Central Embassy

(Shopping, Hotel) Central Embassy is the latest development project from the Central Group. Scheduled to open in December 2013, it will house high-end street fashion and lifestyle products. The building’s modern design will highlight curves and textures over a total of 37 floors, eight of them dedicated to retail, with the rest being part of a six-star hotel, the Park Hyatt, to be opened in 2014. Think CentralWorld with higher-end brands and more emphasis on deconstructionist architectural design. Right now, construction is over 15% complete with 70% of the building’s retail space already booked. Next to Central Chidlom, Ploenchit Rd., 02-650-3600. BTS Chidlom or Ploenchit. www.centralembassy.com

Lumpini Ville Srinakarintara-Bangna

(Housing) L.P.N. Development is rolling out their latest condominium project, Lumpini Ville Srinakarintara-Bangna. Standing on the Bangna Trad Rd., just minutes from Mega Bangna, the 26-story condominium occupies 3,200 square-meters and has approximately 565 rooms, with floors 7-26 dedicated to one and two-bedroom apartments, floors 2-5 to 210 parking spaces and the 6/F to a fitness room and swimming pool. The design is simple, highlighting earthy shades of green, brown and white. A garden, playground and convenience store also feature in this single-building condo. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2013. Bangna Km.5, Bangna Trad Rd., 02-397-4200#4. www.lpn.co.th

Flow House Bangkok

(Sports) Due to officially open this September, Flow House Bangkok promises a Californian surfing experience with perfect waves every day—right in the heart of Bangkok. The first Flow House in SE Asia, after openings in the UK and USA, the venue will cater to all types of board sport enthusiasts through a FlowRider Double machine, which offers a hybrid surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding experience. Riding lessons will be available for newcomers at B1,000 for the first hour and B500 for each hour thereafter. Located in Sukhumvit Soi 26, Flow House also features bars, restaurants, music, and retail stores, aiming to be a venue for sports lovers, families and beach lovers. Prices for riding are B550 per hour on weekdays before 6pm, B650 per hour on weekdays after 6pm, B650 per hour for Saturday and Sunday. Sukhumvit Soi 26, 02-108-5217. www.flowhousebangkok.com

Sena Fest

(Shopping) Developed by the Sena Development Company, this B500 million project is on Charoennakorn. It’s another community mall, with 100 shops spread over four stories featuring all the usual suspects: Villa Market, iStudio, Starbucks and a range of restaurants that will occupy at least 50% of the space. Scheduled to open by the end of this year. 540 Charoennakorn Rd., 02-863-6181-2. www.senafest.com

Magnolia Ratchadamri

(Housing, Hotel) Leading property development corporation Magnolia continues to leave its mark with a new luxury condominium scheduled for completion in 2015, Magnolia Ratchadamri Boulevard. With a project value of B6 billion, the building covers more than 9,600 square meters, with 316 units filling out floors 17-54, ranging from one bedroom apartments to penthouse suites. The design is all about accentuating textures and curves on the outside, with windows featuring prominently, while the interior sees clean modern décor on shades of grey. If that isn’t luxurious enough, the world-renowned Waldorf Astoria, of the Hilton Group, will also be a part of the venue. Prices start from B170,000 per square meter, but not to worry, you’ve got three years to save up. Next to Grand Hyatt Erawan, Ratchadamri Rd., 02-742-7888. www.magnolia.co.th

In Square

(Shopping) If you haven’t had your fill of shopping madness around Chatuchak Market, you’re in for a treat. Situated opposite the famous market, the 8-story mall In Square is set to house some 2,700 restaurants, IT outlets, and fashion and lifestyle shops. It will feature wooden touches with an emphasis on big bay windows allowing for lots of natural light. The overall budget for the project is B4 billion with construction of the exterior 98% complete and the interior finished up to the third floor. Covering a space of 70,000 square meters, it will also feature 1,000 parking spots. Scheduled to open this year. 511, Kamphaengpet 2 Rd., 02-615-8715. MRT Kamphaengpet. www.insquarejj.com

Huachang Heritage Hotel Bangkok

(Hotel) The Baiyoke Group’s latest venture, Huachang Heritage Hotel Bangkok is a new hotel standing on Huachang Bridge. In striving for a Thai-meets-colonial ambiance inspired by décor from the Rama V period, it features wooden louvres and patterned walls on the outside, with Western touches added through its furniture and interior design and an emphasis on high-end materials like marble. With a budget of B400 million, and covering 2,275 square meters, the hotel counts seven stories, 80 rooms and 66 parking spots. Facilities include an outdoor pool in the center of a garden, a dining room and a cocktail lounge. Scheduled to open by the end of 2012 or early 2013. 400 Soi Kasemsan 1, Phayathai Rd., 02-656-3000 ext72166. BTS Ratchathewi. www.huachangheritagehotel.com

Siam Square One

(Shopping) You’ve no doubt noticed that huge construction site opposite Siam Paragon. And some of you probably can’t wait until all the drilling and banging is over. Soon enough all will be transformed into another shopping mall known as Siam Square One. The 7-story mall will look to embody the concept of a shopping street combining fashion, dining, lifestyle and digital products. With a budget of B1.8 billion, the 13,525-square-meter venue will also comprise 270 parking spots and a rooftop garden. The interior will be contemporary, as with the exterior, which will highlight the building’s dimensions with a multitude of massive blocks. Scheduled to open by December 2013. Siam Square One, Rama 1 Rd., 02-255-9999.
www.siamsquareone.com

