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Published on July 20, 2007

"I'm a doer, not a talker," he quipped. For this reason, Wilfong has chosen to speak sparingly, keeping a low profile over the past 18 months, until deals for the firm's two "prized jewels" - two large prime downtown plots leased from the Crown property - were signed, sealed and delivered.

He recently clinched a Bt4.3-billion joint venture with Dubai's Isthithmar to construct a 30-floor hotel with 400 rooms on its 10-rai Sathorn Square project.

"For many years one of Golden Land's prime properties was the former Russian Embassy grounds, and designated to be the Sathorn Square project."

The other inner city plot was near the Polo Club. But delays have plagued both projects over the past six years.

When Wilfong, a professional developer with a strong background in high-end projects, having completed Singapore landmarks such as the Carlton Millennium and Conrad hotels, joined the firm last year he made the execution of these projects a priority.

First, he secured a Bt1.8 billion fund to build a 38-floor office tower on the Sathorn site.

His next move was to find a partner for the hotel. Earlier plans to construct serviced apartments and leasehold apartments were ditched, he said, as the market for luxury units appears saturated for the moment.

By simplifying the elements of this project, Wilfong made the endeavour more manageable.

The job was now to make the office tower the best in Bangkok and get it opened by 2010.

Piling has been completed and Wilfong is confident that when the tower opens its doors, it will provide the Sathorn area with its brightest beacon.

"We try to keep everything a cut above existing properties. The ceiling height will be the city's tallest at 2.95 metres. The actual space between floors is 4 metres."

But he is proudest of the restoration work on the former Russian Embassy buildings.

With the assistance of the fine Arts Department, Golden Land seeks to return the site to its former glory.

"Every time I visit the grounds, it never ceases to amaze me what I would find. As each layer of panel is removed we find another stunning piece of engraving in the original ceilings and walls.

"It is our intention to keep the buildings as the centrepiece of Sathorn Square," he added. "We wish to share this beautiful part of the estate with the public."

The embassy was vacated in 1999. Unlike the cruder developers in town, Golden Land was eager to preserve the buildings in order to provide the vital continuity of its past to the present day.

The buildings were commissioned in 1914 by Luang Jitjamnongwanich, a wealthy nobleman who later became better known as Lord Sathorn.

When his son suffered a financial setback in 1927, the mansion was turned into a hotel called Hotel Royal.

Following the 1930s depression, the hotel fared poorly. In the years following the end of World War II, the property was leased for 50 years to the Russian Embassy in 1948.

For the next half century, it served as a key centre for the Soviet Union's operations in Asia during the turbulent period of the Cold War, Korean War and Indochina conflict.

Wilfong said it was to the credit of Golden Land's chairwoman Khunying Sasima Srivikorn who actually persuaded the Russians to move to a nearby site at Soi Sap, off Suriwong Road.

As chairman of the executive board, Wilfong works closely Sasima in getting Golden Land on a firmer footing. The company's two main divisions are large urban projects and residential housing in the suburbs.

At the same time the firm has obtaining an extension on its Sathorn lease to 2070.

The company has also swapped its Polo project for a 9-rai prime plot by Rama 4-Rachadapisek opposite the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

Wilfong said the move was vital as it allowed the company to move quickly to develop the estate, avoiding delays that came with the Polo plot because of squatter issues.

Its Infinity freehold condominium project near Sathorn Square is expected to be completed in mid-2008.

The 122-unit project which is fully booked and carries a value of Bt2.4 billion will bring in Bt1.8 billion in cash once the transfer of ownership to buyers is completed.

Itthi C Tan

The Nation