iso an artist's loft in the LOS

[thaibound]

i'll be making my fourth trip to the LOS by summer's end and this time i have every intention of finding a place to spend a full year.

having spent time in hotels in bkk, pattaya, chiang mai, and phuket i've decided i could be happy for a longer term in any of those places if i can find the proper "space" in which to live (and work).

in the i'd be looking for an artist's loft -- a giant, raw space with lots of light, probably high up in a partially-converted former warehouse, with a view of something worth seeing, be it a giant city or a beautiful ocean or an unspoiled mountainside.

i don't care if i end up on the 12th story in bangkok or pattaya or a private home outside huahin or in a penthouse in the hills above patong.

basically i need a well-equipped bachelor pad with all the modern conveniences which just happens to also have an extra 1000 sq ft (100 meters sq?) of raw space which has a great view and lots of natural light, in which i can throw about paint to my heart's content.

to make this work as i envisage it, i'll also need "hired help" - a housekeeper/cook to make me feel like i have all the conveniences of a 4-star hotel and probably an "assistant" to keep the place stocked with everything from food to toiletries to paint & gesso. i don't expect finding models to be any problem wherever i end up.

any suggestions on how to go about finding such a comfortable, private, secure, creative living arrangement would be greatly appreciated. the threads i've read have virtually dismissed realtors, but maybe somebody here knows somebody who knows...

thanks in advance for any tips or guidance.

[PigDogg]

I don't live in Thailand but her's an idea. Others can correct me if I'm offbase.

Commercial retail space is cheap in Thailand. I don't think the Thai's in Pattaya that have laundries and other small businesses are paying very much rent.

A typical layout at least in Pattaya is a ground floor plus a loft that overlooks the ground floor. So half the ground floor has very high ceilings.

[Guest]

Duh, large space, beautiful view of ocean? You gotta be joking. Think of 150,000 baht or more / month.

Do you really think people are so stupid to offer such places cheap?

Beg to differ with PigDogg, but there is no such thing as the dream place for cheap, except if you go to the middle of nowhere, like Ko Chang, and then, best of luck with the weather and boredom.

Big space looking at a dump? Yep, lots of those.

[rxpharm]

I think finding such a space will be a bit difficult. One thing that would be good is if you know a trustworthy Thai person (perhaps an lb) who can scout out possibilities for you before you arrive so you can view the prime places and make your decision. Of course you will have to pay this person, but make an arrangement for partial payment for the list and the balance on when you make your decision.

Not sure how practical this is for you, but it might work.

[thaibound]

(ziggystardust @ Jun. 23 2007,10:02)
Duh, large space, beautiful view of ocean? You gotta be joking. Think of 150,000 baht or more / month.

joking about what? are you inferring what i seek doesn't exist or just that it will cost me at least 1,800,000 baht to rent it for one year? and if i agreed to such a rate would i be a stupid farang or just another rich american spoiling the market for everyone else?  

Do you really think people are so stupid to offer such places cheap?

who me? or is 1,800,000 baht/year "cheap" to you?

Beg to differ with PigDogg, but there is no such thing as the dream place for cheap, except if you go to the middle of nowhere, like Ko Chang, and then, best of luck with the weather and boredom.

differ all you want, but nobody asked for 'the dream place for cheap', i just asked for 'the dream place'. and as for Ko Chang, i've never been, but are you suggesting that what i seek might be available there for considerably less than 2million baht for a year? (assuming i can tolerate ill weather and boredom, of course)

[/quote]Big space looking at a dump? Yep, lots of those.[QUOTE]
Where and for how much?  

If the point of your reply was to tell me i'm an idiot for even imagining i might be able to find, much less afford, such a spot, you made your irrelevant point.    If you have any advice that might be actually helpful - as i know you live in a nice place in LOS yourself, so i would imagine you might be able to come up with a worthy tidbit or two -- it'd be appreciated.

