At first glance, One Bangkok looks like any modern development: gleaming towers that reach the sky, surrounded by lush greenery and foliage.    
 

This mixed-use development in the heart of Bangkok is not just massive above ground, but underground as well. Unlike conventionally designed buildings, One Bangkok sits on a highly sophisticated subterranean network of wastewater pipes.  
 

These pipes channel wastewater not to the public sewer system, but to an on-site treatment facility where it undergoes a high-tech purification process that removes impurities and other pollutants. 
 

Once treated, the water is ready for (re)use. Some is channelled back to the plumbing system, while the rest goes to a cooling plant, where it is chilled to about 5.5 degrees Celsius. The cold water is then pumped into One Bangkok’s buildings comprising five premium office towers, five luxury and lifestyle hotels, and three luxury residential towers, helping to cool interiors and provide much-needed relief from Bangkok’s unrelenting tropical heat.  

This is just one example of district cooling at work in Frasers Property’s multinational portfolio. With its first phase opened in 2024, One Bangkok is fitted with a centralised district cooling system that delivers energy savings to the tune of 17,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year. On top of that, the development uses recycled wastewater in its cooling towers. 
 

These measures demonstrate the integration of sustainable innovation across our multi-asset class portfolio, and our commitment to delivering resilient properties and communities. 
 

“By embedding circular economy principles into its core infrastructure, the district cooling plant at One Bangkok sets a new benchmark for sustainable urban utility systems,” said Mr Worawat Srisa-an, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at One Bangkok.
 

Sustainable innovation not only provides solutions for decarbonisation and more efficient resource use, but also creates meaningful opportunities that benefit people and the environment. “District cooling, for example, helps conserve rooftop spaces by removing the need for individual cooling towers and other mechanical equipment. This opens up possibilities for rooftop and terrace areas to be activated as green and open spaces that benefit the community and support biodiversity,” added Mr Worawat. 
 

Smart building technologies empower tenants to monitor and optimise their energy consumption, contributing to Scope 2 emissions reduction and supporting broader decarbonisation goals. Our approach to real estate considers the many facets of long-term planning with sustainable innovation and design, enabling both stakeholders and spaces to unlock value.  

A green design philosophy

Given the scale of the district cooling projects at One Bangkok, one thing was clear from the outset: successful implementation demands a thoughtful and integrated design approach. 
 

One Bangkok’s planning began as far back as 2011, when land first started to be consolidated for the project. It was an ambitious undertaking: the district would comprise office buildings, hotels, and residential towers — all with unique infrastructure needs. 

During the subsequent master planning and conceptual design phases, a comprehensive estate management strategy was formulated. This included mapping out the district’s projected energy needs against sustainability targets. 

These efforts have led One Bangkok to earn the distinction of being the first in Thailand to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighbourhood Development (LEED-ND) Platinum certification. LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world, and a certification means that all buildings are held to rigorous energy- and water-saving standards.

Sustainable innovation is reshaping how an entire district stays cool. In Tampines, two of our suburban retail malls — Tampines 1 and Century Square — are part of Singapore’s first distributed district cooling (DDC) network, which began operations in March 2025. 
 

This first-of-its-kind system is expected to reduce Tampines town’s carbon emissions by 1,000 tonnes annually — the equivalent of removing 910 cars from the roads.

Tampines 1 and Century Square are bringing Tampines one step closer to being an eco-friendly town. Both malls were selected as two of three “key injection nodes” due to their excess chiller capacity and well-maintained equipment. By supplying chilled water to cool themselves and neighbouring buildings, they demonstrate how brownfield developments can be reimagined through sustainable design.
 

As Singapore’s largest suburban retail mall owner and operator, we carefully balanced multiple considerations, including support for the brownfield DDC project, the Tampines 1 asset enhancement initiative, and the interests of both tenants and shoppers. Our deep expertise in the retail asset class was affirmed with a 100% committed occupancy rate for Tampines 1, amid these ongoing developments.

Partnerships are key to unlocking the full potential of district cooling. The Tampines’ DDC project, designed and pioneered by SP Group — a leading utilities company based in Singapore — is a prime example of how public-private collaboration drives innovation at scale. With seven buildings in the network, the project brought together a diverse group of like-minded stakeholders, including government agencies, financial institutions, and real estate companies.  

As the project moves into its operational phase, these partnerships will become even more important. Discussions are already underway to integrate more buildings in Tampines into the DDC network, supporting Singapore’s ambitions to green 80% of the country’s buildings by 2030. These efforts also align with the Singapore Green Plan 2030, which incorporates district cooling to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

Thailand has also set green targets. By 2030, it aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30%. At Frasers Property, we support this national agenda through initiatives such as adopting low-carbon building materials, implementing green building standards, and driving sustainable innovation.
 

Ultimately, it is through strong partnerships that enable us to deliver operational efficiencies and unlock long-term value — for capital partners, investors, and businesses. Through collaboration and well-managed assets, we continue to create opportunities for sustainable growth and shared success.

Tampines 1 and Century Square are located at the centre of Tampines town, which comprises more than 280,000 residents. The two suburban retail malls provide service and amenities to residents and workers in this populous residential catchment.