Sala Rattanakosin, by the unusually and memorably named, Onion architects, is a renovation project based on view. With some of Bangkok’s most iconic sites as the backdrop, the Thai architects have made sight and images their conceptual focus, blending old and new together at the same time. Words by Tess Ritchie.
September 17th, 2014
The previous Sala Resorts and Spa, which Onion have converted into a 17-room boutique hotel – including restaurants, outdoor deck and root top bar, sits in the Ta Tien Community of the older part of Bangkok. From the site you can see both the Temple of Dawn and Wat Po, or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, home to more than 90 pagodas, 4 halls and 1 central shrine.
Framing the view was central to Onion’s design. “On arrival, say the architects, “the first glance at the Temple of Dawn take places only after we make the right turn at the end of reception area. The framed image of the Temple invites us to move closer to the riverfront deck for a more panoramic view of Chao Phraya River.”
To embrace but also play with a view so catching, (Onion are known for their quirky designs) the team have created series of reflective surfaces throughout the space to replicate and the view over and over again. “In the upper restaurant, the same image is borrowed into the interior by the laminated glass partition, coated with black and golden films.
What is interesting is the quality of the laminated glass that is partly reflective and partly transparent.” The scene outside, as well as its mirrored images, can be seen at the same time and through various angles depending on the viewpoints.
In the bathroom, the same illusory visuals entices the visitor, where laminated glass reflects only the upper half of the Temple of Dawn. Upstairs however, each bedroom has an uninterrupted view of the famous sites – no handrails or window sills get in the way here.
Concsious to preserve the continuity between Sala Rattanakosin’s exterior and its surrounding, Onion have paid attention to the original architecture. Sets of folding doors from the initial structure remain at the entry as does an ornamented cement handrail on a same balcony. For the interior, they have flaked off cement to reveal a brick wall. At the same time, new materials are part of the design as a way to invent Sala Rattakosin’s character, namely the dark-gold laminated glass, black and white ceramic tiles and aluminum panels. “Sala Rattanakosin is designed to appear aged as much as modern,” say the architects. And with the contrasting reflective and crumbling materials, it is so.
Photograph by Wison Tungthunya
Onion
onion.co.th
Project Team: Onion. Siriyot Chaiamnuay , Arisara Chaktranon
Interior Designer: Onion . Siriyot Chaiamnuay , Arisara Chaktranon
Area: 1500 sq.m
Location: Ta Tien, Bangkok Thailand
Completion Year: April 2013
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Marylou Cafaro’s first trendjournal sparked a powerful, decades-long movement in joinery designs and finishes which eventually saw Australian design develop its independence and characteristic style. Now, polytec offers all-new insights into the future of Australian design.
The Sub-Zero Wolf showrooms in Sydney and Melbourne provide a creative experience unlike any other. Now showcasing all-new product ranges, the showrooms present a unique perspective on the future of kitchens, homes and lifestyles.
Create a configuration to suit your needs with this curved collection.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Meet a group of product designers who are making their presence felt not only at home but across the globe.
The official launch of the 2024 WA Architect Awards opens today – Wednesday 1st May – with the opening of the AIA WA Awards Exhibition.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
BLP announces the topping out of Health Infrastructure’s $658m Sydney Children’s Hospital Stage 1 and Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre building.
Set to undergo a $60-million revitalisation, the National Gallery of Australia has announced the launch of a landscape design competition for its Sculpture Garden.