A Hillside Hideaway in Khao Yai
In the hills of Khao Yai, new hotel Roukh Kiri comprises twelve barn house-style villas that offer guests a green escape far away from the city lights
Taking over a mango orchard in the rolling hills of Khao Yai, Thailand’s third-largest national park some three hours north of Bangkok, Roukh Kiri was initially planned as a family vacation home. It didn’t take long, however, for the blueprint to expand into a twelve-villa boutique resort under the design supervision of Bangkok-based architecture studio onion (who are also behind the recently opened Baan Pomphet in Ayutthaya).
From every angle, Khao Yai’s dramatic natural scenery takes centre stage. All of the resort’s villas have been carefully positioned to offer valley views and natural ventilation while keeping the integrity of the remaining mango trees intact. In private backyards, infinity pools look out over sloping fields of feather grass backdropped by mountain ranges stretching across the horizon. The villas' all-white and straight-lined design offers minimal distraction from these surrounding scenes. ‘Bringing nature into the site was our main priority,’ says onion’s design director Siriyot Chaiamnuay. ‘We reduced every element to its pure geometry, like a child’s drawing with triangle houses, round trees, small doors and straight paths towards the houses.’
Inside, a similar theme prevails. The villas come with stargazing windows and tall glass doors that frame valley views. A natural palette of wood and unbleached cotton punctuates the whitewashed interiors, and in the bathrooms, where large mirrors double as room dividers, white cobblestone walls and roofs made from bamboo shingles add a rustic touch. ‘We wanted to keep things simple,’ Chaiamnuay says. ‘All objects in the rooms are both functional and decorative. From the umbrellas near the door to the straw hats hanging on walls, even the bathtubs are objects to be put on show.’
Where nearby resorts often draw inspiration from Thai vernacular (think temple-like roofs and loads of teak), Roukh Kiri’s minimalist villas feel less rooted in place. Their design references barn houses found across Europe and the United States, with gabled roofs, sliding wooden barn doors as window shutters and metal lanterns as mood lights. Chaiamnuay explains that this was intentional, saying that ‘The barn house is not a typically Thai design, but with the client's surrounding farm cultivating non-native crops like avocados and lemons, it felt fitting.’
That’s not to say the resort's Thai identity doesn’t shine through, though. The communal lounge area, flanked by a saltwater infinity pool on one side and a stone fireplace nook on the other, is designed as a sala (Thailand’s typical semi-open air pavilions) from pre-cast iron frames and Teng wood. The restaurant, too, focuses on Thai stir-fries, curries and rice dishes (alongside a selection of Western classics), all made with produce from the resort’s own organic farm.
When waking up to magnificent valley views and falling asleep to the humming of cicadas on a starry night, it’s easy to see why the resort’s owners chose this plot as a place to escape Bangkok’s bustle — and we should be glad that they decided to share it.
Text / Chris Schalkx
Images / Wilson Tungthunya for W Workspace
