Hospitality Design - September 2012 - 98

perspectives

placesbangkok

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up with 20 new properties in the pipeline to be developed over the next ve years. The 240-room Okura Prestige contains meeting and retail spaces on the lower oors and guestrooms, F&B, a ve-treatment room Okura Spa, and an in nity pool on the upper ones, sandwiching o ces in between. Designed by Bangkok-based PIA, the space embodies contemporary Japanese minimalism with rich materials such as Emperador brown marble on ooring in the entry and a triple-height reception. A staircase opposite the reception counter draws the eye upwards, while materials such as shagreen and bamboo add texture to a neutral color pale e.
5. A posh boardroom nestled inside Hotel Muse’s Speakeasy. 6. A simple, homey feel reigns at the Oriental Residence. 7. The lobby of Okura Prestige is pure Japanese minimalism.

Oriental Residence > Further down

accessible via a spiral staircase. “We did some furniture design in conjunction with Barbara Barry,” says Samantha Lightbody, Abacus Design’s director. “I like working on medium sized hotels with a simple, homey feel and design that is comfortable rather than trendy.”

Wireless is Oriental Residence, designed by Bangkok-based Abacus Design with furnishings by Thai retailer Chanintr Living. Sharing owners with Mandarin Oriental Bangkok and operated by ONYX, Oriental Residence opened its doors in January. Due to its proximity to the city’s central business district and embassies, it caters to longstay guests and calls itself a serviced residence, with each suite containing kitchen facilities and an optional grocery delivery service. The 145 suites range from studios to three bedrooms, with 46 privately owned residences stacked on top. They share F&B outlets such as all-day dining Café Claire, a French-inspired bistro environment with an Art Deco black and white pale e. Signature modern Chinese restaurant Mandopop, by contrast, is a lo y space in a separate building with pared down Ming chairs and a la ice screened private dining room

Hotel Muse > A bit further west on Langsuan, Accor’s burgeoning MGallery brand added Hotel Muse to its portfolio last fall. Designed by Bangkok-based PIA, the interiors pay homage to Thailand’s popular King Rama V with Old World charm inspired by late 19th century Europe. Crowning the property are ve cupolas on the roof that add visual interest to the Speakeasy, a posh, 1920s-inspired food and drink concept. Spanning the 24th and 25th oors, it is comprised of a variety of drinking outlets including Blind Pig, a wood paneled smoking lounge do ed with tu ed leather sofas; outdoor space the Lawn, complete with arti cial grass and heady city views; the glowing Terrace Bar; a boardroom; and private dining rooms. Sharing the 24th oor is Thai restaurant Su Tha Ros, a warm gray paneled space with private rooms separating the open dining area. Meanwhile, on the ground oor, metal

arching trusses punctuate Medici Kitchen & Bar, an Italian restaurant lined with wine barrels, while Le Salon on the lower ground level is a cross between a private library and a trendy place to see and be seen, with deep lounge chairs and burnished brass trimming. P49 designed a bar for the lobby of the Four Seasons, adding a luxe element to the a ernoon tea ritual there. In early 2011, the hotel unveiled its Jim Thompson Explorer suite, with interiors by Je rey Wilkes of Design Wilkes in collaboration with Thompson’s Thai Silk Company. Formerly the general manager’s private quarters, the twobedroom abode overlooking the green of Royal Bangkok Sports Club showcases Thompson’s fabrics throughout—on wallcoverings, upholstery, and accessories. “There are so many di erent brands each targeting di erent markets in Bangkok now,” says Carl Almeida, partner with P49. “Every major player has a lifestyle brand, o ering more heart, soul, and character. Hotels have become more like homes; we are ge ing away from the clean and contemporary and instead incorporating elements that make people feel good so they come back. Plus, the di erentiation between business and pleasure is no longer a clear line. We have to provide a mixed identity within the same property.” hd

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September 2012 hospitalitydesign.com
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - September 2012
