Traditional Thai architecture is easy to love: “The graceful form, the flamboyant flourish of the craftsman’s design, the mix of the spiritual, the natural, and the supernatural are all features of a Thai-style building, artifact, or piece of art,” writes Singapore-based author Kim Inglis in the book New Thai Style (Laurence King Publishing, $50). However, it’s modern iterations of classic Thai structures that really draw Inglis’s attention, from contemporary homes to exotic hotels. In the book, she explores a selection of spectacular projects, and you can take a look at six of them here. “Each has been selected to showcase a newer confident aesthetic that has emerged in recent years—one that breaks new ground but nevertheless remains distinctly Thai.”
It might seem like history didn’t play a part in the creation of this modern estate on Thailand’s Natai Beach, but architect Duangrit Bunnag’s five glass pavilions are actually a nod to classic Thai homes. “Each house is of a different size and is composed of different materials, but all are interconnected by wooden walkways, much as the traditional Thai house on stilts was,” writes Inglis.
Another project by Bunnag, this eastern Phuket residence showcases local materials, such as teakwood, limestone, and the gray granite used for the façade. Serenity awaits through the massive door, where there is a panoramic view of the sea.
Designed by Bangkok Architect Co., the brick wall–encircled Veranda Chiang Mai hotel mimics the walled city. A grassy deck in the middle of a swimming pool, one of many water features on the property, is the perfect spot to take in the spectacular ancient teak forest and mountains.
Sleek white buildings and a bold red-hued pool grab the eye at the Library hotel in Koh Samui. Western-inspired elements, yes, but Thai heritage is very much ingrained in the details of the design. “Our minimal architectural style, for example, stems from the belief that simplicity is tantamount to true sophistication and that achieving happiness is not complicated at all,” owner Kasemtham Sornsong tells Inglis in the book.
An exciting new trend for home construction in Thailand: sustainable design. Architect Ong-Ard Satrabhandhu devised this eco-friendly Chiang Mai retreat, which features recycled wood shutters, railings, floors, and window and door frames.
A Western–style table, antique daybeds from a local shop, and rare Thai antiques all mingle in the living room of this Bangkok house.