W Hotel Bangkok

(Hotel) Situated in Sathorn, within walking distance of over 20 embassies is the soon-to-open W Hotel Bangkok. Surrounding the beautiful old Russian Embassy and occupying some 16,129 square meters, the 30-story hotel will showcase LED panels and a rounded glass facade. W Hotel Bangkok will feature 407 rooms, the W kitchen, the W living room, restaurant and bar, a Sweat fitness center, an outdoor pool and a spa. Scheduled to open by the end of 2012. 106 North Sathorn Rd., 02-108-1509. www.starwoodhotels.com

SOHO

(Shopping) If you’ve ever dreamed of (or had nightmares about) a shopping mall that’s open 24/7, brace yourself, for that will soon be a reality in Bangkok. SOHO, scheduled to open in November this year on Dumrongrak Rd., will never close. With a budget of over B2 billion, the mall will boast floors dedicated to restaurants, a 24-hour supermarket, a 24-hour shopping street, fashion shops, gifts and accessories, and an IT zone. Think the type of products you get at Platinum Mall, mostly hailing from Hong Kong and Korea. SOHO, Dumrongsak Rd., 02-223-2299. www.sohothailand.com

Bangkok Futsal Arena

(Sports) With the seventh Fifa Futsal World Cup 2012 to be held in Bangkok from November 2-18, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is renovating two of its futsal stadiums, the Huamark Indoor Stadium and Nimibutr Gymnasium, as well as building a brand new sports stadium, the Bangkok Futsal Arena in Nong Chok district. Occupying 80,000 square meters and seating 12,000, the venue was designed by King Monkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, drawing its inspiration from the chok flower. The stadium features five levels of stands with the highlight being that it’s Thailand’s first energy-saving stadium, which uses solar energy and an absorption chiller system to power the air-con. Due to open by October this year. Bangkok Futsal Arena, Suwinthawong Rd.

Thanya Shopping Park

(Shopping) Run by Thaniya Group, the newly-opened Thanya Shopping Park aims to be a mall that brings urban shoppers closer to nature. Covering over 25,600 square-meters and with a budget exceeding B2.5 billion, the venue’s main highlight are its expansive green spaces. What’s more, the rooftop is home to a botanical garden with running tracks connecting each of the buildings together. Featuring over 700 shops, with over 1,000 parking spaces (very eco!), expect all the big names when it comes to food, clothing, furniture and décor. Srinakarin Rd., 02-721-4555. www.thanyashoppingpark.com

MahaNakhon

(Housing, Hotel) Soon to be the city’s highest landmark, the 314-meter-tall Mahanakhon Hotel & Residence is 77 stories high with 14,569 square meters split between its apartments, retail, outdoor plaza and luxury serviced residences by The Ritz-Carlton Residences. Apart from the popular Dean & Deluca cafe and market. The building has a direct link to BTS Chongnonsi. You can choose from two-to-five bedrooms. Other facilities include a 3-floor terrace bar, restaurants, private dining facilities, and a rooftop outdoor bar with a 360-degree view. Rooms are B250,000 per sq meter, scheduled to be completed by 2015. 92 Narathiwas Ratchanakharin Rd., 02-234-1414. www.maha-nakhon.com

Movenpick Hotel & Residences 

(Housing, Hotel)Hailing from Switzerland, the international hotel chain Movenpick has finally set it sights on a new opening in Bangkok. Scheduled to open sometime this year, the 26-story Movenpick Hotel & Residences will be situated on Phayathai Rd. and is a serviced condominium with units for sale. Expect the same lofty standards as those abroad, with a lobby bar, fitness center, swimming pool and rooms ranging from small to an exclusive two-floor unit. Prices start at B89,000 per square meter. 33 Phayathai Rd., 02-640-0811-3. www.movenpickresidencesphayathai.com

Tha Maharaj 

(Shopping)The Chao Phraya Express Boat Company is developing a 3,200-square-meter plot by the river (on Maharaj Road, where a car park and a branch of S&P currently stands) into a community mall. The goal is to relocate the amulet sellers on the surrounding streets to new air-con digs, complete with an exhibition space. The remaining 50 % of the area will host cafés and restaurants. The mall intends to focus on life on the river, with regular departures of tour boats and dinner cruises. The designs will be created by the Contour Company, who previously worked on J Avenue and Rainhill, 78/24-29 Maharaj Rd., 02-623-6001-3.

BTS & MRT Extensions 

(BTS/MRT)The MRT will see four more extensions in the next year or two, including the purple line to Nonthaburi passing Wang Burapha and Wong Wien Yai to Thonburi and Samut Prakarn; the pink line from Suwinthawong passing Chaengwattana and Ramintra to Nonthaburi and Minburi and the orange line from Bangkapi passing Huay Kwang, Din Daeng and Victory Monument to Thonburi. Not keen on taking the MRT? The BTS is also expecting more extensions, including routes from Wong Wien Yai to Pho Nimit and Wutthakat, ending at Bang Wa, and from National Stadium  to Yotse, with further extensions planned from Bearing to Srinakarin.

Designing Bangkok