February_1966 — Page 68

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Remodelling of Bangkok Hotel

Entrance to the bar on the ground floor of the hotel. It is a replica of the Giant Swing which is one of Bangkok's land- marks. The door knob is similar to those used in temples and is of polished brass.

SALA and ASSOCIATES

architects

SIPHAYA CURIO CO. LTD. furnishing contractors

THE old three-storey Palace Hotel at Rayadhamnern Avenue, Bang- kok, has been remodelled as a four- the interior storey building and redesigned and refurnished to bring it up to international standards. has also been given a new name the Palace Hotel.

It

Architect for the redesigning, Mr. Sala Thappadis, has endeavoured to give the interior a modern, comfor- table appearance while at the same time retaining a traditional Thai at- mosphere. The furniture and fittings which he has designed are mainly on simple lines, but suggest the form and beauty of Thai art.

To attain this effect the architect spent a good deal of research time photographing objects in Thailand's National Museum, wats and temples.

He has adapted the traditional shapes of such things as thrones, palanquins. howdahs, temple doors and windows. to the furniture design.

The howdah for instance has a bowl-shaped curve peculiarly its own. and Mr. Sala has used this shape, but simplified the structure, in some of the lounge chairs. The doors, as with Thai temple doors do not have a perpendicular line but incline slightly towards the centre at the top.

Chairs in the dining room are a modern version of the camp chairs used by King Rama I. This room, with seating for 200, is given further atmosphere by the use of decorative mosaic glass, popular in temple de- coration, and Thai cotton of the Dhebanom design instead of ordinary wallpaper.

Right: Front view of a "howdah" settee in the lobby. The seat is of foam rubber covered with Thai cotton of traditional pattern.

Below: Main staircase has а rail of original Thai ornamental carving. are laid with red carpet.

Steps

Suspended ceiling over the bar was inspired by the beam treatment in the Thai wat. The plain part of the ceiling is surfaced with Japanese bamboo blinds. The geometrically patterned grill is of brass and is lit from above by concealed lighting.

Far East Architect & Builder February, 1966