The HAPPITAT Brings Together Real and Virtual Experiences.

The HAPPITAT will be the first themed destination to combine real and virtual experiences over a very large footprint, adding a new dimension to visitors' experiences at a destination. Magnolia Quality Development Corporation (MQDC), the developer of the 64-hectare 'The Forestias' town, which is Thailand's largest private sector property development project, announced that it is building at The Forestias a themed destination.

Ms. Orada Kerdhong, President, Storied Place, MQDC, said, "We're creating a phenomenon with the HAPPITAT—one that takes destination development to a new level. The HAPPITAT will be a place to which people will want to return constantly because every visit will give them new experiences as a result of a year-round calendar of indoor and outdoor activities, a rich mix of lifestyle pursuits, and, in the future, the integration of virtual reality experiences across many aspects. Our goal is to have people feel, at every visit, the same excitement and pleasure of discovery as their first visit, no matter what they have come to do, but still combine it with a feeling of warm and comfortable familiarity."

The 4.8-hectare forest in the centre of The Forestias, various gardens, parade grounds, hundreds of stores, food-and-beverage outlets, cultural and social amenities, numerous markets, a science museum, and offices are all included in the HAPPITAT's approximate nine-hectare footprint. The gross floor space of the three buildings that make up HAPPITAT is about 211,000 square metres.

Happitat Themed Shops

Ms. Orada said that MQDC engaged some of the world's most eminent international experts in destination planning as well as entertainment to draw up the HAPPITAT's masterplan.

"It's an ingenious layout that lets people move from a cityscape and 'city life' along the main highway at the entrance of The Forestias, through various stages that ultimately bring a visitor to quiet nature at the edge of the forest. It's a fulfilling journey from 'busy urban environment' to 'extraordinary natural environment'."

She said that the horizontal movement from city life to deep forest takes people through "a route in which there are multiple magical experiences throughout. The journey can be enjoyed as a whole, from end to end, or a visitor can linger along the way and simply enjoy parts of the journey, or enter and exit the journey at any point. And, in the future, with the addition of mixed virtual reality experiences, this journey becomes not only fun, but also educational, as well as creating commercial opportunities for co-creators of the HAPPITAT to reach more customers with a wider selection of offerings."

"We want families, whether they be residents or from outside, to be able to spend more time together, so we're ensuring that every member of a family, across multiple generations, will be able to find lots to engage them productively and pleasurably."

The goal of these cultural and social institutions is to turn ordinary areas into exciting settings. For example, there are theatres with a combined floor area of 4,000 square metres. Also, there is a plaza and avenues for hosting parades and events all year long, which will become a distinguishing feature of The HAPPITAT.

"The beautiful spaces enable families to spend time together every day, whether they choose to dine, pursue leisure, lifestyle, health and wellness, entertainment activities, learning activities, or cultural activities, in close proximity to nature in a safe and healthy environment.

Happitat Town Center

"Our frequent and regularly organised events, shows, and parades aim to amaze and thrill people of all ages, as well as provide opportunities for people to also conduct their own events, whether it be acting, performing music, or letting their pets be the stars of events.

"And our virtual world dimension will help people enjoy and learn from mixed virtual reality experiences. In the future, these experiences will be embedded throughout the HAPPITAT and extend right into the forest so that people can learn about nature and interact with animals with the help of augmented reality," said Ms. Orada.

In the "Idyllias" metaverse, which is one of an endless number of metaverses on the Translucia platform, the Forestias will also have a digital twin. The T&B Media Global (Thailand) Co., Ltd. is the company creating the Translucia platform.

According to Mr. Kittiphun Ouiyamaphun, the president of MQDC in charge of The Forestias development, the HAPPITAT has received an investment of around US$500 million, and its preparations and other work are about 70% done.

The Forestias, which is situated in the fast expanding "Eastern Economic Corridor" in eastern Bangkok, has a staggering 56% of its land area set aside for green space, and almost 70% of it is shaded by trees.

The Forestias also has two hotels, various residential buildings, and spa centres in addition to the HAPPITAT theme attraction. The Forestias' residential developments include the opulent Six Senses Residences and Mulberry Grove. Mulberry Grove's The Forestias Villas, Offering "Lifetime Care" services and amenities, are The Forestias Condominiums, three Whizdom high-rise condos, The Aspen Tree condos, and Sky Villa homes.