JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa
JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort Suites
Thailand
A JW Marriott flagship property, the resort and spa required a careful blend of extension, renovation and re-design. Thoughtful detailing from talented local artisans and subtle nods to traditional Thai design have been incorporated for owners to welcome guests to a timeless, refreshed resort.
Avoid the expected. JW Marriott’s Japanese restaurant, Sakura, is named after Japan’s iconic cherry blossom. The connotations of the name bring to mind pink flowers and blush tones. By exploring alternative concepts, the interior becomes unexpected. Pink becomes an accent in the room and features in the bespoke artwork against the darker woods with an updated ceiling design by a local artist of Japanese and Thai heritage.
An updated sense of place. The Ta-Krai Restaurant juxtaposes traditional Thai architecture with local botany and tropical bohemian style. Bright colours and casual styling contrast with the original architecture and Thai traditional elements celebrated throughout.
“‘Timeless’ was our watchword, and we were very conscious of marrying the interiors with the architecture of the resort.”
The Ta-Krai and Sakura restaurants are twin buildings at the centre of the resort, either side of the tranquil pond. The canopy design is derived from the stepping language of the Thai traditional architecture, creating a sense of place and helping with the scale of the canopy. It is broken down by its pattern of open slatted squares and becomes an extension of the interior.
We collaborated with Thai artisans to develop custom furnishings for the guestrooms, including silk tapestries based on archived traditional Lanna prints. Custom rain drums cast from brass serve as coffee tables, and vintage silk spindles taken from traditional Thai silk weaving looms bring colour and tradition to the relaxation area. We subtly brought architectural influences into the interiors, with the headboard framing a piece of architecture as art.
An abstracted tiled wall echoes the exterior’s red clay tiles and creates a contemporary feature wall. Thai granite lifts the tone and creates a textural interest, while the wooden sink counter is an original piece, updated and refreshed with a new granite top and towel rail cast by local artisans.
Three new beachfront villas showcase bespoke interiors with a more earthy, organic and handmade quality. The interiors fuse with the architecture as large full-height windows open to a private landscape and pool. The interiors showcase the bold linear architecture featuring golden teak throughout, punctured with Thai artistic highlights, framed within the interiors in door details, mirror frames and built-in headboards.
Two new restaurants complement the renovation of JW Marriott Khao Lak. A speciality grill restaurant, Drift, features bamboo textures and natural tones to create a relaxed coastal vibe in an uplifting, neutral palette. The Pool Bar is a vibrant, tropical space with suspended hammock chairs to encourage guests to unwind and enjoy the beachfront ambience.
The design vocabulary between the existing and new phases of the resort is a harmonious continuation. The timeless renovation of the JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa continues its sense of place in the adjoining JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort Suites. We incorporated colour and modernised Thai aspects throughout. Simplified and combined, the result is a calming space for guests, a sanctuary of high-end hospitality.