Thai influences meet intimate yet lavish touches

To mark our June issue – one themed entirely around travel – we bring you a brand new summer-long series that spotlights one of the most beautifully designed, architecturally striking new hotels from across the world, every Friday.

Rosewood is taking over the world. The group opened two hotels in March alone – in Hong Kong’s brand new Victoria Dockside, and in Bangkok. The latter is the group’s second property in Thailand and beautifully references the culture of its surroundings throughout.

Kohn Pederson Fox with Tandem Architects as executive architect drove the design of Rosewood Bangkok, which occupies a 30-storey standalone property inspired by the Thai gesture of pressing one’s hands together in greeting – the ‘wai’.

Comprised of two angular yet graceful, connected structures, this embrace of Thai spirit prevails across the hotel, with rich materials, water features that are symbolic of peace and harmony in Thai culture and Thai contemporary artworks, local craft and indigenous textiles incorporated in a refreshingly modern way.

 The hotel’s interior design was undertaken by Celia Chu Design Associates and seeks to deliver the feeling of an urban manor. The rich woods, rattan-inspired patterns, weaves and panels combined with personal touches that deliver a certain intimacy are suggestive of the home of a well-travelled Thai family.

The hotel showcases artworks by a mix of established and emerging Thai artists, including significant works by Preecha Thaothong (Thailand’s National Artist of the Year 2009), Pinaree Sanpitak and Torlarp Larpjaroensook. There is also a space dedicated to a rotating quarterly exhibition – Kittaya Poolsawatdi’s oil paintings were first to grace its walls.

Rooms vary – some offer private meditations areas, others have outdoor plunge pools or spacious terraces. All guests can enjoy the hotel’s four restaurants and bars.

The Chinese restaurant, Nan Bei, offers food from both North and South China, as its name suggests – nan means south and bei is north, while the top-floor speakeasy, Lennon’s, is home to Asia’s largest collection of vinyl and a cocktail list inspired by it.

There’s also G&O, an organic café focused on locally grown and sourced ingredients, all washed down with organic wine. 

Address: 1041/38 Ploenchit Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan Bangkok, 10330

Photos via Rosewood Bangkok

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