No place personifies the timeless beauty of Bangkok’s old town like dusitD2 Samyan, a destination hotel where stylishly fashionable design seamlessly mixes with urban lifestyles.
A vista of Bangkok’s landscape as seen from inside a DusitD2 hotel room.
As the name suggests, dusitD2 Samyan is a member of the D2 hotel chain. It nestles comfortably on Si Phraya Road, a longtime economic hub renowned for busy movement and modern architecture. Taken as a whole, there’s a feeling of excitement and pleasure that comes with urban conveniences. dusitD2 Samyan no doubt is a beautiful work of contemporary hotel design, one that helps to rejuvenate a city neighborhood without sacrificing the value of Thailand’s arts and culture.
The hotel lobby space decorated in contemporary style tells the story of Bangkok’s Si Phraya Road neighborhood now and then.
First things first, let us show you around high-rise hotel rooms offering a vibrant panorama of Bangkok. The overall effect is impressive, thanks to a perfect blend of convenience and comfort plus the furnishing and decoration that tells the story of the Si Phraya neighborhood now and then.
The area’s reputation as one of Thailand’s jewelry trade centers is manifested in the interior design inspired by beautifully crafted personal ornaments, such as jewels and precious metals. Among other things, decorative throw pillows and headboards are covered in textile fabrics showcasing precious stone patterns in a variety of shapes and colors.
The furnishing and decoration of hotel rooms gets its inspiration from personal ornaments, such as precious stones and metals that have made the Si Phraya Road neighborhood famous as one of Thailand’s jewelry trade centers.Hotel room décor brings about a good impression of the Si Phraya Road neighborhood renowned for its reputation as one of Thailand’s jewelry trade centers.A throw pillow showcasing an image of precious stone patterns tells the story of Si Phraya as one of Thailand’s jewelry trade centers.
dusitD2 Samyan has two areas for common use that non-guests can access. The 16th floor contains the Bedidas – Pool Bar, where the tasty, distinctive Mexican cuisine is served. Be spoilt for choice when it comes to drinks and refreshments. And if you swing by in the late afternoon, go to Mimi’s Bar on the 25th floor. It’s a good place to watch the sun set behind cloudy skies or simply take in the panoramic view. While up there, take your time to explore amazing interior design, relax and unwind in the comforting glow of sunlight as the night falls.
The 16th floor holds the Bedidas – Pool Bar with a view of downtown Bangkok.A vibrant space with vivid colors, Mimi’s Bar on the 25th floor affords nearly 360-degree views of the cityscape.Seen from Mimi’s Bar on the 25th floor, Bangkok’s urban skyline is aglow as the night falls.
It comes as no surprise that dusitD2 Samyan has become a popular destination on Si Phraya Road for both locals and foreign visitors. Living among the hustle and bustle of the city has its advantages. Located in the city center, DusitD2 Samyan is very pleasant and easy to get to, not to mention the hotel’s interior design that evokes admiration. Precisely, it’s these qualities of urban places that earn Bangkok a reputation as one of the world’s most admired cities.
Central Java, Indonesia – Neat and clean walls rise above a reflecting pool and lush lawns brightened up by shimmering lights. They are made attractive by warm-toned whites and smooth curved lines twirling lightly around like poetry in motion. Shaped into alternate ridges and grooves, the concrete surfaces in zingy warm hues slant up to the skyline reminiscent of a graceful dance. It’s an amazing innovation thoughtfully devised to sync with rhythms in the urban landscape that gives it aesthetic appeal.
A welcoming reception area lies adjacent to the reflecting pool designed to blend with the rounded contour at the very top of a white wall separating the restaurant’s interior from the exterior.
The clean, well-lighted trio of restaurant, café and bar is located in Central Java, an Indonesian province that’s home to the famous Borobudur Temple, one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world. Named “Tanatap Wall Garden”, it’s a delightful business space in a class of itself, one that advocates for form and function being joined in a way that requires less energy to operate.
The restaurant-cum-café and bar, together with its land that forms a verdant oasis, affords 2,500 square meters of commercial space nestled among beautiful cityscapes. It’s an all-encompassing design that combines commercial real estate with elements of nature in close physical association to the advantage of both.
