International Team Designs Second Hotel in Bangkok

St. Regis Bangkok & the Residences at The St. Regis Bangkok Opens Design Team's Second Luxury Hotel in the Capital City in Five Years

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. June 24, 2011

New York, NY - June 23, 2011 - The St. Regis Bangkok & the Residences at The St. Regis Bangkok usher in a new level of sophisticated design for this city and region. The project, with architectural design by Yann Leroy and interiors by Kate and Paul Greenwood, seamlessly marries the cosmopolitan glamour of the St. Regis brand with the vitality of Thai culture. The hotel is located on prestigious Rajadamri Road directly across from the famed Royal Bangkok Sports Club. It occupies floors 12-24 of a 47-story mixed-use tower. Fifty-three private residences soar over the city on the upper floors.

Yann Leroy, Kate and Paul Greenwood designed the hotel while partners with BBG-BBGM. In 2010, they left to establish studioaria with long-time colleague Jeffrey Williams. The hotel's developer, Minor International PLC, transferred the completion of the interiors to studioaria to ensure that the interior design intent was realized.

The site, because of its proximity to the vast green space of the Sports Club to the west and low-rise Four Seasons hotel to the north, provides stunning views across much of Bangkok. Every area of the building, private and public, was designed to maximize these vistas.

“I was inspired by the philosopher's stone used for contemplation in Asian gardens to create an elegant yet efficient contemporary monolith,” said architect Yann Leroy. “We designed the interiors in concert with the architecture, working with a dynamic tension that is evident in the highly integrated finished building.” Kate Greenwood added that, “Our goal was to establish an emotional connection to the property for guests. The interiors combine the elegance synonymous with St. Regis and elements inspired by Thailand's rich heritage.”

Bangkok's Skytrain passes along Rajadamri Road directly in front of the building. To compensate for its obstructive presence and preserve the views, the designers raised all public areas of the hotel to the 12th floor. An expansive ground floor lobby, with 9-meter-high (29 feet) ceilings, greets guests. It features a service desk and social lounge accented by deconstructed large-scale Thai bronze pots, illuminated from within, that create a dramatic arrival and evoke a true sense of place.

Guests travel directly to the 12th floor via a dedicated elevator for check-in and other hotel services. The Drawing Room lounge, Viu restaurant, Decanter wine bar and St. Regis Bar are all located on this level. An elegant elliptical stair leads from the lobby up to the 1,350SM (14,500SF) of banqueting space on the level above.

Thoughtful planning ensures that most of the 227 guestrooms and suites face west and north, enjoying optimal views. Furniture and fixtures possess the classic, contemporary silhouettes associated with this luxury brand, while the infusion of bold tones into the sleek neutral color palette represents Bangkok's inherent dynamism. Sliding pocket doors allow the bathroom and dressing areas to be fully integrated into the guestroom while maintaining a sense of glamour and privacy.

Elemis Spa is not merely a place to unwind; it is designed to envelop guests within a cocoon of wellbeing. Pampering continues on the 15th floor, where guests relax and socialize at the Pool Bar, with lush tropical plantings, a cascading water wall and architectural elements inspired by traditional Thai architecture.

The team planned all 53 private condominiums. Positioning a residential tower atop a luxury hotel poses myriad challenges, especially given the multiple cores, vertical circulation and associated additional parking required. A testament to the designer's success, the Thailand Property Award named the St. Regis Residences the Best Condo Development of the Year 2010.

St. Regis is the second luxury hotel in Bangkok created by this design team over the past five years. Centara Grand, which is located within the Central World retail and convention complex, opened in November 2008. While the hotels are in close proximity, their design briefs, sites and audiences are quite different. Leroy and the Greenwoods were able to use their significant experience in the region and understanding of Thai business and social culture to ensure the success of both projects.

studioaria was founded in January 2010 by international hospitality design industry veterans Kate Greenwood, Paul Greenwood, Yann LeRoy and Jeffrey Williams. Long-time collaborators while partners with BBG-BBGM, they are united by a shared passion and commitment to achieve design excellence while celebrating the distinctive culture and heritage of each project location. Since establishing the firm, they have been commissioned to design several significant new landmark hotels worldwide.