Its achievements are considerable indeed, given the challenges it has had to overcome, operating in a marketplace that is constant-ly swept by economic and political upheavals.

To succeed, TCC correctly adopted a solid stance: to select purely prime sites for residential development. Regardless of any short-term crisis, people will ultimately require decent shelters.

Amid recent conditions such as high oil prices and soaring inflation, with prices of basic goods spiralling, consumer spending has indeed become squeezed.

Yet, the firm remains upbeat. When asked how TCC Capital Land was able to tackle these factors, its executive director Soammaphat Traisorat said the solution to managing risks came from how the company ran its operations.

"We pay attention to every detail. We don't just construct buildings. Customer satisfaction is equally important," he said. "Our aim is to build homes that match the needs and aspirations of our buyers."

TCC's projects gained recognition because they possessed convenient locations and, while their designs were not outlandish, they were easy to comprehend.

To round off a fruitful year, TCC Capital Land in December unveiled Villa Rachatewi on Phya Thai Road in the heart of the inner city.

The site is within walking distance of two BTS Skytrain stations - Rachatewi and Phyathai. It also provides easy access to major roads such as Phetburi, Phaholyothin, Rama I and Rama VI. It is also well served by expressways.

Many retail and commercial centres are close by. They include Siam Paragon, Siam Centre, CentralWorld, Panthip Plaza, and King Power complex.

The new Airport Link transit system, currently under construction, is one block away.

Villa Rachatewi will house a total of 828 units in two towers.

Prices for the condominiums range from Bt2.7 million to Bt14 million, and buyers have a choice of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

The unit sizes range from 39 to 164 square metres.

One major feature is the grand open spaces at the main entrance. The green area will be adorned by a centrepiece water feature, which will shield the site from external noise.

Apart from Villa Rachatewi, TCC is building Athenee Residence on Wireless Road, Empire Place off Sathorn and Emporio Place on Sukhumvit Road. It is also creating a luxury housing project on Kaset-Navamin Road called The Royal Residence, which has 79 mansions priced from Bt40 million to Bt140 million.

Itthi C Tan

The Nation