WE Smile Magazine November 2015

Located on a leafy boulevard in the
heart of the city, Plaza Athénée Bangkok,
A Royal Méridien is central and renowned
as one of Bangkok’s most fashionable
places to stay, dine and host glittering
occasions. But its biggest distinction is its
location on the original site of Kandhavas,
the royal palace of H.R.H. Princess Valaya
Alongkorn, 43rd daughter of King Rama
V. So when time came to revamp and
remodel, royal roots became the key
consideration. In the remodeling, original
motifs and furnishings were treasured as
priceless heirlooms and repurposed.
Thus filigreed moldings juxtapose
and fuse with functional surfaces and
minimalist lines, all of which blend
perfectly with the hotel’s strongly-held
sustainability ethic. The extensive project
won the designers the prestigious Five
Star Asia Pacific Property Award 2015-
2016 in the category of “Best Hotel Interior
Thailand” for its guest room and suites.
This concept spreads to the style of
the Royal Club guestrooms and suites,
influenced by Thai royal ceremonies.
Handsomely modernized, the Athéneum
Meetings Rooms offer event organisers
unique opportunities to redefine their
strategies, and Level 04, the hotel’s
pool, garden and fitness floor, now
has ‘Kandhavas’, a mid-size function
space. Design and menu concepts
fit for a princess are the inspirations
behind the dramatic new Rain Tree
Café with an interpretation of Thai neocolonial
interior décor. Conceptualised
as a conservatory offering a pâtisserie
experience, The Bakery features
carefree cotton awnings punctuated
with colourful flower baskets dangling
from the ceiling. As guests arrive at
the hotel, they automatically sense an
air of Thai traditional nobility from an
era when exquisite luxury blended with
traditional Thai characteristics just as
it does today. In fact, wherever you
turn, Plaza Athénée Bangkok, A Royal
Méridien is looking and feeling more
wonderful than ever.
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