WHEN ‘LUXURY’ IS REDEFINED THROUGH UPPER HOUSE RESIDENCES BANGKOK AND THE WIRELESS RESIDENCES BY UPPER HOUSE, THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN CITY REALTY AND SWIRE PROPERTIES, ROOTED IN THE BELIEF THAT TRUE LUXURY LIES IN LONG-TERM QUALITY OF LIFE
TEXT: PRATCHAYAPOL LERTWICHA
PHOTO COURTESY OF UPPER HOUSE
(For Thai, press here)
How do you define your own style of work?
What, exactly, defines a luxury residence? There was a time when luxury was expressed through enveloping the home in expensive materials and layering every square inch with decorative detail. Yet that definition has increasingly come under question, as visually striking embellishment does not necessarily translate into a living experience that is comfortable, functional, or conducive to long-term quality of life.
Upper House Residences Bangkok and The Wireless Residences by Upper House propose a different answer, one grounded in human experience and long-term well-being, understood here as a more enduring form of luxury. This idea is woven into every aspect of the development, from the careful selection of its location to the refinement of its architectural design, positioning the project as one of the most compelling landmark developments to watch today.
A Rare and Exceptional Address
The project stands on one of the few remaining freehold plots on Bangkok’s Wireless Road. Beyond being exceptionally well served by amenities, from five-star hotels and embassies to shopping destinations and leading international schools, the site is also distinguished by something far rarer: it is one of the few plots in Bangkok surrounded by major green lungs such as Lumphini Park and Benjakitti Park, an enviable setting that supports a healthier rhythm of urban life in the years to come.
On this exceptional parcel of land, the development takes the form of two towers, each positioned with a distinct character. Upper House Residences Bangkok, a 52-storey building comprising 156 units, is conceived as a more private retreat, with an emphasis on well-being and tranquility. The Wireless Residences by Upper House, by contrast, rises 71 storeys and comprises 239 units. Its design responds to multigenerational living through balancing shared spaces with a sense of privacy.
The decision to place two distinct residential towers on the same site is particularly astute, allowing a wider range of residents to experience an elevated mode of living on one of Bangkok’s rarest and most coveted pieces of land.
A Partnership Between Two Developers for a Project of Distinction
Another compelling dimension of the project lies in the collaboration between two leading developers, Thailand’s City Realty and Hong Kong’s Swire Properties, who have brought their respective expertise together under the joint venture, City Dynamic.
City Realty is the Thai developer behind landmark projects such as Emporium Tower, Bangkok Garden, and Shrewsbury International School. Beyond their established reputations, these are projects that have also played a meaningful role in shaping the districts around them. Swire Properties, founded in Hong Kong, is behind developments such as OPUS HONG KONG, designed by Frank Gehry, and EDEN in Singapore, designed by Heatherwick Studio. The company has a long history of working with some of the world’s most celebrated architects and was also ranked first globally among real estate developers for sustainability performance in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class World Index 2024.
The collaboration between two developers of this caliber lends the project a strong sense of assurance, signaling to buyers that it is poised to deliver a globally benchmarked standard of living.
Upper House: From Hotel Brand to Branded Residences Reframing Human Experience Through Hospitality
When the ambition is to create an exceptional human experience, Upper House, the globally recognized hotel brand under Swire Hotels, was a natural choice to shape that vision.
Upper House is a hotel brand by Swire Hotels, defined by its philosophy of ‘Houses, not Hotels’ and by an approach to hospitality that feels intimate, personal, and profoundly domestic. Each of its properties in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Chengdu has been conceived with close attention to its city and local context. The results are measurable: The Upper House Hong Kong has ranked in the Top 10 of The World’s 50 Best Hotels for three consecutive years since 2023, and in 2025, all three Upper House properties received MICHELIN Keys, an accolade that recognizes the overall quality of the stay experience, rather than focusing solely on cuisine or design.
Upper House’s arrival in Bangkok is especially significant, as it marks the brand’s first move into branded residences. In doing so, it brings the DNA of elevated hotel service, traditionally associated with short stays, into homes designed for everyday life. Upper House Residences Bangkok will be a fully branded residence, with Upper House overseeing the comprehensive residential experience, while The Wireless Residences by Upper House will offer front-of-house services also managed by the brand.
“This is about bringing a sense of home, a feeling of intimacy and privacy, together with elevated service, into a place of permanent residence,” said Toby Smith, Chief Commercial Officer of Swire Hotels.
Designing for Better Living
The project’s vision of better living is articulated through every layer of its design, from the architecture and landscape architecture to interiors.
Behind the architectural design is Foster + Partners, the studio responsible for internationally renowned projects such as Apple Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and Regent Residences Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Roland Schinzer, Lead Architect at Foster + Partners, described the design approach as an effort to enhance everyday life by integrating nature as an essential part of the experience.
“Our architectural approach centers on the relationship between the buildings and the surrounding parks. We wanted the towers to feel as though they were growing out of the greenery. Rather than simply creating another high-rise development, the idea was to conceive a continuous vertical garden. The buildings’ gently curved forms are designed to maximize views toward Lumphini Park and Benjakitti Park, while also lending the architecture a softness and natural character rarely seen in high-rise projects,” Roland said.
The landscape architecture was designed by P Landscape, whose portfolio includes projects such as Rosewood Hong Kong and 137 Pillars House in Chiang Mai. Wannaporn Phornprapha, landscape architect at P Landscape, explained: “Landscape here is not merely decorative, but ecological in its thinking. We selected native plant species that thrive in Bangkok’s climate to create a continuous sense of lushness, extending from the ground plane to the sky gardens above. Wherever you are within the project, you feel connected to nature, surrounded by a sense of freshness that allows the mind to rest from the pressures of the city.”
BAR Studio, the firm behind the interior design of Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono in Japan, was commissioned to design the interiors for Upper House Residences Bangkok.
“Our approach to the design of Upper House Residences Bangkok was to create a place of calm. We placed great emphasis on well-being, not in terms of amenities, but as a feeling that extends throughout the home. We chose natural-toned materials, such as textured wood and stone, with a calming presence. We paid close attention to light and shadow, ensuring that once you step inside, the noise of the city begins to fall away,” said Stewart Robertson, designer at BAR Studio, describing the thinking behind the project.
For the interiors of The Wireless Residences by Upper House, PIA Interior, whose previous work includes the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), was entrusted to shape an atmosphere of warmth within the vertical setting of a high-rise residence.
“For The Wireless Residences by Upper House, our inspiration came from the lifestyle of Thai families, in which multiple generations often live together. We wanted to create spaces that support shared living, such as a generous dining area and an open kitchen, while still preserving private corners for rest and retreat. The aim was to create a kind of luxury that feels grounded, warm, and genuinely domestic, even within a high-rise setting,” said Vachirapong Arthayukti, designer at PIA Interior.
A Definition Awaiting Proof
Every element of this project has been brought together to give tangible form to a new definition of luxury, one intended to exist as more than a marketing claim.
As Thomas Woolsey, Co-Managing Director of City Dynamic, put it, “It is more than just a building. For us, it is a legacy project.” Casey Au, Co-Managing Director of City Dynamic, added, “We are creating a community here, a place where people will feel a true sense of home for generations to come.”
When the project reaches completion in 2029, we will finally witness this new definition of luxury come to life.