Mario Kleff sets a new standard for construction sites in Pattaya
Majestic Residence on Phra Tamnak Hill in Pattaya hit the headlines over the summer of 2021 when architect Mario Kleff demolished two villas and started building a new one, utilising the finest in German engineering.
The construction company Wandeegroup Asia, under the direction of CEO Mario Kleff, began work in June of this year. The Substructure work, consisting of 100+ piles and large concrete foundations were laid first, allowing the new villa to be safely and firmly set on the rock. 100 tons of steel and 700 m3 of high-strength concrete mix were used for the construction work on the foundation, swimming pool and basement.
What followed would impress some of the world’s greatest engineers, as large steel girders were prepared for the two upper floors, sitting on a 48-meter-long steel girder – 48 meters is the distance between the two pillars, representing the width of the property. On top of it is a heavily post-tensioned concrete slab with a thickness of over 35 cm.
In residential buildings, like villas and bungalows, steel girders or steel beams with a length of 6 to 12 meters are commonly used. Girders over 20 meters are rarely found even in heavy structures, such as car parks or public buildings. So for this local project to include an almost 50-metre long steel girder, it speaks wonders for the future of villa construction and engineering in Thailand.
We spoke to Mr Kleff about the project, and he had this to say, “Apart from the fact that the Wandeegroup is constantly pushing the boundaries in Thailand construction, the wide and column-free windows that this villa possesses really is a unique engineering feat for Thailand.
“There are various ways of creating column-free spaces, but the integration of wide-span cellular beams and post-tensioned concrete slabs were the most suitable for this project. However, 48 meters from column to column is unprecedented in Pattaya.
“We have structures built outside of Thailand with spans of over 30 meters and have designed buildings with spans of 40 meters, but 48 meters is the first structure under construction.”
When The Thaiger started reporting on this project in Pattaya, no one would have expected such a design. Now it becomes clear why Mario Kleff is to become a registered trademark for architectural design in Thailand and beyond.
Buildings with such an approach can be categorised as architectural art. We’ll be sure to follow up on this project and report the final images when it is completed. For now, here’s an action shot of the contractors hard at work.
