Could this be Chiang Mai’s dreamiest condominium DEVELOPMENT?
Hatched by the founder of long-running Thai fashion label Dapper and loosely
translated from the Northern vernacular as ‘home for the privileged’, Huen Por Liang came to fruition back in late 1996. But plaguing many a real estate project in Chiang Mai at the time, the developer lost the place to the Asian economic crisis the following year; whereupon Siam Commercial Bank stepped in to sell off the property’s units.
With building and internal design of the public areas by Bangkok’s visionary Habita who, incidentally, are noted for their luxury hotel/resort architecture in Thailand, Vietnam, Mainland China and The Maldives, the solidly built exposed brick condo balancedly blends an enduringly modern look with regional Lanna character.
Most suited to those who favour seclusion and solitude, the venerable Huan Por Liang wallows in a real air of exclusivity without a tinge of la-di-da. And, wooing mainly foreign folk but also wealthier Bangkokian holiday homers and even the odd member of the local Nimmanhaemin gang, represents a madly sought-after –if rarely available- residence which, still today, stands very much alone among the city’s condo landscape.
Find sanctuary at Huen Por Liang’s lush, disturbance-free WHEREABOUTS!
Tucked low along an unfrequented private lane (marked ‘no entry’ at both ends), the condo exudes a blessed ‘away from it all’ feel amid its pin-drop-quiet and fauna-rife jungly gardened grounds.
Yet as well as a largish 7-Eleven convenience store steps afar on nearby Soi 4 Wat Umong, only 700 metres northward runs Suthep Road where more or less across the way rises Chiang Mai University’s S1 parking complex complete with cafés, restaurants, bank branches and co-operative shops. Neighbouring which, beneath a canopy of rain trees, is the venue for the bimonthly Gong Khong farmers’ market with stalls selling traditional clothing and handicrafts, flowers and plants, fruit and vegetables, street fare and domestic dishes. While keeping on the topic of nourishment, ahead of the Faculty of Agriculture is a branch of Royal Project Shop stocking a healthy assortment of seasonal produce and Doi Kham brand foodstuffs.
Occupying roughly three square kilometres and bearing the hallmarks of a small town, CMU is otherwise a haven for an abundance of budget-priced coffee shops, bakeries and eateries in particular the nightly Rom Sak food court for supplies of the natively famous Fai Hin salad dressing. To work off those extra calories, there’s the Olympic size Rujirawong swimming pool, a sports stadium and a fitness centre. Folks of a more academic persuasion will surely be pleased to know that the uni also plays host to a multi-storey library. Not forgetting, in the north-west corner of the campus, the sublimely picturesque Ang Kaew reservoir and, with the scenic hilliness of the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park as a backdrop, a spot best appreciated during sunset.
Meantime, south-east of the intersection of Canal and Suthep Roads is the ever bustling Ton Payom fresh market and within a few minutes’ walk east, the unfailingly fashionable neighbourhood of Nimman; destination of refuelling hang-outs and true co-working hubs in the company of many an art gallery, health and beauty clinic and, come evening time, swish beer, wine and cocktail bars.
And what about the ON-SITE AMENITIES?
Relying more on its unseen location and restricted approach, Huan Por Liang presently features neither keycard security nor CCTV facility but is at least guard protected after dark with only one way in and one way out of the premises.
Beyond outside vehicle bays sufficient for some 15 cars, the condo’s bestowed with a comfortably couched open communal lobby boasting on the house shared wireless internet, a juristic manager office supportively staffed between the hours of 8AM to 5PM Monday to Friday and half-day on Saturdays, twin passenger lifts [elevators] and, though there’s no gym per se, a set of free weights and press bench.
Round the rear is a gratifyingly proportioned open-air pool edged with flagstone deck sporting a sala Thai pavilion and a raft of wavy rattan loungers perfect for sun worshippers and chill hounds alike!
Get ready to be impressed big time by these CONDO SUITES!
As one of the lowest density condominiums to prevail in Chiang Mai, the seven-storey Huen Por Liang counts just half-a-dozen ground level 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom units providing a twice-the-average-size 79/80 square metres; then, spread over the first to top floors, 17 3 bedroom duplex pads with at least the same number of bathrooms and ranging in dimension from 150 to 300 sq m; not to neglect the fact that all 23 units are set on breezy, greenery-decorated single-loaded corridors.
As the norm at the condo, expect fully furnished and equipped interiors with ducted air-con throughout, timber flooring, hard-wired fibre-optic broadband from Sinet (albeit chargeable), separate work/study and Western style kitchen quarters with partitioned dining and double volume living space, and wide glass-fronted balcony; oh, and complimentary room cleaning every 10 days.
But it doesn’t stop there – seldom present or indeed unique among condos the country over, several of the units at Huen Por Liang are fitted with in-built gas burners and oven plus, because the outdoor environment’s thickly tree-covered and the insides can get surprisingly cool, would you believe a good number even star a working fireplace with chimney!