Otherwise, as i have garnered absolutely no information of any use from your response -- thanks for nothing.

[thaibound]

(PigDogg @ Jun. 23 2007,07:32) I don't live in Thailand but her's an idea.  Others can correct me if I'm offbase.

Commercial retail space is cheap in Thailand.  I don't think the Thai's in Pattaya that have laundries and other small businesses are paying very much rent.

A typical layout at least in Pattaya is a ground floor plus a loft that overlooks the ground floor.  So half the ground floor has very high ceilings.

thanks pd,
the architectural design of such a place would be pretty cool for me. i'm sure it'd require some outlay to make it the comfy self-indulgent living space i'd want it to be, but the idea of a high ceilinged main floor with a private loft above could be great (i've had similar in the States and it worked great). apparently others feel differently, and i've yet to find anyone who knows anyone who might actually handle/manage/lease such a space. not to mention, the potential 'construction' - minor though it may be - i could easily see becoming a nightmare!
i've been thinking for a while such a pursuit might be mostly folly, but i figured i'd never know til i asked.
i might end up leasing a 2 br oceanview condo and just (temporarily) wrecking the shit out of the 2nd bedroom not an ideal 'studio' but the living situation would have, um, 'other' benefits i'm sure.

i admit i was slightly hoping there might be an artist or two secretly tucked in amongst us lb-lovers who might tip me off (pm me, please?) to some lesser-known spot or a place to sublet.... but so far, no luck.

[thaibound]

(rxpharm @ Jun. 23 2007,13:36) I think finding such a space will be a bit difficult. One thing that would be good is if you know a trustworthy Thai person (perhaps an lb) who can scout out possibilities for you before you arrive so you can view the prime places and make your decision.  Of course you will have to pay this person, but make an arrangement for partial payment for the list and the balance on when you make your decision.

Not sure how practical this is for you, but it might work.

thanks rxpharm,
if i could find a reliable/trustworthy person(s) to perform the function of an unofficial realtor -- which is to say, be my legs and eyes and ears -- and hunt me down a few possible venues, i'd happily do so.

i plan to return to los soon and will just ask around of the people i meet to see if my "dream" is possible. i had originally intended to buy and build, but further research has dissuaded me from that, leaving me in this temporary lurch.

at the moment, my list of potential contacts range from ladyboys who might know someone to artists who might want to sublet to architects who might want an investor. i have as yet eliminated no possibilities... not even the million-plus baht options...

[Guest]

i say do it than write a blog to keep us informed of your fun. also just your everyday living problems. it would be interesting to say the least.

[Guest]

Fine, I wrote too harshly, but I just think the idea you can find paradise at any kind of a reasonable rate in the world, and especially in Thailand where they are extremely sharp at charging high rates for what foreigners want, is not realistic.

Anyhow, back to practicality. I know what you want, as I have something that is not exactly like that, but approaches it. You will find that most old houses and appartments in Thailand have high ceilings. Mine are 12 feet. You can find extremely large appartments for a reasonable rate. My friend's was 350 sq m on Soi 19, with one room about 200 sq m (with no pillars), for 60,000 baht. Frankly speaking, I can easily imagine it converted to an artists den like atmosphere (if 12' is ok).

So my suggestion in Bangkok would be a large appartment and there you just have to look.

For loft like places, no idea, but it will most certainly be unreasonable to think of a place with a view for any reasonable rate. And of course a warehouse type place would cost you a fortune in air con, as you cannot leave your equipment (painting?) without air con else it's destroyed in a week.

Option B is go outside Bangkok (a long way outside), and you might actually get paradise however, your social life would be limited, and then, what's the point of being in Thailand?

Just beware that what you are thinking about has an air con problem (either for having air con, or if it has it, the cost).

