From an institution to the new star of Kata Beach
In many ways, it is not an overstatement to say that The Boathouse Phuket is an institution, well-loved by locals and visitors alike. The hotel literally started as a house for fishing boats more than 30 years ago.
Back then, the premises was shared by a popular beachfront restaurant, which counted renowned Thai architect Mom Tri as one of its most ardent fans. Mom Tri bought over the restaurant, grew its fame, started building rooms to accommodate his friends, and the rest, as they say, is history. The Boathouse was born.
Today, The Boathouse Phuket is the newest addition to HPL Hotels & Resorts’ The Boutique Collection, whose repertoire of hotels includes Casa del Mar in Langkawi, Casa del Rio in Melaka, and The Lakehouse in Cameron Highlands. Like these hotels, The Boathouse Phuket promises the same high level of luxury. Service is always personal yet unobtrusive; attention is paid to the finest detail to make every guest feel welcome; rooms and amenities are designed to provide a home away from home experience.
Having undergone a five-month renovation, The Boathouse reopened in November 2017. The impressive makeover was led by Singapore-based interior architecture firm LAANK, the creative minds behind the talk-of-town designs of Fred Perry shops and Violet Oon restaurants.
The aspiration for both the hotel and design teams was to present The Boathouse as an urban sanctuary that offers the spirit of the New Nautical in Thailand, using a design imagery that is built upon the integration of sight, sound, and sea. We catch up with Cherin Tan, the Creative Director and Co-founder of LAANK, to find out more.
Q: WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE NEW DESIGN OF THE BOATHOUSE?
Inspired by the spirit of the Andaman Sea, the new design combines nautical influences with streamlined modernism and eclectic element —creating a delightful new enclave enhancing the ‘baan rer’, or the boathouse character. The space has been designed to uphold the hotel’s philosophy of providing a home away from home, aimed at creating a multi-functional and holistic home environment. The team, together with the client, wanted the hotel to allow guests to experience firsthand, a philosophy of good design in a place that is simply out of the ordinary.
Q: HOW DID YOU RETAIN THE ELEMENTS OF THE TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE WHILE INJECTING NEW FLAVOUR?
The integrity of The Boathouse’s traditional architecture was carefully kept, with the intent of paying homage to the hotel’s rich nautical history. The team aimed to offer a mix of old and new, being careful to preserve the facade yet still giving a new lease of life with elements taken from the sea, and a refreshed colour palette that is still reminiscent of the hotel’s glorious past. The design features within the interiors encapsulate elements of a modern yacht rather than an old boat. The end result is a distinctive hotel that embodies the exploratory spirit of traversing out to sea, with a mash-up between modernism and eclecticism. The Boathouse is an urban sanctuary where guests and visitors can go and attend events, stay, or simply enjoy some downtime
Stay at The Boathouse Phuket, beachfront resort right by Kata Beach.
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