Smart, stylish, and sustainable spaces to live and shop

Today’s most exciting residential and retail spaces are built to anticipate how we want to live, work, and shop in a changing world

Living in a home that’s smart, stylish, and sustainable may once have sounded like wishful thinking, but in Thailand, it’s definitely within reach.

As buyer preferences evolve, developers are meeting the moment with projects that combine design, innovation, and purpose. Mixed-use developments double as cultural hubs, residential communities come with high-concept architecture and interiors, and green-certified spaces are being designed with both the planet and the resident in mind.

A good starting point for what’s possible in today’s market is the PropertyGuru Thailand Property Awards 2025. The winners may be up-and-coming, but together they offer a clear picture of where Thai real estate is heading, and what the next generation of living and retail spaces should look like.

Many smart homes today are more than a showcase of tech capabilities. Rather, they’re carefully designed residences where every detail supports how people actually live. One such example is Land and Houses’ VIVE New Krungthep Kreetha (Winner, Best Luxury Lifestyle Housing Architectural Design – Bangkok). This three-storey development comprises just 73 detached homes, each equipped with smart home automation, digital door locks, and surveillance systems. Private lifts come standard, offering everyday convenience with a luxurious touch. Every feature creates a sense of cohesion that feels tailored rather than mass-produced.

And while every family’s preferences differ, many share similar needs, such as maximising space, future-proofing, and supporting multigenerational living. AP (Thailand) PCL’s THE CITY Ratchapruek – Phrannok (Winner, Best Housing Architectural Design – Bangkok) takes this into account. Inspired by Modern Tudor architecture, the project includes ground-floor bedrooms with en-suites, ideal for aging parents or live-in guests. The homes are also equipped with home automation systems, EV chargers, air filtration, and solar-ready infrastructure.

These homes capture what modern buyers want today, with technical systems and design touches that will stand the test of time.

For discerning homeowners and ultra-luxury buyers, elegance alone no longer cuts it. Although there’s no denying that a striking spiral staircase or a layout designed around nature are impressive, for many people, style becomes even more valuable when it serves how they live.

AP (Thailand)’s BEON Kaset – Nawamin (Winner, Best Luxury Housing Interior Design – Bangkok) development is a good example. Designed by architecture firm Atforty, the project blends fluid curves with clean lines, warm tones with cool materials. But it’s the lived-in details that elevate the interiors: a sweeping spiral staircase, floating mezzanine lofts, and integrated banquette seating. These features combine architectural drama with comfort and utility. In addition, shared spaces such as the family room, lounge, and fitness area are treated as integral extensions of the home, not afterthoughts.

PHYLL PHUKET II by Central Pattana (Winner, Best Condo Architectural Design – Phuket) takes opulent design cues from its coastal backdrop. Inspired by the natural topography of Phuket’s surrounding islands, the condo buildings are arranged around a central garden and pool, with common areas positioned to echo island clusters. Architectural curves soften the buildings’ silhouettes, while corner units are designed to make the most of views with a stylish touch that enhances the living experience: curved glass panels.

Some projects achieve elegance through restraint. AP (Thailand’s CENTRO Sathorn – Suksawat (Winner, Best Housing Landscape Design – Bangkok), the landscape draws from the Japanese chaniwa or tea garden tradition. Instead of flashy elements, the development is all about simplicity and calm, characterised by sculptural trees, thoughtfully placed stepping stones, and curated planting palettes that encourage a slower, more mindful interaction with the space.

These developments — either through bold architectural statements or quiet sophistication — show that true style should always be backed by substance.

Style may be visible in the finer details, but sustainability often works behind the scenes. While eco-friendly details such as green rooftops or solar panels are easy to spot, others are embedded into a project’s materials, construction methods, and even the lives of those who help build them.

Frasers Property (Thailand) Public Company Limited, this year’s Best Developer awardee, exemplifies this deeper commitment. For instance, the company reports a 10.5% improvement in key quality-of-life indicators for workers living in its construction camps, an often-overlooked aspect of social sustainability. That same care can be seen in developments like THE GRAND Riverfront Ratchapruek – Rama 5 (Winner, Best Green Residences), where homes are designed to high sustainability standards. From eco-friendly construction materials to ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilation) systems that support indoor air quality, every detail is proof of an eco-conscious approach.

Equally thoughtful is Parade at One Bangkok (Winner, Best Retail Architectural Design; Best Retail Interior Design), a retail space designed by Lead8. The project is noteworthy for how it embraces a more nuanced expression of biophilic design. Terraces, balconies, and elevated gardens are conceived not just as aesthetic flourishes but as active ecosystems that foster biodiversity and enhance visitors’ well-being. The façade invites pedestrian interaction with a flowing sequence of shaded, semi-open spaces, while the interiors blend natural timber, stone, and organic textures.

These projects show that sustainability doesn’t have to be loud or flashy to be impactful. Sometimes, it’s built quietly into the walls, the walkways, and the lives that pass through them.