Issue 7 | Feature brought to you by Falcon Hill
Built into a peaceful hillside and overlooking Thailand’s coastal city of Hua Hin, the team behind the Falcon Hill villa project certainly had location in mind when choosing a land plot for their luxurious new development. While location has always and will always be one of the most important factors when valuing real estate, this particular development is also emphasizing the fact that below-the-surface quality is equally as important for property buyers to consider.
Often overlooked by novice real estate investors, the quality of a property’s construction and materials will affect its condition forever and thus will make a huge difference in the eventual net-worth of each property. This essential piece of wisdom in real estate is held in esteem by Michael Kim Falcon and the rest of the Scandinavian development team for Falcon Hill, who are now building what are possibly the highest quality properties in Thailand, with one of the most desirable locations in the region
Falcon Hill will ultimately consist of 71 unique pool villas, set less than four kilometres from Hua Hin town centre and beach, and only 2.5 kilometres to the new Blu Port mega shopping mall. Following the general established design guide, each villa will be constructed according to the buyer’s preference, as Falcon Hill encourages clients to express their creativity and imagination throughout the development process. While no two villas will be exactly the same, the quality of the villas will remain steadfast with consistent building materials, finishing products and high-end specifications for all components: kitchens, bathrooms, built-in furniture, all electrical goods, air conditioning, high ceilings, over-flow pools, granites, sand stones, marbles etc. etc.
Thomas Andersson, the head engineer behind Falcon Hill said that the project is being built to lead as an example of the construction standard that new luxury projects in Thailand should adhere to. That is, if the Thai market is to eventually become a main player in the global luxury real estate industry.
“We are working to create something that will help raise the quality of the market overall,” Andersson said. “Many new properties in Thailand are marketed as ‘luxury,’ and while they may look fantastic from the outside, they eventually deteriorate in front of their buyers eyes. This is why quality, along with attention to detail is paramount at Falcon Hill.”
It is quite a valiant endeavour for Falcon Hill to put so much emphasis on quality where it is not highly noticeable, as many modern developers in Thailand can, and will successfully get away with focusing exclusively on the aesthetics of a project. To the undiscerning property buyer, it is a challenge to look beyond a pretty façade and determine the true quality and longevity of a villa. This is especially true for foreign buyers who are not familiar with the fundamentals of how local architecture, interior design, and construction materials interact with the tropical environment.
Whether considering a property purchase at Falcon Hill or elsewhere, Andersson says there are several essential things to investigate about the quality of a tropical home:
Roofing Details
Starting from the top, Andersson says the roofing quality is one of the most important things to note. Expats may be used to shingle roofing back home, but in this environment metal roofing is much more capable of withstanding both extremetemperatures and rain, thus should be (but is not always) an essential component to any tropical home. At Falcon Hill, the roofing is a special metal blend, giving each villa the best possible weather protection.
Materials Used
The materials used on a property’s exterior should be of a certain calibre as well. While wood is a practical material in temperate zones it simply does not last in the Thai climate. Either faux wood or stone is a longer-lasting and still attractive choice. In their pools, Falcon Hill uses only concrete; the most durable and lasting foundation. For water, they avoid harsh chlorination and instead fill their pools with salt water to extend their maintenance-free lifetime as much as possible
Installation Techniques
Inside tropical homes moisture can be an issue, especially in bathrooms that contain a shower or bathtub. While this is not something that the property buyer would ever be able to see, Falcon Hill still takes the extra care to waterproof the bathroom walls before they are tiled. Also below the surface, installing only the highest-quality electrical systems is important for homes that require air conditioning to maintain cool and comfortable interiors.
Tropical Lifestyle Layouts
Materials aside, in a truly high quality home the interior layout should be designed with the tropical lifestyle in mind. Given the year-round warm weather in Thailand, outdoor space is always be included into the design of a Falcon Hill property, and is done in such a way that it promotes the space as the central common area to enjoy home-life. For example, every villa in the development has a terrace large enough to comfortably fit a dining room table, which leads it to naturally become the most used space in the villa.
From footage to the top roof spear, quality and details has been revised again and again to guarantee value increase for Falcon Hill investors. Combine the unique appeal of Asian style with the highest quality of construction and every modern convenience, Falcon Hill blends the best of East and West.