BURI RASA VILLAGE SAMUI
Buri Rasa Village Samui is where southern Thai-style village atmosphere meets the most desirable beach on Koh Samui.
The main challenge of this project was to realize the accommodation density required by the client on this narrow beachfront plot, and achieve this within Samui’s stringent zoning restrictions.
The guest experience of the southern-style village begins as they enter the resort from Samui’s bustling main street. At the front of the resort we placed of a pair of two-story houses, faithfully detailed in the traditional southern Thai style. In traditional style, guests enter by stairs leading to a deck on the upper level connecting the two houses.
Screened from the street by large frangipani trees, the upper level comprises a series of serene spaces—the reception occupying the upper level of one house, a small restaurant open to outside guests the other. The dark tone of the timber ceilings and floors are instantly cooling and calming.
We achieved the required guestroom density (there are 32 units in total) by clustering the units together, in the manner of a traditional village. Again, the local convention of entering onto a common deck space is utilized for the upper-level guestrooms. Rooms at ground level are accessed via private gardens, some with plunge pool.
The guestroom clusters contain four or eight units, arranged amid coconut palms and other tropical trees, on both side of the twisting village pathway linking reception to the beach.
Materials commonly found in southern Thai architecture, such as natural timber, plastered walls, cement roofing tiles, and double-hip roofs (langka panya in Thai) are used.
The village finally opens out to Chaweng beach—characterized by white sand, clear water, and cool sea breezes. Beachfront guest facilities located here comprise restaurant, bar, spa, and swimming pool. Each building carefully emulates traditional southern-style architecture in terms of roof form and detail.
Spatially these buildings afford a transition zone between the relative closeness of the guestrooms and the expanse of beach and aquamarine horizon. This is a breathing space where guests can enjoy the sea breeze, and lounge beneath the coconut palms lining the beach.
- Location Chaweng Beach, Surathani Province, Thailand
- Date 2006
- Interior designer AKA
- Landscape designer Inside Out Design
