The recent past six months were a period of consolidation for Visanu Thepcharoen, the head of Krissana Group.

After a rapid expansion into Bangkok's housing market four years ago, Krissana now has a score of residential projects scattered throughout the capital, from Pinklao and Rattanathibet on one end to Bang Na-Trat and Navamin on the other.

Its luxury projects carry the Nusasiri brand while its middle-segment homes bear the Krissana logo.

In a recent interview, Visanu said he was fortunate to have made so much headway during the start of the real estate boom in 2001-2002, coming in at the tail end of a property crash sparked by the 1997 financial crash.

From being a medium-sized company four years ago, Nusasiri Group has since become a major player, selling suburban housing and a mid-town condominium called Nusasiri Grand.

Its upmarket Nusasiri detached homes in Sathorn-Wong Waen go for Bt13 million, while its Nusasiri-Bang Na units start from Bt12 million. These large houses have built-up spaces of about 390 square metres.

Its smallest Krissana 50-square-wah homes at Navamin, offering about 200 square metres of built-up area, sell for Bt4.5 million.

Its Wacharapon project, located to the north of the city, starts from BtBt5.5 million, with houses built on 80-square-wah and offering 200 square metres of usable space.

Commanding all these operations at the company's head office at Krungthep Kritha Road, Visanu said he prefers the solitude and natural setting of the suburbs to the noisy, polluted congestion in he inner city.

He comes from Udon Thani, a quaint northeastern province, and values the good life that comes with the countryside.

But soon his outfit will move to a new office at its condominium site near Ekamai, one of the city's most traffic-clogged intersections.

The move is necessary, however, as the Nusasiri-Krissana empire continues to grow, even during the current slowdown.

The firm recently moved to build at Jomtien Beach, Pattaya. The venture includes a tie-up with Singapore's Ascott serviced apartment group to run 200 residences at the 695-unit property.

He also has a Phuket project called Krissana Parkland on the western coast of the island.

Visanu said the majority of his housing estates are already completed and almost sold off. Nusasiri Grand Condominium has also managed to secure 70 per cent bookings.

Even with a softening in the Sukhumvit residential market, the firm is not pressured to offload units, he said, preferring to hold on to the apartments for rental income and another property upturn.

Construction at the condominium site is progressing rapidly. The project covers a 4-rai 312-square wah plot and is situated near a BTS Skytrain station and within walking distance of Wat That Thong and the Eastern Bus Terminal.

It has two residential towers sharing a podium, which contains a six-floor car park and retail plaza. A supermarket is planned in the basement area while restaurants are to be located on the first two floors.

Itthi C Tan

The Nation