing Thailand so why not? :D

I think this would add to the diversity of Orchard Road and as an attraction itself! ;)

Sounds fun enough :D

Actually of the Thai embassy does that, it will be the only one along Orchard doing that. If only the Japanese embassy does the same..you will have Hello Kitty and all along the road. :D

Thai embassy looks very ugly. Initially (before I had seen it) I thought it was some grand colonial mansion!!!

I tot you love all low rises?

No more news on this already?? Seems like that place can be better developed.......:yes:

Thai embassy in Singapore may become high-rise complex

BANGKOK, Oct 2 (TNA) - A 'Thailand Team' has been established to study developing the site of Thailand's embassy in Singapore as a 30-storey building with a deluxe hotel and a Thailand plaza exhibiting Thai products and services, said Chalermpol Thanchitr, Thai Ambassador to Singapore on Sunday.

The embassy now occupies over 11 rai of land (2.5 rai = 1 acre) and is situated on Orchard Road, the most important business area in the island state.

He said the land where the embassy is situated was purchased during the reign of King Rama V and includes residences for embassy officials, official commercial offices and several other Thai official units.

As the land is situated in a prime area and could fetch not less than Bt 10 billion, the ambassador said the government has no plan to sell the land, but, instead, had set up the 'Thailand Team' to
consider utilizing the land in order to gain maximum benefits.

He said if the embassy property is to be developed as the planned 30-storey hotel and exhibition centre, it would have to pay land development fees
amounting to about 140 million Singapore dollars and pay for a property developer to handle the project.

The top Thai envoy in Singapore said the 'Thailand Team' was also considering another option--turning the Thai Embassy to Singapore to become a grand business building complex

Source: http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=3426

thanks for the latest info Chad! :)

Seems to be a lot of potential for this site :yes:

:cool:

hope they wont come up with a lame name like Thailand Plaza or something, sounds like Lucky Plaza; my favorite mall :D

woohoo.. it will be interesting to see what will become of the embassy land if the redevelopment gets the green light! :D maybe the 2nd lucky plaza??

@Chad, you like Lucky Plaza?! :eek:

its quite old, although it has character

I'm sure the new Thai redevelopment can be better than Lucky Plaza :happy:

A Thai themed hotel? :D

He said if the embassy property is to be developed as the planned 30-storey hotel and exhibition centre, it would have to pay land development fees
amounting to about 140 million Singapore dollars and pay for a property developer to handle the project.

That sounds nice ^ ^


The top Thai envoy in Singapore said the 'Thailand Team' was also considering another option--turning the Thai Embassy to Singapore to become a grand business building complex

This sounds even nicer ^ ^

yup...potential is there, subject to height restrictions of about 30-storeys :)

yup...potential is there, subject to height restrictions of about 30-storeys :)

And Orchard Turn can build so tall?! :eek:

Orchard Turn is a 'landmark' development, hence they have allowed it to be taller than the rest.

but which is weird as well, since The Ascott is to be redeveloped into a 43-storey apartment, so it might be the height in metres that matters most.

Business Times - 04 Oct 2005

Thailand studies hotel project on Orchard Rd embassy site

Latest feasibility study also looks into plans for exhibition centre

(SINGAPORE) Thailand has sent a research team to study the development of the Royal Thai Embassy site on Orchard Road into a 30-storey building, with a deluxe hotel and an exhibition space showcasing Thai products and services, according to reports yesterday from Xinhua news agency quoting Thai media.

This is the latest in a series of feasibility studies by the Thai government on redevelopment possibilities for the prime, freehold 190,000 square feet site. Xinhua quoted the Thai ambassador to Singapore, Chalermpol Thanchitr, as saying that the land where the embassy is situated was bought for $9,000 during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in 1893. The present site includes residences for embassy officials, official commercial offices and several other Thai official units.

The ambassador said that due to its prime location, the Thai government had no plans to sell the land - which he estimated could fetch at least US$250 million. He said the Thai government was instead interested in looking into ways to maximise the use of the land, and it was seeking expert help.

Mr Chalermpol was also quoted as saying that if the embassy were to be developed into the planned 30-storey hotel and exhibition centre, it would be likely to incur land development fees of about US$80 million. A property developer would be engaged to handle the project.

Another plan being pondered by the Thai government, according to Mr Chalermpol, is transforming the embassy site into a business complex, although that idea was less appealing than the hotel and exhibition space concept.

Property sources had told BT last year that at least 60 per cent of the embassy site is zoned for commercial use, with a plot ratio of 4.9 - the ratio of maximum gross floor area to land area.

Because of the plot's size, it also qualifies for a 5 per cent bonus plot ratio, taking the total commercial plot ratio to 5.145. The rest of the property is zoned for residential used with a 2.8 plot ratio.

Plans for the redevelopment of the embassy site have been floating around for more than a decade, property watchers say. But they suggest the Thai government is in no hurry to redevelop it as it has more pressing priorities at home.

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

I wonder if they are interested in the Thai Embassy land plot....:yes:

Business Times - 19 Dec 2005

Thailand's biggest retailer eyes major Asian expansion

BANGKOK - Central Group, Thailand's largest retailer, announced on Monday a US$244-million plan to open five new shopping complexes or hotels around Asia within five years.

'We are not only developing business locally but are also ready to expand aggressively to Asia,' Kobchai Chirathivat, president of Central Pattana Plc (CPN), a shopping complex developer within Central group, told reporters.

The retail giant is still negotiating partners but hopes to start its first overseas venture, either shopping centres or hotels, in China, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam, executives said.

In addition to the overseas projects, CPN also plans eight new shopping complexes in Thailand within five years, including two to open next year, he added.

The company's flagship branch in Bangkok, Central World, is in the middle of a major renovation aiming to turn it into Thailand's largest shopping complex -- and to create a major competitor to the sprawling new Siam Paragon shopping complex next door, said Mr Kobchai. -- AFP

Copyright © 2005 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

I wont wait anxiously for this one...since it must have been waiting for a long time...more exciting are the other Orchard Rd developments :happy:

^ Yes......I dun really think they'll build it so fast.....:yes: And I seriously dun think it will be a flagship development there.....:yes: Unless the Singapore govt buy over the land......:yes:

I echo your sentiments...well, for an embassy, its the best they can do I suppose...being sited at Orchard :O

wonder when the potential could be realised.