Magnolia Quality Development Corporation Limited (MQDC), one of the leading property developers in Thailand, believes its soon-to-be-launched Cloud 11 has what it takes to help realize the full potential of the creative industry in Thailand.
According to MQDC Senior Vice President Onza Janyaprasert, there are many world-class creative talents in Bangkok. Based on data by the Creative Economy Agency, the creative industry contributed close to 10% of Thailand’s gross domestic product pre-pandemic. “Clearly, there’s a lot of creative talent in the country. However, the sector is fragmented,” says Janyaprasert, who is also the Project Director of Cloud 11. “We hope to develop Cloud 11 into a hub for creative industry talents—a place where we can empower them to achieve greater things.”
Asia’s Largest Hub for Content Creators
Cloud 11 is a 40-billion-baht (US$1.14 billion) project in Bangkok developed to help grow the region’s creative industry and position Thailand as Asia’s largest hub for content creators.
Construction is currently underway, with the topping out ceremony slated for the second quarter of 2024. The official launch is on track to take place in the fourth quarter of this year.
Designed by the world-renowned architectural studio Snøhetta, Cloud 11 will have seven key components, including Grade A+ office spaces, content production studios, a retail complex, lifestyle hotels, concert halls and Bangkok’s largest rooftop park. It will also have an education zone to house entertainment and media schools, content academies and incubation facilities for content creators.
Janyaprasert says MQDC is partnering with Thailand’s telco True Corporation to offer Cloud 11 one of the fastest fiber optic connections in the country.
He adds, “Cloud 11 has many unique features. For example, the workspaces we are building are not generic offices; they are purpose-built for the content industry with dedicated circulation for artists and creators. We also understand that people in the creative industry have different working hours, so Cloud 11 will implement a district cooling system, allowing for flexible air-conditioning for our tenants.”
Building an Ecosystem
Janyaprasert says the reason behind these key features is about building an ecosystem for the creative community, one that allows content creators to have access to the best-in-class technology, as well as provide them with funding and business opportunities.
“Cloud 11 is not merely a real estate project,” he says. “It is not about the building. It is about creating an ecosystem with the creator community at its heart.”
He adds that content creation and entertainment have evolved beyond two dimensional formats. Today, content can be created by leveraging technologies such as Web 3.0, metaverse and blockchain. Cloud 11 will offer the space, funding opportunity, talent and state-of-the-art equipment for content creators.”
The development and concept of Cloud 11 have garnered a positive response from the creative community. “They are glad to see a hub for the community. A place where content creators, musicians and even gamers can be together, to collaborate and create more value together,” Janyaprasert says.
So far, Cloud 11 has attracted several anchor tenants, including market hall operator and community space specialist theCOMMONS, tech-led hotel group Yotel and Marriott International.
“We are also in talks with leading entertainment companies and a few studio partners and academies from Hollywood and South Korea. The details will be announced later this year,” he says.
There will also be a scriptwriting academy at Cloud 11 to groom and support aspiring writers in the creative industry. “Thailand is good at post-production work. However, we need more original content. With the academy, we can produce more original content and export it to the world,” Janyaprasert says. “Hopefully, one day Cloud 11 can be a hub for Asian creators to collaborate.”
