The One Oasis residential complex at the southern end of Macau’s Cotai strip is a draw to many expatriates and locals alike.
To many of the long time residents of sleepy, leafy Coloane, the building of the huge One Oasis complex was met with dismay. The once winding rural road past the park and up to the village was overtaken by earth moving machines and a constant queue of cement trucks. A high rise he
ll in the making. To add insult to injury, across the road and carved out of a once beautiful mountain, blocks of cheek-by-jowl, high density, social housing began emerging. And squeezed somewhere in the middle in all its shiny redness is the most incongruously located, The 13, a supposedly 6 star hotel-casino, about to open this year.
Since 2013 when the first of its towers were open for business, One Oasis has however proved to be a hit with buyers and tenants alike. Its mix of studios and 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom units ranging from 600 sq ft to over 2,000 sq
ft were soon filled with quite a few owner-occupiers but mostly expats arriving to build and open the new hotel casinos. There are a number of “special” units – 3,000 – 5,000 sq.ft duplexes and sky houses with huge terraces, for those with larger budgets.
A number of factors combine to make One Oasis so popular. Its relative proximity to Cotai make it a perfect spot for those with jobs there. Its so close that some residents have even taken to cycling to work. Certainly its contemporary architectural design and choice of materials and finishes in the apartments and public areas with their elegant muted greys, stone and cream has earned it a reputation for its sophisticated modern look and good quality building. Then there’s the complex’s newness, the size and layout of the apartments, the extensive clubhouse facilities and the sense of rural living which are all a draw.
Never mind that t
he complex doesn’t have any of the conveniences of central Taipa – no shops, spotty public transport, the lack of privacy of many units looking out directly on to another tower and the ongoing construction noise 6 days a week of further towers being built. Those residents who live there choose largely to ignore these cons with the hope that things will settle down eventually. A supermarket was finally opened there last month and surely must be doing brisk business.
The 15 or so towers that make up One Oasis are built in an oval, with the interior units looking into a small gated garden and the clubhouse in the middle. The units facing outwards enjoy either views of the Coloane hills, parts of Cotai or the estuary running between us and HengQin Island.
One Oasis’ developer, Concordia Investment Properties is the proud winner of the UK based International Property Awards – Asia Pacific Property Awards’ “Best Five Stars in Residential High-rise Development, Macau (2014-2015)” for Phase 1’s towers 1 to 5. Their architect Archiplus International won “Highly Commended Residential High-rise Architecture, Macau (2014-2015)”. Credit should also go to landscape architect AECOM for their thoughtfully laid out 300,000 square feet of gardens and water features.
The million-dollar-invested central clubhouse, Club Oasis was designed by Hong Kong interior designer, Steve Leung. Its aim is to follow the concept of a six-star European resort hotel and supposedly brings over 100 clubhouse facilities and services together. There’s an outdoor infinity pool, an indoor pool, lobby lounge with sweeping staircase up to an entertainment area, one of the largest residential building gyms in Macau, multi sports halls, young children playroom, billiards, a small cinema theatre an d more. Certainly it is the clubhouse that is a major attraction to potential tenants and their families.
Frenchman Bernard Moreau has chosen to call One Oasis home for the past 2 years. A family man with 3 young children, he opted however for a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment. “I only need something small”, he explains; “my wife Manee is from Thailand and because of our children’s education, she has decided to stay in Bangkok and I commute back there most weekends. Its just under a 3 hour flight and I’ve got used to the traveling”, he laughs, “besides, its important to me that I don’t miss too much of my kids’ grow
ing up with me being away working in Macau.”
Bernard has a corner unit facing the Panda Park. “I love the views of the hills. The greenery is a nice welcome home at the end of the day. Waking up to the sound of this one particularly loud bird’s mating call as well as the sight of the flamingos in their pond is a treat, it transports me and makes me feel immersed in nature. Both bedrooms and the living room get this marvelous view.” 
When it came to furnishing his apartment, Bernard brought most of his things with him from his previous posting in the Philippines. “The two beds we had made there and the round dining table and chairs were a set we had in our kitchen in Manila”.
The sofa is from IKEA – a useful sofa-bed pullout for when family or friends visit. The little desk is a family treasure; when Manee was living in Greenwich Village, New York City she found it in a flea market on 6th Avenue, around 24th street.
“The Thai Teak coffee table was our 5th ‘wooden’ wedding anniversary piece. Manee bought it in Chiang Mai; we later had it painted white. The lamps were my first purchase in Manila; a housewarming gift for Manee before she and the kids arrived. They have a hint of Kymer influence and reminded me of our trip to Angkor Wat”
The marble chess set was a gift from Bernard’s father in law who bought it in India back in the 60s. “We enjoy using black and white as a h
ome interior theme, so this fits perfectly as a central accessory in our living room.” Likewise the black and white artwork which the Moreaus commissioned from a street artist in Bangkok who opened a small gallery space at the old night market.
Bernard admits to being very happy with his choice of home away from home. “One Oasis is very well run and efficient, the facilities are great especially now with the ParkNShop just opened, it’s convenient and I can’t imagine renting anywhere else.”
