Introducing the fourth masterpiece of Quartz WM it’s Altris Residence by Jillian Michaels. I’ve always been a huge fan of Jillian Michaels and her work with animals. In this book she takes us on a journey into the exotic and magical world of Arcturus, the fictional planet of animals from throughout time and of course by choice. Some names you may recognize from this book like Earth, Wind and Fire, Caius, Pegasus, Shiva and Ariel, just to name a few. It really is a wonderful book.
We travel to the world of Arcturus, from the streets of Bangkok to the luxurious villa of Wangsa Maju, a five star hotel located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. The journey takes us through time and space as we learn of the different cultures and ethnicities throughout time. And the one culture that is most prominently represented throughout the pages of Altris Residence is that of the Asian mammals. The first time we are introduced to these creatures is when we meet our five-legged friend, Jasmine, who happens to be from another world altogether.
Moving on to our next encounter with the Altris residence, we find ourselves in a Thai-style house with two courtyards, a gymnasium, a swimming pool and a restaurant. The exterior of this bungalow, however, is much different than typical units of serviced apartments. In fact, if you look at the outside walls of the two bungalows we pass, they look like large panels of glass, and upon further inspection you can tell that the panels are not made of glass at all, but rather of thick plastic. This plastic is an important component of the house. Its purpose is to create an airtight seal to limit the entry of dust and pollen into the main living area, while also providing a comfortable temperature for Jasmine and any visitors.
Inside the bungalow, the style of the interior is a lot more tropical than one would expect in a traditional Thai residence. The majority of the furnishings in the Altris residence are in the Asian style, with a few touches of traditional Thai pieces here and there. There is a large wooden wardrobe hanging with clothes inside, a large sitting room, and a bedroom complete with a television set, a hot plate and a collection of Asian paintings. The only thing not of the Asian style is the fish-liver oil lamp, which is instead found in the Thai home of Phuket. The Altris Residence is indeed a unique residence.
On the other side of the spectrum are the very modern units of serviced apartments. At first glance, the architecture of the Altris Residence and the standard of the building, both visually and physically, would lead one to believe that these are properties of the elite. However, when taken from the many tourists that tour Phuket year in and year out, it can be clearly seen that most of these luxury apartments are actually in the possession of people at the lower rung of the economic scale.
The Altris Residence has one of the largest swimming pools on Phuket. It is also home to a lush green jungle, which was landscaped by the resident’s son as a part of his initiation into the Thai Eco System. All of these features make Altris Residence a popular holiday getaway. When you arrive at the front desk, you will notice the plush office chair situated on a large mahogany table, with an extremely large tapestry on the wall behind it. This tapestry is inspired by the traditional Thai Royal Bengal Cathedrals.
There are two restaurants within the residence that offer an array of cuisines, from Thai and Western cuisines to Chinese and Indian food. Inside the front office area, there are two bars with plush seating areas that seat up to 200 people each. Outside, there are two large terraces that provide an ideal setting for enjoying the glorious tropical weather. Outside the pool area is also beautifully landscaped with long, grassy gardens. In the courtyard of Altris Residence there is a very large fire pit that overlooks the swimming pool and extends to the outer edge of the pool area.
The Altris Residence is extremely tranquil with no shops or entertainment venues inside. There is however a sky deck that is covered in fabric and offers a nice view of the lush tropical garden that surrounds the residence. There is an indoor climbing wall on the top floor, and children are kept on a waiting list for permission to use the climbing wall. There is an indoor pool with a large sauna in the back that can be used during the hot months of the year. The swimming pool has a small bench attached to it and the swimming pool is heated by an electric heater.