Designer Jean-Michel Gathy's Aman Nai Lert Residences Bangkok

By Christina Tsangaris

The Belgian-born architect and principal of Denniston draws upon a celebrated family legacy: Nai Lert Park, the Thai visionary Nai Lert’s eight-acre private oasis. Aman takes another step closer to the vision of its Chairman and CEO, Mr. Vladislav Doronin. Here's how...

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. “Nai Lert Park was among my great-grandfather’s greatest achievements, and this project is a beautiful ode to his life’s work,” says Ms. Bodiratnangkura. “We are pleased to share our heritage through Aman Nai Lert Residences Bangkok.”

Design

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. Gathy explains, “We studied Nai Lert Park and its history, particularly the heritage house. Throughout the design of the hotel and residences, we integrated details of the home with contemporary design interpretations of Thai culture.”

Drawing upon a rich tapestry of influences at Nai Lert Park Heritage Home, Gathy has infused a special and authentic sense of place. He continues, “We created a palette that made sense with the context of the park as well as the heritage house.”

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. “We blended functionality, refinement, elegance, privacy, and simplicity, all qualities embedded in Aman’s DNA,” Gathy says.
 
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.

Branded Residences

Limited in numbers, the 43 Aman branded residences will be split across 18 floors providing consummate privacy. Units range from one-bedroom units (starting from 104 sqm), two-bedroom units (from 232 sqm), three-bedroom units (371 sqm) to the fully-customisable penthouses (from 1,100 up to 2,200 sqm).

Residents will benefit from a private entrance alongside exclusive amenities for residence owners including a private garden, lounge with library and business centre, chef’s table dining area, 60-metre-long infinity-edge swimming pool on the 30th floor, state-of-the-art fitness with yoga and Pilates studios, and Aman kids’ club, as well as unparalleled levels of service and hospitality provided by Aman. 

Also housed within the 36-storey edifice, the Aman Nai Lert Bangkok hotel will house just 52 hotel suites. Residents will further benefit from priority access to a range of extensive facilities and services including the Arva Italian and Nama Teppanyaki restaurants, Cigar and Jazz Bar, a fully integrated Aman Medical Clinic and a 1,500 square-metre Holistic Wellness Spa, to name but a few.

Aman Nai Lert Bangkok will meld the spirit and DNA of Aman with modern Thai culture as well as the legacy of the Nai Lert family,” commented Vladislav Doronin. A partnership between Aman and Nai Lert Park Development, Aman Nai Lert Bangkok is slated for completion in 2023, marking the latest feat in Aman’s new urban legacy guided by Chairman and CEO, Mr. Vladislav Doronin.

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By Christina Tsangaris