......The statement above has appeared on many advertisements on TV, radio and in Pattaya’s real estate magazines in recent years.
But Mario Kleff has many other projects on the books of the Wandeegroup elsewhere in the world. He is in charge of numerous architectural designs across Thailand, from Phuket to Bangkok and Chiang Mai and others overseas which together are worth billions of baht.
Between 2003 and 2009, the Wandeegroup delivered an exceptional portfolio of new building designs, creating continuous business opportunities for developers and estates agents here in Pattaya.
Mario’s creative ideas have not only widened the architectural boundaries, but have also produced many innovative structural engineering solutions that require support from the highest authority and advanced Thai engineers from Bangkok.
Most of the creative work takes place at the Wandeegroup head office in Theppraya Road. Mario asked companies from the UK and the USA to build him the latest supercomputers which are not currently available in Thailand.
“I decided to invest a few hundred thousand dollars to provide our clients with the tools to present their new developments in the best possible way to prospective purchasers,” he said.
The task of architects and 3-D designers is to present these developments, not only in the most attractive way but also in the quickest way possible. In March 2009, Mario and his junior architect, Saksit Vongaram, set a record in designing more than 10 condominium buildings within just a month.
The quality and the speed of the work draws high praise from developers:
“...Architect Mario Kleff immediately gave us the confidence that not only could he complement the existing development with a stunning design concept for the Condominium Hotel but he could also handle all of the dealings and requirements of the planning authorities to obtain all of the necessary licences and permits.
Two days later at our second meeting with Mario at Wandeegroup he not only produced a stunning design but also came up with the entire concept of naming the new project ‘The Wave’ at Talay Sawan.
On our third meeting at the end of week one Mario produced the full set of construction blueprints and has already submitted all documents to the relevant authorities. This is certainly a first in our 25 years of development experience.
The professionalism and attention to detail of the architect Mario Kleff is unparalleled in Thailand and certainly makes life for the developer so much easier and provides the end customer with a modern, unique, quality home...”
John Sheehan,
MD of Bang Saray Development Co Ltd
Pattaya is heading for a property boom, the like of which the city hasn’t seen for five years. That’s the view of Nittaya Wongsin, managing director of the Wandeegroup, who bases her optimism on the likely consequences of new planning regulations which she expects to come on stream at the end of this year or early next.
“I expect these regulations to relax the restrictions on foreign ownership of property in Thailand,” she said. “And as my husband (Mario Kleff) has said before, Thailand in general, and Pattaya in particular, remain very attractive locations for overseas buyers, not least because of the good weather and the low cost of living.”
Mario believes that the best time to plan for these larger, more imaginative projects is right now.
“The expected change in regulations affecting property development will mean more overseas buyers will be attracted to Pattaya,” he said.
“Developers need to understand that unique circumstances apply to Pattaya. The place is just out of infancy and is heading towards being a mature city. The job of the developer therefore is to provide this new city with what it really needs – properties tailored to the various social groupings that will inevitably evolve here.”
A quick glance at the Wandeegroup order book and you might be forgiven for thinking there is no economic crisis. With numerous projects under way and many more contracts signed in the first quarter of 2009, the Wandeegroup has been confirmed as the architects’ practice with the most planning designs submitted to the Pattaya construction department.
“The Wandeegroup is the leading architect firm which has submitted and received the highest amount of construction permits in 2007-2009. Their exemplary knowledge on architect law and engineering requires support and approval by advanced engineers such as Thai Professor Somsak Khumplew, who is a master professional in steel and concrete construction.”
Pattaya City Planning and Construction Department
“I believe the reason is our knowledge and our highly disciplined working style,” Mario said. “It’s no secret that I deal personally with developers and insist on a satisfactory development which accurately reflects our design. A project needs to be planned, and that is what we do! We first analyse what can be done on a plot of land and create a master plan that contains the master engineering plan. We can then develop our ideas to create a unique building that reflects the corporate identity of the developer and brings in the buyers. However, ultimately this building must also reflect a Wandeegroup signature and be within the building capabilities of most construction companies.”
