Aman takes another step closer to the vision of its Chairman and CEO, Mr. Vladislav Doronin. With a view to take the brand vertical in global cities, Aman Nai Lert Bangkok was born, encompassing exclusive Aman branded residences and an urban hotel to be completed by the end of 2023 in partnership with Nai Lert Park Development, a real estate development company under Nai Lert Group headed by CEO, Ms. Naphaporn “Lek” Bodiratnangkura.
The brief was to conceive an Asian contemporary urban retreat inspired by the picturesque Nai Lert Park Heritage Home, which has rested within the park and has been meticulously preserved since it was built in 1915. To pen such a project, Aman has commissioned the world-renowned architect, Mr. Jean-Michel Gathy, founder of Denniston, whose longstanding relationship with the brand dates back to the 1990s. Drawing upon a rich tapestry of influences at Nai Lert Park Heritage Home, Gathy has infused a special and authentic sense of place.
While every Aman destination draws inspiration from the culture and history of its location, Gathy sought to remain true to the Aman identity to mirror the lifestyle synonymous with the brand. Tone-on-tone colours and sparse accents create a place of calm that is emblematic of Aman.
To create such a harmonious balance between what is old and new, the design incorporates a mix of contemporary pieces, custom-made products by local artisans and strategically positioned antiques, expressing equilibrium between modern eclecticism and Thai culture.
Staying true to another Aman pillar, Gathy focused on the use of local materials in respect of the environment. As such, local Thai stones and ancestral details from Nai Lert Park Heritage Home are integrated into the woodwork on the ceiling and parquet flooring. A further formidable challenge, according to the designer, was to introduce an essence of the spectacular nature that surrounds the project. To achieve an exceptional feeling of space and light as well as preserve a central feature, the 100-year-old Sompong tree, Gathy designed a courtyard to frame the root of the tree, while an open ellipse void through the edifice allows the tree to remain in its natural place.