Phuket Property: Thailand’s first container mall

PHUKET: Thailand’s first ‘container mall’, the colorful new Boat Avenue Shopping Street, is taking shape as part of a Phuket’s cosmopolitan community in Cherng Talay, and is set to be finished by the end of the year.

The mixed-use retail, commercial and residential development covering 25 rai is the latest community-style project by Phuket-based developer Boat Development. Director Mr Boon Yongsakul said that the project is on schedule for completion by the end of the year.

“The spacious open-air retail area covers more than 2,000 square meters and comprises 16 trendy shop-spaces made of reconditioned containers as well as a new Villa Market supermarket stocking a wide range of international produce,” said Mr Yongsakul.

According to Mr Boon, the vibrant container conversions will be available for rent as shop units by mid-March and the Villa Market is expected to be complete by June.

A dozen stylish three and four-storey shop house units overlook the shopping street and connect to the walking street via an elevated walkway, also created from recycled containers.

Mr Yongsakul’s first commercial project in Phuket was the Phuket Shopping Center, which boasted the island’s first escalators, when it was built more than 20 years ago.

Since then, he has put various mixed-use commercial and residential developments on the map, including Phuket Center Apartment and Boat Lagoon in Koh Kaew.

The eco-friendly design concept of using recycled shipping containers to create Boat Avenue’s multi-tiered shopping mall was locally designed by Able Architects, headed by Pakhin Aunggulsant, whose conscientious approach to sustainable design has won global recognition, including the BCI Asia Green Leadership Award for the self-sustaining Orang Laut Cultural Centre, designed to preserve the sea gypsy culture in Rassada.

Urban lifestyle developer Tri Property has also teamed up with Boat Development to bring the new west coast community to life, with Zcape Condominium and Zcape X2 Condominium, each providing resort-style facilities and smart, affordable studio and one and two-bedroom units, which give residents direct access to the shopping street.

Once complete, the Boat Avenue will have parking spaces for up to 100 cars and provide a range of shopping, dining and entertainment options.

Mr Yongsakul said the container mall has already received a great deal of interest. Among the outlets will be unique boutique stores and trendy eateries catering to a distinctly cosmopolitan crowd of locals, expats and international tourists.