[PigDogg]

(thaibound @ Jun. 23 2007,17:47) thanks pd,
the architectural design of such a place would be pretty cool for me. i'm sure it'd require some outlay to make it the comfy self-indulgent living space i'd want it to be, but the idea of a high ceilinged main floor with a private loft above could be great

Hey Thaibound, just want to clarify that I have absolutely no experince renting commercial space in Thailand.

Good luck!

[PigDogg]

Artist In Residency Program

Was googling around and found this, might be of interest to you Thaibound.

[Bravo]

'Converted loft' type spaces really don't exist here as small, central warehouses that have been converted to living spaces are not around. There are plenty of big apartments (300 sqm+) around but they are at premium prices ((THB, 100,000 + per month). Houses with big, spacious rooms will also be in the same range. You will get more for your money outside central Bangkok but will need to get to know what area suits you. I think you need to get away from the 'artists loft' idea and be more open to what Thailand has to offer otherwise you will be disappointed that nothing matches your ideal. My advice is rent a room for 1-2 months and use that time to get an agent or friend to take you around.

[thaibound]

(PigDogg @ Jun. 23 2007,21:42) Artist In Residency Program

Was googling around and found this, might be of interest to you Thaibound.    

thnks, sir dogg,
twenty years ago that would have been exactly the kind of place i needed, but i'm too old and world-weary for roughing it anymore, though it does have a certain appeal....

[thaibound]

(ziggystardust @ Jun. 23 2007,21:13) Fine, I wrote too harshly, but I just think the idea you can find paradise at any kind of a reasonable rate in the world, and especially in Thailand where they are extremely sharp at charging high rates for what foreigners want, is not realistic.

Anyhow, back to practicality. I know what you want, as I have something that is not exactly like that, but approaches it. You will find that most old houses and appartments in Thailand have high ceilings. Mine are 12 feet. You can find extremely large appartments for a reasonable rate. My friend's was 350 sq m on Soi 19, with one room about 200 sq m (with no pillars), for 60,000 baht. Frankly speaking, I can easily imagine it converted to an artists den like atmosphere (if 12' is ok).

So my suggestion in Bangkok would be a large appartment and there you just have to look.

For loft like places, no idea, but it will most certainly be unreasonable to think of a place with a view for any reasonable rate. And of course a warehouse type place would cost you a fortune in air con, as you cannot leave your equipment (painting?) without air con else it's destroyed in a week.

Option B is go outside Bangkok (a long way outside), and you might actually get paradise however, your social life would be limited, and then, what's the point of being in Thailand?

Just beware that what you are thinking about has an air con problem (either for having air con, or if it has it, the cost).

no worries, ziggy,
i suspected with a bit of prodding you'd part with some helpful info and indeed you did -- the high priority/cost of air con was something i hadn't considered. and the apparent non-existence of converted/artist lofts in thailand has been an eye-opener.
but an apt with a 200 sq meter room w/no pillars and a 12' ceiling could just do the trick i believe, though i'm not quite ready to surrender the dream of a "view" even if it require that i make some adjustments in my definition of 'beautiful'.
at least my expectations are becoming somewhat more realistic so my in-person search next visit might not be a total bummer!
i don't want this "dream" to go the way of the ATS Villa i had envisioned after my first mind-altering trip to LOS!
but this one is all on me and while i'm open to re-thinking the thing -- and haven't ruled out a hermitage on koh chang (or koh samet or...???) -- failure is just not an option.
in 2008 i'm gonna live the dream.

[Guest]

I don't want to over-emphasize the point, as this only applies to large space where you have a lot of delicate items, as is my case. But here are some numbers for my (very leaky) house...

Turned off air con for a few weeks. All my books started having wrinkly pages.

Turned it on all the time, and had a 20,000 baht montly bill for the time I tried it.

Now I turn it off in all parts of the house most of the time except my studio and PC room which are on 24 hrs/7 days, and in the bedroom only when I sleep. It still costs me 7,000 baht / month.

Now I've started putting in overhead fans all over the place, I still only get to 6,000 / month or so.

It still is very high.