It is often said that we should learn to appreciate the journey rather than being preoccupied with our final destination. With that in mind, Onion Co. Ltd. — the firm behind a new boutique hotel in their native Thailand — appears to have taken this philosophy to heart, creating a retreat in which the interconnecting spaces are an essential part of the architectural experience.
Completed in August last year, the Sala Ayutthaya Hotel is located in a picturesque region of Thailand near the Chao Phraya River, near the historic Phutthai Sawan Temple. The building is entered through a large iron door set within an expanse of terracotta brickwork left exposed with its natural patina and subtly imprinted with the hotel’s name.
So begins the journey through an amazing array of spaces within this hotel — the lobby is a minimalist exhibition of raw materials, with dark timber boards on the ceiling, raw metal cladding on the walls, and travertine tiles covering the floor. The only piece of furniture in the room is a mirrored reception desk, which greets incoming guests like a pristine piece of contemporary art.
From the lobby, guests are led along a double-height art gallery to a courtyard space, which one must traverse to reach the hotel accommodation. The courtyard is narrowed by towering walls of terracotta-colored brick, which gently curve like the windswept sides of a slot canyon. During the day, soft shadows move slowly across the surface of each wall; by night, up-lighting serves to emphasize the rustic texture of the bricks.
Walking through this space, it soon becomes apparent that these sweeping tapestries of brick actually form a boundary between semi-public and private space, positioned to conceal the areas of the hotel that are used only by guests. Behind the richly textured walls of color, a sanctuary of gleaming white modernism is revealed: a stunning reflecting pool is surrounded by accommodation blocks, each punctuated with floor-to-ceiling glazing with deep reveals and integrated balconies.
The contrast between brick and render throughout creates a striking environment with echoes of Sou Fujimoto’s textured art galleries in the Mirrored Gardens of rural China. Poolside furniture has been designed especially, sitting in harmony with the surrounding architecture, and shrouded with elegant simplicity.
The rooms themselves are a vision of minimalism, punctuated by small courtyards that offer natural elements — a tree grows up through one void, while a pool of turquoise water is juxtaposed with the warmth of a red brick wall. The natural touch continues in the interior, with timber window frames and roof beams expressed throughout.
Onion’s attention to detail is notable in each space, with many subtle references to Thai culture and tradition hidden throughout: the image of a tiger leaping forwards, which stands for Strength according to local beliefs, is engraved upon the head of the wooden beds, while a detail from a “luk-mahuad” Thai ornament is incorporated into the design of en suite bathroom countertops. These moments add a touch of regional significance to a serene example of modern chic.
The rich palette of materials remains present in the Sala Restaurant: bell-shaped granite lamps were custom-designed by a local factory and are suspended from exposed electric cables that are celebrated as design elements in their own right. Wall treatments reference the aesthetic of previous spaces within the hotel: a brick wall nods to the distinctive courtyard corridor, while raw metal cladding echoes the dark walls of the lobby.
The journey through the hotel culminates in a key vista, viewed from the covered deck where further restaurant seating is located: the terrace opens out to the Chao Phraya River, with the ornate towers of the Phutthai Sawan Temple visible on the far bank. The temple is only viewable at this moment along the journey, rewarding those who have traversed all of the previous spaces in turn.
If there is one journey that is easier than most to appreciate, it is surely the one through the many shared spaces of the Sala Ayutthaya Hotel — and in this instance, the final destination is equally impressive.
I’m packing my bags as we speak …
Yours adventurously,