By: Alison Jarvis Posted: July-27-2011 in Cambodia Property of the week

Just two blocks south of Le Royal on Street 102; lays two adjoining buildings. One was built in 1998 and the second completed only this year. Whilst the first captures a genteel English colonialism; the second offers international designer chic. Both offer accommodation aimed at the increasing numbers of expatriates working in Phnom Penh.

These complementary structures greet you in a space now a reception area; overarched by a white gothic ceiling; which; against the blue backdrop of the first of three swimming pools give the place a quasi Mediterranean ambiance.
Pictures of Cambodian history deck the walls.
Reception desk positioned to the left with line of vision drawn to the pool.Tables and chairs befitting afternoon tea; and sun loungers border the water. Green; well tended foliage decorates the walls of the surrounding apartments. This lush epicenter of what is known as Colonial Mansions is just one of the reasons an expat might move into this competitor on the serviced apartment scene.
Frederic Chan of CBRE is unhesitant as he confirms that “Quality; knowing what expats need and charming architecture” are the Mansions’ unique selling points.
Frederic has the credentials both as an expat and property manager to be able to analyse market demand.

Frederic is French Asian and has lived in Cambodia since 2007 having left a role at Savills in Vietnam to take up the challenge of overseeing the construction of the new part of the Mansions; appropriately named CM II.

His role for me was as a guide to accompany me around this complex; which he runs like a high calibre hotel. Frederic led me past the elegant aesthetic of a spiral staircase; and into one of three lifts which serve the flats.
Our first (very smooth) stop was the Penthouse, a luxurious space; with its own bar; and balcony garden.
Trained staff clean your apartment daily, maintenance weekly and your balcony garden plants.Vehicle sits safe in the underground car park.

The American furnishings and fittings are unabashedly expensive and seem apt for a building that French Khmer architects labored for five years to complete.
I was invited to sample a 7th floor three bed apartment for the night. 24 hour reception service.
Frederic also offered a reminder that the 5th floor pool; smaller and more private than its ground floor sister.
Each bedroom has its own wall-mounted; flat-screen television and a digital alarm clock. The master bedroom has an ensuite bathroom with a free standing shower having a temperature gauge to allow you to select just how hot you want your shower.
The second unit is identical but is in the bath; a rare feature in anything but a hotel here in Phnom Penh. Toiletries are provided as standard and the often missing hairdryer is at your disposal.
The bed; with its white sheets and six pillows is symbolic of the overall comfort that Frederic is keen to provide.
You don’t actually need six pillows and a downy duvet to sleep; but you would have to be seriously distracted not to notice just how soft those pillows are and how orthopedic the bed is.
CM II creates a life style for the expat that enables him or her to enjoy. And that means living to international standards of excellence.

The lounge; kitchen and dining room form the open center of the apartment. When you are not relaxing on the chez longue; you can prepare your food in the kitchen which comes equipped with cooker; microwave; rice cooker and toaster; together with all conceivable cutlery and crockery and a fridge freezer
.
Where often; Door to Door; Phnom Penh’s takeout bible is the daily routine; at CMII; home cooking is possible.
Instead of D2D on the coffee table; a copy of Pocket Book Cambodia’s ‘’Elite’’ publication; which advertises exclusive high end products and services; including Raffles Hotel takes pride of place.
CMII; whilst
aiming primarily at the leasehold market; also welcomes short term visitors to Phnom Penh .The flooring; both wooden and carpeted; any noise activity from surrounding flats is muted. And so; suitably refreshed; I woke up naturally and looked outside over the pool to the sight of a cleaner sweeping the dust away from the water.
It appears that the pristine veneer of CMII is backed up by hard graft.
Beneath the artifice of French design lie a manned car park with 16 spaces for cars and a moto park with a washing room with the Cambodian staff . The car park also houses a power generator which kicks in when the power cuts in Phnom Penh affect Street 102.
Expats do not necessarily need a lift; a bath; a pool or to be waited on hand and foot to function. However; the expat bubble offered by Colonial Mansions; could very well be the respite from an otherwise tough environment that that they want.
Frederic CHAN   27-Jul-2011