With design aesthetics that draw from their surroundings, these contemporary stays are visual treats
1. The Prestige, Penang
Built on the site of a former godown, the design of this gleaming white monolith takes inspiration from the area’s colonial past. The in-house restaurant mimics an English Victorian conservatory with the use of lattice patterns, tropical greenery and large glass windows. Each of the 162 rooms features soft pastel hues balanced out with sophisticated elements such as the customised metal-and-glass enclosures for the shower and wardrobe. In the elevators, the floor-to-ceiling mirrors highlight unique Penang icons through etched outlines of famous landmarks, local botany and heritage buildings.
2. Templation, Siem Reap
Like the ancient temples that attract visitors to Siem Reap in the first place, this luxury stay is built around the rainforest that surrounds the property. The architects were careful to design the restaurant in a way that preserved two large, old trees. The lobby reminds one of a temple ante room, with partitions that filter in natural light and a stunning water wall. In the suites and villas, the architects tap on Khmer building sensibilities with the use of natural air flow for cooling and open-air showers.
3. Mason, Pattaya
The stonemasons of eastern Thailand’s coastal Ang Sila community have fashioned practical and ornamental items out of the region’s granite deposits for generations. For this new resort, they stepped outside their comfort zone by creating the granite floors, fixtures and decorative accents found in its 35 pool villas. Each one is a Neo-Brutalist oasis offering total privacy and a cave-like geometric form. Softening the rigid lines and stark design are tranquil amenities like the Mason Spa and infinity pool, plus panoramic Pattaya Bay views from almost every vantage point.
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This article was originally published in the September 2019 issue of Silkwinds magazine