A charcoal sketch shows the positioning of functional spaces in relation to existing big trees, a relationship to the advantage of both. / Courtesy of RAD+arA side elevation view in perspective illustrates the positioning of restaurant, café and bar spaces under lush tree cover. / Courtesy of RAD+ar
The concept delineated above is the brainchild of a high performing team at RAD+ar, an architectural practice based in Jakarta, Indonesia. The team of architects was tasked with transforming what used to be a parking garage into a calm, secluded garden in which to wine and dine; meanwhile preserving the existing natural environment and the property’s significance as part of a central business district.
The result is a piece of architecture showcasing perfectly clean, white walls rising among very big lush trees, a beautiful sight unlike anything out there. Viewed from above, the floor plan consists of three straight lines on the ground moving centrifugally from the center. Along these lines, concrete walls rise to different heights forming gently curved lines at the very top as they traverse among stands of homogeneous trees.
Viewed from above, the restaurant-cum-café and bar merges into beautiful and cool landscapes so that they become an indivisible whole.
Apart from bringing shade and regulating temperatures, the trees growing wild in every direction give the business premises charm, good looks that please the senses and the mind.
It’s design that comes from understanding the warm, humid climate prevailing in Central Java, and the company’s principles advocating for simple and sustainable lifestyles. Together they are the key attributes that make Tanatap Wall Garden one of the most agreeable places to be.
For a good first impression, the welcoming entryway is adorned with green spaces that create positive moments in people’s lives. It’s connected to a pathway system leading to cool and restful places amid the beautiful backyard landscape.
Old trees and new walls become inextricable parts of the design advocating for sustainability.
On the way, an 800-square-meter reflecting pool provides a focal point in the scenery, bringing joy, pleasure and contentment in nature’s peaceful embrace. Interestingly enough, tiers of seats similar to a sports arena are added to the mix in a way that’s proper in the circumstances.
A reflecting pool under tree cover provides a focal point in the landscape. It works in tandem with other passive design strategies creating thermal comfort for both indoors and outdoors.A lounge area offers wide seating space and flexibility seamlessly integrated into the building’s architectural styles.
In addition to being a rendezvous for good food and drinks, Tanatap Wall Garden offers an enormous richness of nature-inspired outdoor rooms for those who love spending time indulging in music and live stage performances.
Keeping to its original concept, an amphitheater is put in for customers who appreciate dramatic works as a genre of literature and expression of ideas encouraging participation in the discourses of society. All of these features are neatly integrated in one cohesive design aesthetic.
Tiers of seats similar to a sports area lie under a pedestrian bridge connecting different parts of the building. By design, it’s a work of art that keeps creative energy flowing.
In short, it’s a metamorphosis of purpose that results in neat and clean white walls transforming into a stunning commercial space, in this particular case, a trio of restaurant, café and bar set amidst a verdant oasis.
From inside looking out, a part of the white wall with ridges and grooves in it is visible through the doorway at the furthest end.The restaurant has a lovely garden under tree cover for those who prefer to wine and dine alfresco.
Drop by Tanatap Wall Garden for a drink or two next time you sojourn in Central Java. It’s an opportunity to experience the beauty of architecture and nature coming together in one indivisible design.
/ Story: Kanamon Najaroen / English version: Bob Pitakowng /
/ Photographs: Mario Wibowo /
As its name suggests, Stalk Jakarta, affectionately known as the Tree-Hugger Bar, has environment protection as its front-and-center concerns. It’s a design that integrates the relationships between all things as the primary framework before additional tasks can be taken. The result is an enchanting restaurant and bar amid an oasis of lush greenery in a busy area of the city.
The building is roofed over with a tensile fabric cover supported by membrane structures resembling the coming together of five huge bell marquees. There are openings at the apexes to let tall trees grow through reaching up some 30 meters into the sky.
Stitched together so that they become a whole, the five bell tents work in tandem to protect the place of business underneath from severe weather. At the same time, tree crowns and overhanging branches cast shadows on the fabric cover, creating visual interest with contrast in design.