“Many estates in Pattaya know that Mario Kleff, CEO of the Wandeegroup, is the architect on Heights Holdings projects. He designed, for instance, the W-Tower with more than 360 units, followed by the Club Royal Condominium on Wong Amat with over 400 units, the Laguna Heights, both Park Royal 1 and Park Royal 2 on Pratamnak Hill, while at the same time he was working on other major projects here in town. What brings him up to being a top architect is not the fact he has received exemplary honoree, but the fact he can deliver any project fast and unique – on demand.”
Haim Bar-David,
CEO Heights Holdings Co Ltd
“The current market is chock-full of ‘dream’ projects which can’t be sold,” added Mario. “Many advertised projects reflect a previously presented Wandeegroup solution and some even use the name of an earlier successful project to try to make them more attractive. Would-be buyers are confused. Architects need to show more responsibility in their role as project designer. All architects are guilty of designing outstanding, innovative buildings which they knew in their heart of hearts would never be built the way they were designed.
“Those days are now gone. Today, the professional architect shouldn’t consider any project where there is a risk that the finished building will not truly reflect his design. Developers must not be allowed to step into the role of architect or engineer and modify a building simply to cut costs and boost profits.”
Mario added: “I do believe that the design and approval process can be done much more effectively and painlessly when the budget allocates proper resources to the architects, engineers and the various Government procedures that have to be followed. An architect can only produce proper, finished plans if he is properly paid to do them. All too often he is not. Consequently, many projects do not have a final system plan or complete set of architectural drawings.
“How can an investor therefore expect local builders or developers to construct a satisfactory building that meets their expectations? It seems everybody is seeking to reduce working hours and therefore costs, but do not expect a consequent reduction in quality. Attitudes such as this can’t survive the coming real estate boom.
“In my career as an architect I have received fees of more than 50 million baht for one project. There are also projects for which I received 20 million baht and 14 million baht, and others between one and eight million baht. If you understand what the developer expects in return, you may also appreciate the very different amounts charged by a local Thai architect or 3D-designer and what the likely results will be.
“We at the Wandeegroup offer a professional service and which we provide quickly and efficiently.”
“First he designed the Suan Sawarn Condominium 1 & 2; later in 2008 we contracted Mario to design a major high-rise project worth billions of baht ... and then again in 2009 he came up with another master concept for a development of more than 370 units.
“He designed for us this new project within just one week – a masterplan including exterior designs, final engineering specification on over six condominium buildings. Even though it was done from scratch we don’t need to change anything on it, because it’s maximised, beautifully designed and within the budget. Mario Kleff, is a master architect and an ultra-creative conceptualiser, designer and engineer of exemplary lifestyle buildings...”
TAG Group Thailand
Mario went on: “The quality of an architect must not to be measured by his skill with 3-D images, scaled miniatures or low charges, but rather on his ability to understand how a project will ultimately function. Wandeegroup has professional architects, highly skilled structural engineers and system engineers and an in-house service to produce final presentation materials created by professional 3-D designers and model builders.”
Wandeegroup construction sites are led by experienced foremen and builders trained on all aspects of concrete and steel.
“We can deliver solutions that will impress the market,” Mario added. “Perfect concrete finishes; straight, crack-free walls; waterproofed pools; electricity installations to European standards; perfect window frames or master carpentry … they are not a problem. Everything depends on proper planning and budget preparation, but most of all it’s about quality architectural designs. Our team has already designed buildings that will be considered modern 10 or 20 years from now.”
“The construction of my house on Pratamnak Hill is almost 70 per cent complete.  I have been impressed with Mario’s vision and creativity in designing a unique and architecturally interesting home.
“I have been impressed with the quality of the construction so far. The concrete footings and the finish of the exterior of the house are of an exceptionally high standard.
“Over the next few months the final phase of the construction will take place and the interior fit-out will commence. We are looking forward to a continued high standard of construction and more of Mario’s imaginative and visionary design work.’
Andrew Chard, London, UK
It’s hard to understand how the Wandeegroup can process such a large number of projects simultaneously and yet still keep taking on more. The reason, according to Mario, is a deep understanding of architecture, architectural law and structural engineering. Without highly trained staff equipped with supercomputers it wouldn’t be possible to roll designs off the Wandeegroup production line as rapidly as they do, but success, said Mario, is also based on creative thinking.
