Two years ago, the six penthouses at the City Garden luxury residences, designed by renowned architect Koos De Keijzer and the associates of international design firm DKO, were introduced to the world to much acclaim. It brokes grounds in terms of innovation, modernity and luxury, setting standards that others would struggle to match.  And yet Refico asked DKO to do precisely that with its new project at The River Thu Thiem, to rethink and push further out the boundaries of luxury living in Southeast Asia's most dynamic city.  DKO has responded remarkably.

"Every project starts with a deep discussion. It is from dialogue that visuals take shape" - Koos De Keijzer.

Koos De Keijzer is a founding partner of DKO, one of the world's most recognized interior architecture firms in the field of multi-million-dollar residences. Having a mind self-described as a sponge, he understands the demands and tastes of clients from New York to London, and from Paris to Seoul. His mission at The River was to design living spaces that these types of clients would find comfortingly familiar but also dazzling with the very latest in innovative design. The penthouses at The River reflect a mind that is always forward thinking and global.

"Your home should tell the story of who you are and be the collection of what you love" - Nate Berkus.

Life in a penthouse at The River Thu Thiem is a celebration of natural light and fresh air. With 3-meter-high floor to ceiling glass walls, natural light flows in prodigiously. Complementing it is an innovative adaptive lighting system that marks the phases of the day through a system of sensors, seamlessly changing the lighting direction and hues according to the users' mood. The effect is quietly spectacular. Another outstanding lighting feature that was not available to the City Garden penthouses is the sky light. It is carefully positioned to bring down natural light onto the elaborate contours of a landscaped indoor garden. This skylight is an intriguing visual "grounding" experience that provides a sense of standing in a cave, and is for the times when the homeowner wants the feeling of standing on solid earth. This is a luxury that is usually only available in ground villas, but is now available in these penthouses.

With an airy floor plan featuring wide hallways and walls that do not quite close, fresh breezes can circulate throughout the home. The layout was meant to always provide the homeowner with a feeling of spaciousness, and from spaciousness comes not only the sense of tranquility but also possibility. The layout is meant, in the words of Nate Berkus, to allow the owner to start writing his own stories about his home.  The expansive living-kitchen-dining area is perfect for small intimate gatherings of friends. Expand out to the terrace, private garden and pool area - and just that much closer to the shimmering skyline - and you have the perfect venue for lavish dinner parties.

In the end, the measure of a home is how it facilitates quiet times with family or one's own thoughts. The interior layout is more than enough for a person who paces relentlessly as he thinks. If he needs more space, he can step out to the outdoor area, and be closer to the ultimate luxury - the incomparable view. The view, for many, is the top reason for why they chose penthouse living.  At The River, situated next to the Saigon River and buffered by a park, the view will always be protected. All great cities grow and change but The River will remain an island of tranquility.  From the heights of The River, a penthouse owner can see with full clarity the dazzling skyline of District 1, witness with front seat clarity its evolution as Vietnam grows more prosperous. The view from the outdoor terrace is so vivid and intimate that the penthouse owner, with each gaze, cannot help but be reminded of the remarkable achievements they have been able to make with their own life.

With only 12 penthouses in The River Thu Thiem residence, of which 4 has already been reserved, Refico - the developer of the project known for the 6 masterpieces that are the City Garden penthouses - aimed to build a more perfect version of luxury than came before. Refico constantly seeks to push further out the frontier of luxury by understanding the needs of clients and working with remarkable partners such as DKO. Thu Thiem District will be for Ho Chi Minh City what Pudong has been for Shanghai, the financial, cultural and technological engine that pulls the city further into the future, creating vast wealth. Koos De Keijzer has always stated that before anything else, there must be architectural integrity. Simply put, the design must last. Or put another way, The River will be the internationally known address when people the world over refer to Thu Thiem, and it will remain that way for a very long time.

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This September, The River Thu Thiem will launch the Ultimate Collection with only 10 The Penthouses & The Pool Villas.

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Sales Gallery: The River Thu Thiem, Crescent Boulevard, Thu Thiem urban area, An Khanh Ward, District 2, HCMC