A Serene Thai Hostel in Bangkok
Thai hospitality and award-winning design meet at Kloem Hostel, a tranquil haven away from the bustle of Bangkok’s streets
In Bangkok’s rapidly developing Phayathai district, the homely and character-filled neighbourhood of Phetchaburi stands out. And on its Soi 5 (which also happens to be one of the city’s best street food spots), local architecture firm IF (Integrated Field) has transformed two small traditional wooden houses into Kloem Hostel, a serene accommodation that prides itself on being something of a sanctuary in the midst of Bangkok’s bustle. ‘The design, both in terms of architecture and service, is based on the concept of traditional Thai stilted houses and how friends and family are always welcome to stay in each other’s homes. We want our guests to feel like they’re staying at a home away from home. In Thai culture, we spoil our guests when they visit our home,’ Vannakarn Kijkunasatien, owner of Kloem Hostel, explains.
IF’s design team kept the existing wood structure, repairing its original wooden walls and replacing the unsalvageable pieces with similar wood sourced from Ayutthaya province. A bridge was inserted to link the two main houses together and the space was reconfigured to suit its new role as an urban hostel. The layout reflects the traditional stilt house functions, with bedrooms on the upper floor and the ground floor used as a common area. The design team created a new steel-framed double-height space which is used as a reception, recreation and dining area, and also connects to an inner courtyard with a patch of grass. Hammocks, the largest of which is actually a helicopter safety net that hangs high above the living area, are dotted around the lobby and garden to encourage relaxation and recharging.
‘This housing style was very common in the past. Stilted houses are great for tropical areas that experience floods during rainy season. The ground floor was for used for multiple purposes, like cooking and socialising, and the upper floor for sleeping. But now most of them are demolished and replaced with concrete houses, especially in the inner city,’ Kijkunasatien says.
When it came to outfitting the interiors, the designers sourced as much as possible from local manufacturers; the handmade triangular pillows are from a small village in the country’s northeast, and small crafted items including bamboo lamps, sedge slippers and cotton hammocks are also from the north.
In 2019, Kloem received three design awards (an Architizer A+ award, Design Excellence award, and Good Design award), proving that when it comes to good design and Thai hospitality in the Kingdom’s capital, this hostel deserves its place on the map.
Text / Babette Radclyffe-Thomas
Images / PanoramicStudio