Recently qualified Saksit Vongaram is the latest addition to the fold of architects in Pattaya. Having obtained his architect’s licence in February following four years with the Wandeegroup after studying architecture at Bangkok University, Saksit, in his role as junior architect, works closely with Mario on virtually all the company’s projects.
Engineering – a particular forte of Mario Kleff – is at the heart of most of Wandeegroup’s architectural designs.
“I have learned so much about it from Mario and I have seen how a high-rise construction can be engineered within a few days. He just plays with it,” said Saksit.
“Some architects may think a span has reached its maximum length, but Mario showed me how to enlarge it further, easily to 15 or 20 metres. But learning how the engineers and Government authorities later handle such solutions was interesting for me because every project has been approved without changes,” Saksit said.
Saksit Vongaram, better known as Tong, has witnessed first-hand the success story of the Wandeegroup, simply because he has been involved in creating 3-D designs for more than 30 buildings. He supported projects such as the Suan Sawarn or the W-Tower which helped him achieve a higher grade architect’s licence.
“It is just amazing how Mario drops so many new and different eight-storey condominium buildings on the drawing board. With his fabulous minimalist solution for On The Hill, he excelled himself, once again.”
Scandia Holdings Co Ltd
“I think the real secret of the Wandeegroup’s success lies in the detailed knowledge Mario has,” Tong said. “He teaches us how to think, the meaning of design and the difference between architecture and architectural designs. He often talks about the history of design, going back as far as ancient Egypt’s designs, and highlights what a real architect needs to understand. Mario’s view is that good design is a combination of physics, artistry and religion and that the architect needs to learn from history and from Mother Nature.”
“... when you see how beautiful Mario’s designs are, you can understand why we choose him to design our project in New York. Mario’s architect visions are beyond the ordinary and I wish that he may get in future an appreciate honoree...’”
Floyd Kenyatta, designer
and global ambassador for John Paul Mitchell
As lead architect and designer, Mario’s task is to find a way to tailor a project to a customer’s needs. One good example is the recently launched I-Condominium on Pratamnak Hill which Mario describes “as outstanding in its design as in its innovative interpretation of the 51/49 per cent ownership rule and its ability to control costs”.
Linked underground, the I-Condominium is the first condominium of its kind in Thailand and qualified for planning approval as a single building, yet above ground gives the appearance of two completely separate ones, one 10cm narrower than the other to provide a 51/49 per cent division of the available space. Each building has separate entrance doors giving access to units on different levels without communal walk-ways or other visible condominium design requirements.
Mario has taken responsibility for complete concepts, master planning, landscape creation and final designs on several high-rise developments which as a result of his involvement can be sold as complete towers incorporating hundred of units in 100 per cent foreign ownership.
Add to this Mario’s deep understanding of environmental law and he can justify his claim that when he promises an investor a building permit meeting all construction and environmental requirements he can deliver it.
Mario’s basic construction solutions include modular steel for extremely large spans, water pipes made from stainless steel, electricity ducting and air-condition systems integrated in concrete flooring and swimming pools waterproofed with fibre blast.
Technical features like hydraulic window lifters and movable walls and floors in villas are decorative elements he employs, while on larger condominium blocks he focuses on the ultimate character, feel and ambiance of the working building and its surroundings.
“We are tremendously excited working together with architect Mario Kleff from Thailand and many other internationally recognised architects who are looking seriously towards the future in different ways, with different means, and with very different philosophies.”
Ramesh, Dubai,
United Arab Emirates
“There is nothing really spectacular here,” he said. “Even putting a multi-storey car lift into a luxury condominium unit is not a real problem and can receive official approval. Creativity is restricted only
by the available budget, not by the skills of the architect.

We must work on planning that incorporates more international standards and features elements which will make our skyline more beautiful and Pattaya a more interesting place to visit or to live.
Mario concluded: “Our latest creation is likely to be of real interest to the property industry here – a modern and iconic high-rise development. If this project ever passes the official design phase, Pattaya could well have a new picture-postcard image.
“But that is only one of many projects as the Wandeegroup isn’t short of work. We are also developing a new idea to build multiple levels below the surface. These are just a few examples of the work we are doing to exploit the coming real estate boom.” Ω