A three-level shopping mall under construction on the Phuket beachfront plans to become the tourist hub’s prime destination to “eat, shop and party”.
Banana Walk is being developed by the owners of the Patong Hotela and Banana Disco and scheduled to open in May 2012.
Aptly named Banana Walk, the 3-level beachfront shopping complex will feature 30 boutique retail outlets in what architect Smith Obayawat describes as a “modern, tropical” design concept.
Located on a 4500sqm beachfront site on Patong Beach Rd, just 100 metres south of Soi Bangla and next to the Banana Disco, it will transform from a shopping destination during the day to a nightlife precinct at night, with five restaurants and rooftop nightclubs, largely aimed at tourist clientele.
“With Banana Walk we have designed architecture to create a shopping experience that’s a complete departure from the typical Thai neighborhood or community malls,” says Obayawat, the founder of The Office of Bangkok Architects (OBA).
“This is a very special location so we need to remember that more is not always necessarily better.
“We believe street level mall design in Thailand needs to allow for more freedom of movement and flow for these types of spaces,” says Obayawat. “We’ve done that with Banana Walk with low density designs that provide ample outdoor lounge areas where travellers can mingle and gaze at the shops and restaurants that semi-surround them. It also makes common sense that when you have a lovely beachfront setting like Banana Walk that every living space in the complex faces the waterfront.”
Banana Walk’s architectural design has a “natural and elegant approach” but still has a beach feel with construction elements that include stone, wood, glass and bamboo. Special design elements also create a less air-conditioned environment for Banana Walk by using natural ventilation in common lounge areas. The exterior design uses extensive sun and rain shielding with natural materials to protect the glass and exposed areas from the elements.
Nick Anthony, MD of Indigo Real Estate, the project’s leasing agent, hope to attract quality, international retailers, a variety of restaurant brands and international bar and nightclub operators for the roof-top lounge areas that offer extensive sea views.
“The fresh design approach and the prime location of Banana Walk are attracting some interesting retailers to Patong,” says Nick Anthony. “If you’re a retailer or restaurant operator looking to expand into Thailand, Patong is a market that can’t be overlooked as its popularity continues to grow. This section of Patong where Banana Walk is located gets an average of over 5000+ people each day who walk by and almost 1000 people per hour in the evening.”
As a tropical island destination Phuket continues to power ahead of their rivals in Bali and Koh Samui. Phuket passenger arrivals in the first six months was up 30 per cent over the same period in 2010 and domestic arrivals increased by 11 per cent, breaking the 1 million mark. Experts also point to the fact Phuket isn’t just attracting more tourists, but also gaining growth from the Chinese and Russian markets.
“When you talk about pure tourism numbers on Phuket, Patong is still king,” says Bill Barnett, MD of C9 Hotelworks. “Patong room occupancy was an amazing 82 per cent in the first half of this year. With 6968 new rooms coming to Phuket by 2014, 68 per cent of which will be located on the west coast, Patong is in for a huge growth spurt.”
Banana Walk is configured for 50 per cent core retail space and 50 per cent for food and beverage outlets. The anchor food and beverage outlet is Baitong Seafood, which is owned by the Banana Walk developers.
The complex is separated into blocks A, B and C, each with three floors and a roof top area facing an inner courtyard and beach.