From a distance, a combination of huge bell marquees rises among the treetops creating a visual blend with the natural surroundings and buildings in the background.
The completely tented restaurant space may seem incompatible with other buildings in the neighborhood. But from the parametric design perspective, it’s a sustainable architectural approach that makes sense in every possible way.
In essence, it’s about trying to minimize any negative impact on the environment. And in this particular case, saving all the existing trees on the premises is of the utmost importance. It’s a noble thing to do to leave the trees where they have always been and let them thrive.
From the look of things, it’s thoughful and unique design that puts Stalk Jakarta, the Tree-Hugger Bar, in a class of its own. It’s the product of step-by-step planning that results in a situation, in which each side benefits in some way.
The restaurateurs get the perfect space they need to do business, while the trees get a new lease on life. On the whole, completely tented design provides a commercial space that’s eye-catching, while shady tree canopy ideas make customers feel calm and peaceful away from noise and distractions outside.
Stitched togethered so that they become a whole, bell-shaped tensile fabric tents have openings at the apex to let trees grow through the roof keeping the restaurant space in shade.
In the big picture, it reflects the design team’s vision of creating a piece of architecture that’s inextricably linked with the environment and the circumstances that form the setting of a place. Especially for Stalk Jakarta, it’s the team’s intention to try out new design possibilities to ensure the viability of the project.
They also plan to share their experience with business property developers with a way to reduce negative effects on the environment and, at the same time, maintain the existing state of affairs and physical features of the land. In this way, property value in the central business area will not be negatively impacted.
A drawing of the first-floor layout shows the welcome area leading to clearly defined VIP rooms and semi-outdoor dining rooms embraced by lush greenery. / Courtesy of RAD+arThe open concept second floor holds a restaurant and bar in nature’s peaceful embrace. / Courtesy of RAD+ar
A side elevation drawing shows spatial relationships between shade trees, tensile membrane structures, and restaurant spaces. / Courtesy of RAD+ar
Stalk Jakarta, the Tree-Hugger Bar, consists of two floors. The first floor holds a number of drinking and dining rooms for private parties, aka VIP rooms. To get conversation going upon arrival, there’s a spacious welcome area decorated with plants with an inverted bell-shaped canvas roof serving as the focal point in the room.
From here, the dining hall on the second floor can be accessed via a ramp that winds around the upside-down bell curve at the center.
A ramp winding around the inverted bell-shaped fabric roof cover provides access to the upstairs dining hall.
The second floor contains a restaurant and bar, 750 square meters in extent. It’s roofed over with a combination of huge tensile fabric tents with openings at the apexes to allow shady trees to literally go through the roof reaching up for the sky above.
The thick fabric cover and the canopy of the tall trees protect the restaurant interior from heat during the daytime. In a way that arouses interest, overhanging brances cast shadows of the fabric cover creating a light and shadow play that changes in length and direction over the course of a day.
After sunset, beautiful chandeliers turn the dining hall into a well-lighted place with easy listening music provided by a live band.
An intriguing combination of color and texture makes the VIP room feel warm and welcoming.
Return to the first floor, and you find several VIP rooms clearly defined and separated from one another for privacy. Metal wall panels hammered to look like water surfaces and sandy soil add visual interest to the rooms.
At a glance, it’s a sight that evokes pleasant memories of a journey deep into the forest where the sun shines dimly and slightly, thanks to strategically placed lights in the interior.
An intriguing combination of color and texture makes the VIP room feel warm and welcoming.
All things considered, the high tension membrane roof cover comes in handy for the team of architects at RAD+arto create an outstanding piece of parametric architecture. It looks the epitome of elegant design and an interesting amalgam of the built environment and the lush green surroundings.
What makes it the perfect rendezvous is the open concept layout that provides good natural ventilation, keeping the interior cool and calm with the sound of leaves rustling in the wind.
Without unsightly solid walls, the restaurant and bar space feels bright and breezy, thanks in part to the tensile membrane structure that performs two functions simultaneously, as fabric roof covering and semi-outdoor enclosure.
In the fewest possible words, it’s the best example of design that’s good for people living in the big city, and good for the environment, too.
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