Horseshoe Point and The Sanctuary at Wong-Amat were the big Eastern Seaboard winners when the 2009 Thailand Property Awards were announced early in November at a lavish five-star gala dinner at the Grand Hyatt Erawan, Bangkok.
More than 450 attended the dinner and awards presentation to find out who were this year’s
best-of-the-best.
Now in their fourth year, the awards recognise not only the winners, but they also assist in promoting the quality of Thailand’s very best real estate, construction, architectural and interior design as well as industry professional services.
“We received more than 1,000 nominations this year – a 300 per cent increase on last,” said DuncanWorthington, MD of Ensign Media, organisers of the awards and publishers of Property Report publications.
“From the entries, the judges had to draw up a shortlist for each category, and from that list select the winner. The judging process was more rigorous than ever this year, having a central Bangkok panel make the initial shortlists and provincial teams undertake site inspections for the condo and villa categories. The final list of winners was delivered by the central panel to BDO Richfield Advisory Limited for safe-keeping, with the winners only being announced at the gala dinner.”
Horseshoe Point won The Best Villa Development (Eastern Seaboard) and Green Development Awards for its “The Village at Horseshoe Point” housing project.
The presentations started with the Signity Thailand Green Development Award. There were three highly commended developments – Horseshoe Point (HSP) by Horseshoe Point Co Ltd, Soneva Kiri by Six Senses Resorts, and West Sands Phuket. Khun Jate Sopitpongstorn, the MD of Horseshoe Point Co Ltd had the honour of being the first winner to be called on stage to receive the award from Florian Baptist Gypser, architect and designer from Studio Gypser.
HSP’s second success came in the Best Villa Development (Eastern Seaboard) category where they were up against two beachside developments – Talay Sawan, and Viewtalay Marina.

Judging panel
Khun Jate received the award from Clayton Wade, MD of Premier Homes Real Estate. Clayton headed the Eastern Seaboard judging panel.
The judges for the Eastern Seaboard also included Khun Pongstorn Sangruchi, owner-developer of the Golden Sands Condominium and the beachfront housing developments Blue Lagoon and Baan Dhewaran. The third Eastern Seaboard judge was Khun Somnuek Tanthathoedtham, the Deputy MD of Thailand’s renowned NC Group of companies.
The judging panel admitted it was not easy to make the final decision as the other two highly commended projects, were great products as well.
Each project has its strength and weaknesses but the decision was made on the three main criteria:
1 Design/concept (functionality, green initiatives/Innovation, amenities);
2 Value for money (suitability of location, pricing);
3 Marketing/Construction (quality of construction, marketing/ creativity, state of completion).
For Horseshoe Point The Village villa win was especially pleasing as it meant that they had won the award for a second successive year – The Residence won last year.
It is located on the so-called “dark side” of Pattaya out near Mabprachan reservoir, while the other two highly commended projects are on the beachfront. “This means excellence is not confined to beach areas,” said Khun Jate.
He added: “There must be a growing potential for property development in the area near Mabprachan.
“To win the Thailand Green Development award from a shortlist that had Soneva Kili, the five-star international development on it, means Horseshoe Point does have a chance to be an internationally renowned development in the environmental field.”

Happy owners
One of the owners at the winning HSP project is Kenny Peter Cheung, the deputy MD of BLCP Power Station in Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate. He said: “My family was the first buyer of this beautiful home in The Village at Horseshoe Point. When we came here, we already felt the uniqueness and difference of this project. The whole ambience of the surroundings is one of tranquillity, which I have been longing for. 
“The location is excellent for both work and the children’s schooling. It’s quiet but with easy access to Pattaya City. We are very happy that Horseshoe Point won these awards”.
Rick Bryant, Foster Wheeler International’s chief consultant, recently decided to buy a house at the Village on its Rent-to-Own programme. Rick is the chairman of Pattaya City Football Club which has its home ground
at HSP.
He said: “After more than 10 years of living in Pattaya in rented accommodation my wife and I finally decided to purchase a property after a visit to The Village at Horseshoe Point. We were very impressed by the build quality of the houses and the magnificent surroundings, which provide a beautiful and tranquil location for us to live with our two daughters.

Just reward
“Without question this is the best development in the region. The Village at Horseshoe Point fully deserve this award and it is just reward for all the efforts of K’Jate and his team.”
Khun Jate added: “We are very proud of this achievement. It is really a team effort – and not only the housing team but all the Horseshoe Point team.
“Our shareholder has taken the risk in developing the projects in this area and gives the management team his full support.
“The awards are rewarding for us all. We cannot say that we are prefect or if we are the best or not, that is for others to say, not us.”
He added: “What we can say is that we strive towards improvements every day. We want to add value to our 2,700 rai land bank at Horseshoe Point. For us, it is not only the financial value but also the value of satisfaction and quality of life of our tenants and customers receive, the value of a quality community, the value of a quality company with quality staff, and the value of preserving the environment we are in.”
Perhaps the final word should go to head of the local judging panel, Clayton Wade of Premier Homes. He said: “This year’s awards were a fabulous success. As in each previous year, this year’s awards proved to be yet another glamorous showcase for Thailand’s finest and most successful in the residential real estate industry.”
Clayton added: “To win a Thailand Property Award is by far the highest symbol of achievement that a company or an individual can receive here in Thailand’s residential real estate industry and the very best were in attendance to receive their awards.

World stage
“In just four years, the Thailand Property Awards event has accomplished so much in placing Thailand’s residential real estate on the world stage.
“I was very pleased, having been asked, once again, to head up the judges for this year’s Thailand Property Awards Eastern Seaboard categories.Together, this year’s Eastern Seaboard judges really had their work cut out for them. With more than 1000 nominations, obviously, competition and importance was at an all-time high this year.
Both the Best Villa and Best Condo Development categories were close, particularly the Eastern Seaboard Best Condo Development award, which put this year’s judges conferring late into the night.
One of this year’s more significant judging points was ‘value for money’.
It was what put both of this year’s Eastern Seaboard winners on top of their categories. Another judging point that was strongly weighed this year was the developments ‘state of completion’.
“This year’s Thailand Property Award Eastern Seaboard’s Best Condo Development award went to the Daika Estate Co Ltd for their fascinating and wonderful beachfront development The Sanctuary on Wong Amat Bay. (We hope to have more on condo award winners The Sanctuary in our January issue).
“As for next year’s award winners, there is plenty of new construction under way the likes of ‘The Cove’, which is, no doubt, a landmark in architecture and design with no challengers for luxurious living.”
*To read the comments of judge Clayton Wade in full see this month’s Homes & Condos.