How To Transform A Classic Building Into A Condominium Property ?

[vinileg]

What are the legal and technical requirements (if possible!?) to have a classic building transformed into a condominium property ?

[ilyushin]

Building codes, structural , electrical, water, etc...

Let us see your Classic Structure for more input.

[EVO]

a profound first post. maybe also a lost i would guess.

[Rinrada]

You got the Buckingham Palace conversion job...didnt ya.....

[OldAsiaHand]

Does Bangkok have any 'classic buildings' other than the Grand Palace (which is probably pretty much out of the question here)?

[thedude]

a classic building? whats that? commercial? apartments? retail? can't really help if you are not specific.

big issue - fire engine access, you need at least 6m wide road perimeter within property to allow for this. old buildings don't have this. no fire engine access, no building license.

another big issue - environmental impact assessment, approval needed if more than 79 units planned.

another big issue - check your zoning. an overbuilt old building may not get approval for new usage if it exceeds the allowable floor area ratio under the new zoned usage.

another big issue - check your set back lines. some old buildings ignored 2:1 set back lines from the frontage road, authorities would rather you tear it down before approving new usage.

big issue - again going back to whether you are changing the type of building. M&E for office or hotels are significantly different than for condominiums, and load bearing of the structure is also different. for example, you need to punch through to create a lot more toilets to change from office to condo.

big issue - check your ceiling heights. good class condos require at least 2.6 to 2.7m of floor to ceiling height (including false ceiling), many old buildings and offices don't meet this height requirement, and after gutting the old aircon system and redesigning the condo aircon layout, you may be short of ceiling space.

big issue - water supply, storage and waste treatment system, again, differs greatly depending on type of building.

its a long and complicated exercise, don't even think of doing it on your own.

[malcolminthemiddle]

Parking is also a big issue.

[astral]

a classic building? whats that? commercial? apartments? retail? can't really help if you are not specific.

big issue - fire engine access, you need at least 6m wide road perimeter within property to allow for this. old buildings don't have this. no fire engine access, no building license.

another big issue - environmental impact assessment, approval needed if more than 79 units planned.

another big issue - check your zoning. an overbuilt old building may not get approval for new usage if it exceeds the allowable floor area ratio under the new zoned usage.

another big issue - check your set back lines. some old buildings ignored 2:1 set back lines from the frontage road, authorities would rather you tear it down before approving new usage.

big issue - again going back to whether you are changing the type of building. M&E for office or hotels are significantly different than for condominiums, and load bearing of the structure is also different. for example, you need to punch through to create a lot more toilets to change from office to condo.

big issue - check your ceiling heights. good class condos require at least 2.6 to 2.7m of floor to ceiling height (including false ceiling), many old buildings and offices don't meet this height requirement, and after gutting the old aircon system and redesigning the condo aircon layout, you may be short of ceiling space.

big issue - water supply, storage and waste treatment system, again, differs greatly depending on type of building.

its a long and complicated exercise, don't even think of doing it on your own.

You are thinking like an American.

These rule do not necessarily apply in Thailand.

[OldAsiaHand]

a classic building? whats that? commercial? apartments? retail? can't really help if you are not specific.

big issue - fire engine access, you need at least 6m wide road perimeter within property to allow for this. old buildings don't have this. no fire engine access, no building license.

another big issue - environmental impact assessment, approval needed if more than 79 units planned.

another big issue - check your zoning. an overbuilt old building may not get approval for new usage if it exceeds the allowable floor area ratio under the new zoned usage.

another big issue - check your set back lines. some old buildings ignored 2:1 set back lines from the frontage road, authorities would rather you tear it down before approving new usage.

big issue - again going back to whether you are changing the type of building. M&E for office or hotels are significantly different than for condominiums, and load bearing of the structure is also different. for example, you need to punch through to create a lot more toilets to change from office to condo.

big issue - check your ceiling heights. good class condos require at least 2.6 to 2.7m of floor to ceiling height (including false ceiling), many old buildings and offices don't meet this height requirement, and after gutting the old aircon system and redesigning the condo aircon layout, you may be short of ceiling space.

big issue - water supply, storage and waste treatment system, again, differs greatly depending on type of building.

its a long and complicated exercise, don't even think of doing it on your own.

You are thinking like an American.

These rule do not necessarily apply in Thailand.

And you so smugly inform us of this based on....exactly what?

It seems to me that the poster made some interesting and detailed observations. Why you felt the need to clutter the thread with such a vacuous response to him frankly eludes me.

[ilyushin]

There are several older office buildings in Bangkok that could be made into condo units. It could be like the American style apartments in an old factories. Classic isn't really what I think you should have said, but old stuctures.

[tedkarma]

I am curious about this question too. There are several - not so successful - small hotels on Phuket that would make great condos. Also the Kamala Terrace Resort - which has never rebuilt from the tsunami would make GREAT residential units. Going condo would probably raise lots of money for rebuilding the facility - which has great views.

I'm not in that league of course, but it does seem that such conversions would greatly enhance the value of certain properties - but I've never seen such a conversion take place here.

[bangkapiboy]

Some cheap apartment "mansions" have been converted into condos in my understanding. Of course, that doesn't mean facilities improved.