Why experience the utilitarian when the radically chic is available? Lit! Bangkok Hotel surprises at every turn, writes Intan Maizura Ahmad Kamal
Decadent luxury and comfort in the Full Spectrum Suite
Lit! Fiesta Steppe juxtaposes a series of gently inclined terrace-like decks to bring guests a uniquely relaxing space with its own vivacious vibe
The Different Degree Room is a living space with a delightfully daring twist
The spectacular Fiesta Steppe extends to a shimmering pool and poolside bar at its summit
Despite being a small-scale hotel, the lobby is surprisingly spacious
The meeting and boardroom spaces are designed to blur the boundaries between work and play
IT’S a product of a radical re-imagining of what a city hotel can be. A hotel that uses light and shadow to create a modern space. Where intuitive, ergonomic architecture surprises at every turn and where the rooms are furnished with a sense of adventure.
The recently opened, state-of-the art Lit! Bangkok Hotel, conveniently located in the heart of Bangkok, was designed to mirror the bustling Thai capital, an intriguing city of perpetual change, explains its CEO and long-time hotelier,
Srayut Ekahitanonda. “We wanted the design to reflect our modern city with its unique colours and surprising twists. You can see in the final result that a lot of thought has been put into everything.”
With its play on light, colours, shapes and its blurring and blending of boundaries and borders, this city centre hotel offers visual surprises that delight the eye and stimulates the brain. And it’s not just for the gimmick.
HOW IT STARTED
The initial brief given to the design team which comprised architects from Vaslab, interior designer Suchanoot S. and lighting team from Accent Studio, was simple — to create a hotel that was small in scale but outstanding in terms of art, function, space, luxury and privacy.
“We brought in concept designers who understood hotel operations and guest expectations in order to synchronise the direction. We didn’t want the project to be purely design-driven,” says Srayut.
It was decided that the stylish new boutique hotel would be located in what’s literally the back alleys of Bangkok, on Rama 1 Road, a narrow lane flanked on both sides by the back of homes, a smattering of smaller hotels, eateries and shops. A modest two-storey hotel which stood on the proposed site, was demolished to make way for this luxury addition.
“We thought it apt to have our hotel in an alley of residential areas because it is, after all, a residence,” says Srayut. “We’re only metres away from the main shopping and business districts. The popular malls of Siam Paragon, MBK, Siam Discovery, as well as public transport access are all within walking distance. We chose this particular area because we wanted to ensure peace and calm for our guests, away from the noise and traffic pollution.”
Despite its more secluded positioning and views that are a little wanting, the location does allow for guests to experience the vibrancy of Bangkok city-living albeit in a less harried way.
THE CONCEPT
Imagine a beautiful female, her face partly covered by a light scarf fluttering in the wind. She’s standing tall, looking down on the people of the city. That’s exactly the image that the architect had in his mind when he was toying with ideas for the hotel concept. There was no way that Lit! would look ordinary, whether from the outside or inside.
The management was well aware that they needed to create something different for frequent visitors to Bangkok who sought that element of surprise. “We explored different ideas to see how we could elevate their experience and go beyond their expectations. It’s easier when you’re a smaller scale establishment,” says Srayut.
The design and management team worked closely together from the beginning, with meetings and construction checks carried out from day one right up to completion. “It was faster to work this way because we could correct mistakes whenever necessary and find solutions together for any unexpected problems,” he adds.
THE ROOMS
There are four types of stylishly contemporary rooms to choose from, each designed with its own unique touches so guests can enjoy a variety of experiences.
The 32 sq m Extra Radiance Room, with its floor-to-ceiling windows, allows for a lot of natural lighting to filter in and yet enables privacy to be preserved at the same time. This room has an open plan layout and interestingly, a wall-less bathroom, which takes a little getting used to. Don’t worry, there is a curtain to screen it off! Ambient lighting sets the atmosphere.
The 34-36 sq m Different Degree Room is just the thing if right angles are just too de rigueur for your taste. With its unusual geometrical design, it has a delightfully daring twist to confound expectations of what a hotel room can be. The bathroom runs parallel to the length of the room just behind the bed. The shower and a separate bathtub is located in the corner of a relatively tight space, complete with neon blue lighting along the edges!
The Full Spectrum Suite is the room to book for some decadent luxury and comfort. Interestingly, this spacious 48 sq m option has a shower in the middle of the living room or bedroom, with a curtain outside and inside the shower cubicle!
The Triple Luxe Suite, measuring 52 sq m, enables three guests to share all the indulgences normally reserved just for two. Really spacious, it’s thoughtfully furnished with three separate wardrobes, two vanities and separate shower cubicles to ensure that three’s a company and never a crowd.
Lit! Bangkok Hotel Facts
Rooms: 25 Extra Radiance Rooms
44 Different Degree Rooms
5 Full Spectrum Suites
5 Triple Luxe Suites
Location: 36/1 Soi Kasemsan 1, Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok. www.litbangkok.com
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