Thai beauty at South Forbes

As more and Filipinos travel abroad for leisure, work, or migration, they will inevitably discover and be more appreciative of the architecture and design traditions of other nations. One such nation is our neighbor, Thailand. Over the centuries, the Thais have emphasized the natural beauty of the environment in their architecture, the building of structures beside water, and the feeling of openness and spaciousness.

One such structure that explores the beauty of Thai architecture here in the country is the Main Clubhouse of Phuket Mansions, the newest plush residential enclave at South Forbes Golf City in the rapidly developing Metro Sta. Rosa area.

From the main gate, the Phuket Mansions Clubhouse is the first, and most elegant, structure visible from the main gate of the property. Tall anahaw trees, flanked by colorful bougainvilleas for a strong sense of contrast, direct residents and guests towards the clubhouse and create a stirring vista.

One enters this stylish structure through a rotonda, which is carefully laid with black and dark gray river stones — as inspired by the Thais’ preference for natural materials. From here, one is just awed by this gargantuan open pavilion structure. High ceilings, a modern interpretation of the Thai pitched roof but without the ornamentation, and a white concrete door usher guests into this distinctly tropical experience.

The roof is mainly made of wood for a natural feel. So are the big columns that support the roof and the ceilings. So are function rooms on both sides, but this time made of bamboo. The windows of both function rooms are of pure glass. These create a strong sense of openness — the exteriors and interiors merge and are indistinguishable from one another, with the bamboo just giving some concealment.

The black and dark gray stones for the entire flooring also create a similar effect: it feels like the clubhouse is just one giant natural structure from the driveway to the infinity-edge pool on the other end. The view from here is a river and its untouched, virgin forest, both of which complement the Eden-like setting of the landscaped gardens of the clubhouse.

These views will be much appreciated once one traverses the second white door and descends the black stone steps leading to the infinity-edge pool. The pool also features the same black river stones to complete the singular effect. At the Phuket Mansions Clubhouse, there are no boundaries. This Asian gem blends well with its natural environment.

The Phuket Mansions Clubhouse is an exclusive amenity for lot owners at South Forbes’s newest modern tropical Asian-inspired enclave. Right now, interested investors can check out three Phuket-style residences: the Ayutthaya, Chakri, and Taksin.

As a bonus, lot owners get a free membership to the world-class 18-hole South Forbes Golf Club. As the first and only affiliate of the exclusive golf of IMG SportsClub in the country, South Forbes Golf Club gives member-residents unmatched perks: play privileges and discounts in 42 top golf courses worldwide. These include the prestigious Presidio Golf Course in San Francisco and The Fox Valley Club in New York, among many others.

To experience the ambience at the Phuket Mansions Clubhouse, simply call 635-7777 or 631-8855 or click www.southforbes.com.