PROPERTY PROFILE STORY : Voralak Suwanvanichkij IMAGES : Courtesy of Six Senses Resorts & Spas 60
KOH KOOD Cocooned Paradise Soneva Kiri offers a uniquely luxurious experience, underpinned by heightened social and eco-consciousness, on one of Thailand s most unspoilt islands. 61
Pristine Setting Naturally Opulent With sheltered coves fringed with fine white sand and a dense jungle-covered interior, it is easy to see how Koh Kood initially captivated Sonu Shivdasani, founder and CEO of the Six Senses Resort and Spa Group. While visiting Thailand s fourth largest island five years ago, Sonu envisioned the pristine setting as the next location for his most upscale Soneva brand of resorts and residences. Sonu s vision is to create new destinations, and it took two years to select the perfect 500 rai site on Koh Kood, says Adam Taugwalder, director of sales and marketing for Six Senses Private Residences. Also, given Koh Kood s lack of infrastructure and relative distance from the mainland, Adam explains It was a slow process. We had to build our own road, and use barges to haul wood to the site. Great care has also been taken to preserve the natural environment; from afar, all you can see are the tented rooftops amidst clusters of trees. While such painstaking planning would have deterred others, Six Senses is committed to operating the greenest developments in the world. And what makes the project truly unique is what it does not have: crowds, beach vendors, nightlife, and shopping centres. Also, you will not find marble or gold taps, Adams says, adding Here, we foster a No News, No Shoes environment. There is no pretence. Super-luxurious living means having what really matters, such as space, privacy, exceptional service, fantastic food, and peace of mind. To fully appreciate Soneva s offering, Adam elaborates The experience begins at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Two representatives meet guests upon arrival and escort them to the Thai Airways first-class lounge. While guests refresh, staff will clear customs. Guests are then welcomed aboard a private eight seater Cessna Grand Caravan. After an hour flight, they land on a small island with a private airstrip that we built, and are greeted by personal butlers. They then take a quick ride on a wooden Riva speedboat to Koh Kood.
Scheduled to open this October, Soneva Kiri joins two sister resorts in the Maldives, as well as numerous Six Senses and Evason resorts and spas around the globe. Island Living In addition to 42 resort villas, Soneva Kiri offers 21 residences, including three Beach Villas, three Cliff Villas, and 15 Hill Villas. All homes include four bedrooms (with the exception of one six-bedroom Beach Villa) of 1,200 sq m to 1,600 sq m in interior and exterior living space. Occupying 3,900 sq m (2.4 rai) to 6,200 sq m (3.9 rai) plots of land, homes are priced from USD 4.5 to 7.5 million. Each secluded unit is comprised of a cluster of wooden structures connected by walkways. Seamlessly blending and opening into its natural environment, Beach Villas front the white sands and azure waters, while Hill and Cliff Villas afford views of both the ocean and tropical underbrush. Master bedrooms are exquisitely well-considered, opening onto an infinity edged pool that spans the length of the compound. An adjacent tree house, replete with private deck and pool slide, serves as a children s room. With leather and wood finishes, spacious master bathrooms include outdoor and indoor bathing areas. The rest of the home contains a lounge, dining area, gym, steam room and sauna, spa pavilion, sunbathing decks, open kitchen, wine cellar, and quarters for a live-in butler. Eva Shivdasani, Sonu s wife and the group s creative director, designed the fully furnished interiors. True to the Soneva spirit, homes exude an air of rustic sophistication. Bose sound and entertainment systems are hidden in stacked leather trunks and furniture has been crafted from natural, ecologically sustainable materials. Green Vision Other eco-initiatives include recycling wastewater for use in the gardens and landscaping, turning solid waste into compost and fertilizer, use of electric carts, bio-fuel 63
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manufacturing from garden waste and used cooking oil, and treatment of rain and bore water into drinking water. of discounts on services at The Spa Village. Floating above mangroves, the spa is the largest in the Six Senses group. Also, to showcase the viability of green living, an Eco Villa has been constructed as the world s first zero-carbon hotel suite, says Adam. Here, a plant-studded roof keeps inside temperatures down, furniture is built from driftwood, natural processes are employed to clean the pool, and solar energy powers pumps and air conditioning. Serving as a kids club, The Den is a bamboo structure with a curvaceous roof shaped like a manta ray. It s very creative, with activities such as pottery, painting, astronomy, and cooking, says Adam. Adding to the element of fun, a drawbridge door is controlled by a secret code and adults have to be accompanied by children. Soneva also demonstrates a commitment to its staff. A Host Village houses all 350 employees. In addition to accommodations, the village provides a canteen, library, internet café, swimming pool, gym and other sporting facilities so that everyone feels very comfortable. Like No Other Villa owners enjoy unfettered access, with a 20% discount, to all the resort s amenities, including restaurants and bars, beach barbeque, private chef services, and ice cream parlour offering 60 different flavours. Additionally, residents may partake in pod dining, where dinner is served on an extraordinary podshaped structure hoisted into the treetops. The extensive dining choices feature locally grown and organic food. Adam says We either grow our own produce or form partnerships with local farmers on Koh Kood. Food is fresher and the carbon footprint from its transport is limited. Owners can also take advantage Other activities include watching classic films at Cinema Paradiso, an open-air theatre situated by the resort s two reservoirs; star-gazing at the observatory; participating in various water sports; and going on waterfall and jungle treks. Also, we will offer chartered trips to Angkor Wat, which is just an hour away, Adam says. Ownership privileges also cover six return flights (each accommodating up to eight persons) every year, exclusive use of a speedboat, and special rates at all Six Senses and Soneva resorts around the world. Additionally, the company offers an optional rental programme with an expected 6% yield per annum. Adam stresses: We don t encourage property investors; rather, we hope to attract buyers who truly believe in the product and will enjoy it for themselves. For more information visit www.sonevakiriprivateresidences.com 67