A design masterpiece with past and present intertwined.
A design masterpiece with past and present intertwined.
The imposing 57-storey building stands out prominently among other developments.
South-east Asia’s first Waldorf Astoria hotel recently opened in the heart of Thailand’s capital. Located in Magnolias
Ratchadamri Boulevard – a dazzling, sculptural, 57-storey high-rise building that celebrates its floral namesake through design – the luxurious hotel is an ode to legacy and modernity at the same time, combining references to the past and the present day.
“My notion is to reflect on the past, think through it, absorb it, digest it and then come up with something that is relevant to the modern world,” says Andre Fu of Hong Kong-based studio Afso, who designed most of the hotel’s spaces. The top three floors, which comprise three dining concepts, were shaped by design firm Avroko.
Muted colours inject elegance into the hotel spaces.
“The inspiration for the Waldorf Astoria Bangkok is born of my personal reflection on many artisanal aspects of Thai culture, infusing these elements with what I felt would evoke the quintessential Waldorf Astoria experience,” adds Fu.
“I was also hugely influenced by the Art Deco motifs in the original Waldorf Astoria New York and I sought to challenge myself, with the goal to juxtapose these elements in a new form of expression in the Bangkok hotel.”
On the ground level, an 8m-high lobby lined in white Carrara marble welcomes guests; the atmosphere is sophisticated, with a residential feel. Floor-to-ceiling burnished bronze screens wrought into an intricate lattice are combined with Art Deco motifs and silhouettes of arched fingers, drawing from Thai classical dance. “We have choreographed a scenography for when guests arrive,” says Fu.
The hotel’s design is influenced by traditional Thai architecture.
Also on this floor is Front Room, an 80-seat, contemporary Thai-inspired Nordic cuisine restaurant, which features an open kitchen and a lighting installation inspired by floating glass lanterns used during Yi Peng Festival in northern Thailand.
Spanning levels six to 15 with floor-to-ceiling windows, the 171 guest rooms and suites offer the comforts of home, and are decorated with large wood furniture pieces, artworks and artisanal pieces that pay homage to the local culture.
To complete the ultimate luxury experience, Waldorf Astoria Bangkok also includes several event spaces, a fitness studio and a spa.
Guests will agree that no detail has been spared in creating one of South-east Asia’s hottest new destinations.
Visit https://waldorfastoria3.hilton.com for more information.
Photos WALDORF ASTORIA BANGKOK
